FINANCIAL AID POLICY FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011

FINANCIAL AID POLICY FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011

Our goal

This memo serves to inform you of the school’s Financial Aid Policy for the academic year 2010-2011. It continues to be a goal of Robert M. Beren Academy (RMBA) that the children of those families who are in need of financial aid should not be deprived of a Jewish education. This policy also recognizes that even those most in need of assistance have some minimum responsibility toward the cost of their child(rens) education. Financial Aid is a privilege, not a right. RMBA receives no special subsidy or stipend from outside sources to enable this aid. All amounts granted for financial aid are simply fewer funds that RMBA receives in tuition, and this has an impact upon the operation of the school.

Financial aid cap

For the academic year 2010-2011, RMBA will attempt to cap (limit) the total amount of financial aid to approximately $1,000,000. It continues to be the goal of the Financial Aid Committee that this amount will be shared fairly and equitably among all those families who qualify and timely apply for financial aid. The school will continue to guide qualifying families to alternative sources of funds to assist them in meeting their RMBA financial responsibilities.   RMBA cannot alone meet the financial needs of all who need assistance. It is important that our community as a whole share in helping to provide for the needs of its members.

Minimum tuition amount

The school requires the following minimum tuition amounts per child (see also Pre-school and aftercare section further below)

This is the lowest amount of tuition that must be paid for each attending child, notwithstanding and regardless of the amount of financial aid awarded.

Please note that the financial aid process only applies to tuition and special education fees (as noted further below). There is no financial aid offered for aftercare and other fees.

How to request financial aid

FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment will be conducting the financial need process for RMBA for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Families applying for financial aid will need to complete an application and submit the necessary supporting documentation (“Financial Aid Package”) to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment¹.  Applicants can apply online now at https://www.factstuitionaid.com. For those not able to apply online, paper applications are available in the business office. Regardless of whether you file on-line or by way of the paper application, certain information will need to be mailed to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. RMBA will provide a self-addressed envelope for you to mail the following information directly to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment.

1. Signed and completed paper application (if not completed on-line).

2. Payment of the $25 application fee—this fee is per family, not per child.

3. Copies of your most recent tax forms including all supporting tax schedules.

4. Copies of your 2009 W-2 form for both you and your spouse.

5.  Copies of supporting documentation for Social Security Income, Welfare, Child Support, Food Stamps, Workers’ Compensation, and TANF.

Additionally, the applicant must submit a copy of the applicant’s complete 2008 and 2009 tax return to the RMBA Business Office.

Incomplete Financial Aid Packages may not be eligible for Award.

If you have questions or concerns about the application process, you may speak with a FACTS Customer Care Representative at 1-866-315-9262.

This will be the school’s fourth year working with FACTS to process tuition collection and to process financial aid applications. The FACTS system has streamlined both processes and allows for a more equitable system of evaluating financial aid applications. Upon receipt, FACTS processes all financial aid applications and submits this processed information, in an easy-to-use format, to RMBA—under strict confidentiality guidelines. RMBA’s Financial Aid Committee then meets to assess the financial aid awards. (The financial aid applications are not shared outside of the Financial Aid Committee). 

Financial aid applications will not be accepted from parents who are delinquent (late or behind) with tuition payments for the current school year until the situation has been resolved through consultation with the RMBA Business Office.

When to expect an answer

RMBA’s Financial Aid Committee assesses all FACTS Grant & Aid Assessments. The decisions of the committee are as objective as possible and are based on the information supplied to FACTS.  These decisions are based on the equitable allocation of funds available for financial aid. Financial aid applicants may, in writing, appeal the Financial Aid committee’s decision in the event they believe the decision of the committee was in error or did not consider important information.    (Please note that all appeals will be, of course, subject to the limitation on available financial aid funds.) Appeals should be submitted to the Financial Aid Committee within two weeks of the initial financial aid decision. The appellate decisions of the Financial Aid committee are final. The Administration and Board of Directors (including the President of the Board) are not involved in the financial aid process and cannot impact any financial aid determinations. 

Preschool and Aftercare

Financial aid will be available for tuition-only for regular class hours for the early childhood classes and for Kindergarten (until noon for preschool other than preschool for 4 year olds, until 2:00 PM. for preschool for 4 year-olds and for Kindergarten, and until 4:00 PM—a full day—for all other grades). Financial aid will not be available for after-care. [After-care is defined as any time after noon for pre-school other than for 4 year-olds, any time after 2:00 p.m. for preschool for 4 year-olds and for Kindergarten—the school doesn’t offer aftercare after 4:00 PM]

Special education services

An additional charge will be applied for those students receiving special education services. This charge will be added to each child’s tuition. This charge will be $5,000 annually for each daily class period of one-on-one services provided and $4,000 annually for each daily class period of group services provided. The special education fees are eligible for financial aid. Notwithstanding the eligibility for financial aid, the minimum required tuition for special education services (in addition to the minimum tuition amount) is $1,500 annually for each daily class period (in 2010-2011 RMBA expects to provide support for special education services well in excess of the fees received).

Multiple child discount

This is offered only to families not applying for financial aid. The eldest three children will be charged full tuition. Subsequent children, in descending grade order, will each receive a 25% tuition discount.

Pulpit Rabbis

For pulpit rabbis in Houston, the tuition for their children will be capped at a maximum $26,500 p.a., regardless of the number of children attending the school. In subsequent years, this amount will be subject to an increase annually based upon the average tuition increase for the year in question. Notwithstanding the above, rabbis can apply for financial aid should they determine they need a benefit in excess of the one provided as described above.

Contract

All parents who receive financial aid will be asked to sign a tuition contract that reflects the amount of tuition that the parent is expected to pay (after financial aid award is included). Additionally, recipients of Financial Aid will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement as it relates to the Financial Aid received. Parents are expected to meet their financial obligations under this contract. RMBA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change the amount of any financial aid award at any time during the tenure of this tuition contract (lowering the amount of financial aid offered or eliminating the award in total). Changes could result from, but are not limited to, a change in the recipient family’s financial condition or an act by the recipient family deemed by RMBA to be detrimental to RMBA.