Camellia Waldorf School

Camellia Waldorf School
Tuition Adjustment Committee
Philosophy and Policy Statement
February 2010

Tuition Assistance at Camellia Waldorf

Consistent with our founding mission, we value the economic diversity of our student body at Camellia Waldorf School and are committed to making a Waldorf education available to as many families as possible. Camellia’s Board of Trustees has recently committed to expanding tuition assistance so that we may attract and keep more students at our school. More students at Camellia enhances the experience of the entire Camellia community and makes our school sustainable both financially and pedagogically.

If you would like to have your child attend Camellia, but full tuition payments are an impediment, please ask us about tuition assistance. We will work with your family to help you meet your goal of having your child receive a Waldorf education at Camellia.

The following will provide you with more information related to Camellia's Tuition Assistance Program.

Types of Assistance

Camellia offers two ways for families in financial need to receive assistance.

(1) Camellia offers a sibling discount for families with more than one child in the School. Currently, this equals a 25% reduction for second child from the same family, 50% for the third, and 75% for the fourth. There is no need to apply for the sibling discount; it will automatically be applied.

(2) Families may apply for a tuition adjustment; currently, about one quarter of Camellia’s families apply for a tuition adjustment. Historically, tuition adjustments ranged from 5% to 50%. Under our new program, tuition adjustments for the 2010-2011 school year for new and existing families may, in some cases, be greater.

Where does the Aid come from?

Because Camellia has no endowments, the only mechanism it has for tuition assistance is to reduce a family’s tuition annually on the basis of need.

How will Tuition Assistance Applications be Evaluated?

In 2009, the Board adopted the use of TADS as a tool for evaluating applications for Tuition Assistance. This program is widely used by private schools and is valued for its objective and thorough approach to Tuition Assistance. All Tuition Assistance applicants are required to apply through TADS. TADS considers not only taxable and nontaxable income, but also other assets and factors that bear on a family’s ability to pay tuition including home equity, other real estate, savings, liabilities, family size, age of parents, and number of children attending independent schools and colleges.

All applications, of both existing and new families will be evaluated using TADS. The Tuition Assistance Committee then meets and carefully weighs each family’s capacity to pay against the capacity of all other financial-aid applicants.

Camellia treats all information provided on TADS as confidential. The results are only known to members of the Tuition Assistance Committee.

Timeline for applying for Tuition Assistance

New families who become interested in Camellia after these deadlines may still apply for financial aid. Please ask for information when you are in the office.

Documentation for Divorced or Separated Families

Generally, the school requests that both natural parents should provide financial information each year. In addition, if the custodial parent has remarried, the step-parent's financial information also should be provided. All parties responsible for tuition payment are requested to sign all documents.

Change in Finances Mid-Year

A family who experiences an unfortunate change in its economic situation after its award has been granted may apply for Tuition Assistance in writing through the Administrator for a greater tuition adjustment. Those families who experience a significant improvement in their economic situation should notify the Administrator so that the Tuition Assistance Committee may determine if the change warrants an adjustment in the award.

Appeals

After awards are made, a family may appeal the award. Any appeals should be made to the Tuition Assistance Committee, through the Administrator, Meredith Johanson. An interview may be arranged as deemed necessary by the Tuition Assistance Committee.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who and when should I ask about tuition adjustments?

   Administrator Meredith Johanson is available during the school day to help you. If your children are currently enrolled, you should apply online for the coming year in February. If you are new and making application, ask for information when you are in the office. Be sure to ask for the application deadlines.

2. How do I begin the tuition adjustment process?

   The school uses Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS) to conduct financial needs assessments. The application process is fair and confidential. A link at the bottom of this page will take you to the TADS website. Click on the "Parent" button and you will be conducted through the remaining pages. There is a $29 application fee.

Camellia Waldorf School is nonsectarian and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or national or ethnic origin in its educational, administrative, admission and school program.