Tuition Information

Tuition Policy

INTRODUCTION

We believe that tuition payments are an investment in your child’s education and religious formation. Therefore, St. Thomas Aquinas Business Manager and Finance Council accept responsibility for recommending to the Pastor policies concerning the amount of tuition, the manner of payment, and in general, the development of policy in this area of concern. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Council to ensure that adequate financial resources are available for the school, and that enrollment is as available and affordable as much as possible to all families.

TUITION PAYMENT

I. All families shall be expected to make tuition payments according to one of the following payment plans. Each family’s preferred manner of payment must be submitted each year at the time of student registration and be set up on automatic debit. Payment will be submitted using the FACTS Tuition Management Plan. Options for payment shall include:

A. Full Payment. Under this plan the entire amount of tuition is paid through the FACTS plan on July 1. Through this plan, the family authorizes the bank to transfer the tuition payment from a checking, savings account or credit card.

B. Semester Payment. Under this plan the entire amount of tuition is paid through the FACTS Plan in two installments due in July and December. Through this plan, the family authorizes the bank to transfer the tuition payment from a checking, savings account or credit card.

C. Monthly Payments. Under this plan the entire amount of tuition is paid over a twelve (12) month period from July – June through the FACTS Payment Plan. Through this plan, the family authorizes the bank to transfer the tuition payment from a checking, savings account or credit card. Keep in mind that under this plan, you will have monthly tuition payments over the summer months even though school is not in session.

II. Late Registrations

A. Families registering after July 1 or on the first day of school shall be expected to fulfill their tuition obligations according to the tuition policy stated previously.

B. Tuition for students registering after the first day of school shall be prorated over the number of school days they will be in attendance plus an additional month of tuition. This additional amount covers the Books/Instructional Fee/Supply Fee/Tuition Refund Plan that is included in the annual tuition cost.

C. A late re-enrollment fee of $50.00 will apply to families registering after the enrollment deadline as established each school year. The re-enrollment fee does not guarantee placement.

III. Late Payments

It shall be the responsibility of each school family to keep the Business Manager or school office informed of their need to make any changes in their preferred tuition payment plan or adjustments in the amount of tuition expected to be paid. Without such information, the following policy will apply when tuition payments are received late.

A. Re-enrollment. Suitable payment arrangements must be made on delinquent accounts before re-enrollment will be accepted.

B. Full Payment. When full payment has not been made by July 1, due to insufficient funds, the family will be automatically charged a $30 missed payment fee by FACTS and may incur a similar penalty from their own banking institution. FACTS automatically reschedules the missed payment and a notification from FACTS will be sent to the families contact information on file. The family may be contacted by the Business Manager within five (5) working days concerning the missed payment. At this time, if payment is not made, the family will be required to set up semester or monthly payments through the FACTS plan.

C. Semester Payments. When a semester payment has not been made by the due date, due to insufficient funds, the family will be automatically charged a $30 missed payment fee by FACTS and may incur a similar penalty from their own banking institution. FACTS automatically reschedules the missed payment and a notification from FACTS will be sent to the families contact information on file. The Business Manager may contact the family within five (5) working days concerning the missed payment. At this time, if payment is not made, the family will be required to pay monthly through the FACTS Plan.

D. Monthly Payments. School families who choose the monthly payment plan and miss a monthly payment due to insufficient funds will be automatically charged a $30.00 missed payment fee by FACTS and may incur a similar penalty from their own banking institution. FACTS automatically reschedules the missed payment and a notification from FACTS will be sent to the families contact information on file. If an emergency has occurred, suitable arrangements must be made with the Registrar or the Business Manager.

In addition, school families who are 45 days in arrears will be informed that their child/children will not be allowed to attend school according to the “Non-Admission” specifications of this policy.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

Tuition assistance is available through FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. Families may apply online at Facts Grant & Aid. The Catholic Schools Office offers tuition assistance through the Adopt-a-Student program. Apply online by visiting the Catholic Schools Office website.

For the sake of your family’s security and peace of mind, and for the general financial stability of our school, we encourage parents or guardians to contact the school registrar as soon as possible when they are experiencing economic difficulties.

NON-ADMISSION OF STUDENTS DUE TO TUITION DELINQUENCY

School families failing to pay tuition according to the agreement that they have made with the school or who have been unwilling to make suitable alternative arrangements with the school will be informed that their child/children will not be allowed to attend our school.

All families must be current in their payment of tuition:
By August 5th:
If not, students will not be admitted on the first day of school.

By December 20th:
If not, students will not be re-admitted on the first day of class in January.

By May 5th:
If not, final exams will not be given students and report cards will show an incomplete in each subject. In addition, eighth grade students will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies or receive their diploma.

DELINQUENT TUITION FROM PREVIOUS YEAR (S)

All previously unpaid tuition must be paid by June 15 if a student is to be re-admitted on the first day of class for a new school year. Payments are made directly to the school. After June 15, the student’s enrollment position will be made available to any student on the waiting list. If payment is not possible, suitable arrangements must be made with the Business Manager.

TUITION REFUNDS

The family’s financial obligation to St. Thomas Aquinas School is for the student’s full annual tuition and no refund of tuition can be made by the School for absences, withdrawals, or dismissals except as provided by The Tuition Refund Plan.

The family’s obligation to pay tuition for the full academic year is unconditional and after July 1, no portion of tuition paid or outstanding will be refunded or cancelled in the event of a student’s absence, withdrawal or dismissal from the School. If a student withdraws during the period July 1 through the 14th day of the academic school year, the family is responsible for the full amount of tuition except in the case of medical causes as defined by The Tuition Refund Plan.

THE TUITION REFUND PLAN

The School provides the Tuition Refund Plan as a means to insure each student’s annual financial obligation. Participation in the Plan is mandatory and the cost is included in the annual tuition rate. This Plan will provide coverage for the tuition payer in the event of withdrawal of a student for medical causes, withdrawal for other reasons as well as dismissal by the School (annual tuition charges, both prepaid and due, are insured). The Tuition Refund Plan period of coverage becomes effective as follows: Medical: From August 1 through the last day of the academic year. Non-Medical/Dismissal: For the entire academic year after meeting the fourteen-day attendance requirement. (The non-medical coverage (voluntary withdrawals and dismissals) does not become effective until the student has attended fourteen consecutive calendar days commencing with the student’s first class day of attendance in the academic year.) Late-entering students who commence classes after opening day are enrolled within 10 days after starting classes. Medical coverage begins on the date the premium is received from the School. Non-medical coverage is effective after the student has satisfied the fourteen-day attendance requirement.

In signing the Enrollment Contract, the family authorizes the School to process and collect any claim payments the family is entitled to under The Tuition Refund Plan and credit it to their outstanding tuition balance, paying any excess to the family. A copy of The Tuition Refund Plan Benefits and Benefit Formulas is always available from the school office.

TUITION MUST BE PAID IN FULL BEFORE STUDENT WITHDRAWALS WILL BE PROCESSED.

ALL WITHDRAWALS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING.

CLAIMS TO THE TUITION REFUND PLAN MUST BE MADE WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SEPARATION.

REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT FEES

A separate, non-refundable registration fee is paid to the school at the time of registration each year. The current fee is $300, plus a $10 FACTS submission fee, per student.

A late re-registration fee of $50.00 will apply to families re-registering after the deadline. The late fee will be added to the FACTS contract if not paid at time of registration. The responsible party will be notified by email.

The re-registration fee does not guarantee placement.

BOOKS AND SUPPLIES

The cost of books is included in the total tuition fee and is paid according to one of the options offered for tuition payments, either annually, semi-annually, or according to the FACTS automatic monthly deduction plan. A supply fee for notebooks, pens, pencils, paper and other consumable supplies provided by the school is also included in the total tuition fee. However, the school administration may request that parents purchase additional supplies specific to their student’s grade level. A supply list is sent to families before the start of school and is posted on Family Portal.

ARCHDIOCESAN SUBSIDY POLICY – Parish Subsidy for Elementary Schools (PreK through 8)

Since tuition does not cover the full costs borne by the school to educate the student, each parish (whether the parish has a school or not) will pay a $500 subsidy per student for registered parishioners with the following stipulations: (a) the parent/guardian of this student must be registered, for at least one calendar year prior to the subsidy year, in the parish from which they are requesting the subsidy and meet the minimum attendance requirement; and (b) to demonstrate that the family satisfies the contribution requirement, the family must use the Sunday envelopes, given at Mass, at least twice a month as evidence of regular attendance at Sunday Mass and financial support of the parish. Any family that does not meet these criteria must pay the subsidy to the appropriate Catholic elementary school. Families relocating from outside of the school area (i.e., city, state, or town) are to be considered in an equitable manner in regard to the aforementioned criteria.

The subsidy is to be paid to the school by the family’s parish (if they qualify) or by the family (if they do not qualify) as a means of offsetting the operating burden of Catholic elementary schools. The subsidy is not to be used to reduce individual tuition.

The parish subsidy fee is non-refundable and is due by July 1st. Families will be billed for the subsidy fee through the FACTS Tuition Management Plan. Since the parish subsidy fee is not considered tuition, it does not qualify for Tuition Refund Plan coverage.