Tuition Assistance
(PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TUITION ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN DISPERSED. THERE IS NOW A WAITING LIST FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD.
THERE IS TUITION ASSISTANCE STILL AVAILABLE FOR GRADES ENROLLMENT).
Please read all of the information presented here about tuition assistance before applying.
Tuition assistance is awarded to a family based on relative financial need among the financial aid applicants and the available financial aid budget.
Prairie Moon Waldorf School is determined to make a Waldorf education accessible to families from a wide range of economic backgrounds. Among our families are those who can afford tuition at the highest level and whose philanthropic generosity provides a vital component of annual operating expenses. There are also those families who manage to pay full tuition only by making substantial sacrifice, those who are able to afford only minimal tuition and a full spectrum in between.
Additionally, circumstances such as loss of employment, new business starts or unusual medical expenses may impact a family’s financial means dramatically from one year to the next. At Prairie Moon Waldorf School, we understand that change is a part of life and that continuity of your child’s educational environment is critically important during times when other factors may put unusual stress on parents and guardians.
We don’t want to lose families who have chosen a Prairie Moon simply because tuition costs are beyond their reach. For that reason we offer both Financial Aid for families who qualify and a monthly payment plan for families whose income allows them to pay full tuition, but for whom paying tuition in a lump sum before school starts may be difficult.
Prairie Moon Waldorf School uses a third party, FACTS, to collect information from families about their financial situation. The school’s Finance Committee oversees the decision-making aspect and will send any award letter to the family seeking tuition assistance.
Applicants are required to re-qualify annually, even if you already receive a reduction in your tuition in the current school year and/or past years. Financial aid is funded out of the school’s operating funds. A late application could severely impact any financial aid allocation.
All financial information submitted as a part of the process is held in strict confidence by the school’s Finance Committee.
Tuition assistance in our Early Childhood program is available on a limited basis with up to 30% of the regular tuition being able to be waived for children who are not considered kindergartners by Prairie Moon Waldorf School and up to 50% of the regular tuition being able to be waived for children who are considered to be kindergartners by Prairie Moon Waldorf School.
Any family who requests tuition assistance for a student in the lower grades classes (those classes not including the 5th grade fee structure) may be eligible for a maximum of 55% reduction off of the regular full tuition. Any family who requests tuition assistance for a student in the higher grades classes (those classes including the 5th grade fee structure) may be eligible for a maximum of 60% reduction off of the regular full tuition. These reductions are based on verified family data submitted to FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment as well as any additional financial data requested by the Finance Committee. Final approval must be given by the Finance Committee and/or Board of Directors.
Each year the school raises tuition across the board to help fund cost of living raises, additional curriculum offered within the school, and overall growth. Families qualifying for tuition assistance at the same rate as in the previous year are expected to increase their tuition payments at least commensurate with the tuition raise.
Please Note: All tuition adjustments are confidential and families are expected to respect that confidentiality. Breaching the confidential agreement between the school and a family may nullify the financial agreement therein.
Any applicant for tuition assistance will need to submit to FACTS, in addition to the tax returns for the previous calendar year, documentation of their last three months of income (pay stub, etc.) if tuition assistance is being sought after September 1st in the academic year. It is expected both parents to participate in the FACTS process, even if parents maintain separate households.
To apply for Tuition Assistance, complete the FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment.
Please contact us if you need further assistance.