Tehiyah Day School is dedicated to the ideal of being able to provide a Jewish community day school experience to all families and children who desire such an education. We recognize that families make a long-term investment when choosing to give their children the gift of a Tehiyah Day School education, and sometimes make significant sacrifices to do so.
Tehiyah families represent a wide spectrum of income levels and there are no specific earnings or assets that disqualify a family from receiving tuition relief. When families are doing their financial utmost to pay tuition, Tehiyah will do its financial utmost to support their effort to give their children a Tehiyah education. We do ask that families receiving tuition support from relatives and friends inform the Business Office of this support, and continue to avail themselves of this help so that more award funds are available for families lacking such resources.
The school strongly believes in an admissions process which is separate from the tuition assistance program, though applications for both processes happen at approximately the same time – admissions applications are due January 31, 2012. Do not wait for your admission acceptance letter to apply for financial aid or vice versa.
A family may qualify for one of two tuition assistance programs:
Basic Assistance Option
This option is Tehiyah’s traditional tuition assistance program which awards levels of financial support appropriate to a family’s specific financial situation. Application is made through School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS), a service of the National Association of Independent Schools. Based on the financial information provided, SSS makes a recommendation of an estimated amount that a family can contribute to educational expenses. This base recommendation helps Tehiyah make fair and objective financial aid decisions.
Additional Child Option
Families enrolling two children at Tehiyah may opt-in to this program which offers a $1,000 tuition reduction for the second child. This program is not automatic but must be requested by a family when enrolling. If a family’s financial circumstances are such that it can pay full tuition, Tehiyah asks that they do so. The deadline for accepting this award is at the point of signing your enrollment agreement.
Tuition Assistance Timeline
Families may consult with Amy Coty, Tehiyah’s CFO, at any time about whether it makes sense for them to apply. This brief conversation will give families an understanding of the process, and provides an opportunity to share any unusual financial circumstances, temporary or long-term, the family is facing.
To submit an application:
Parents and guardians (both, if divorced or separated) complete online Parent Financial Statement (PFS) at www.sss.nais.org selecting Tehiyah Day School as recipient school. Families send or scan and email the following supporting documents directly to Tehiyah, attention Amy Coty:
- 2010 and 2011 tax returns (or W2’s and 1099s until 2011 returns completed)
- IRS Form 4506-T EZ www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf signed and undated
- Letter of Specific Circumstances (if applicable)
Next, the Tuition Assistance Committee determines an award amount, and the notification is included with your admission letter.
Families sign and return the school contract and the tuition grant notification with their enrollment deposit.
Appeals
Every effort is made to ensure that a family’s award is equitable and fair within the larger context of all available funds in the school. However, if there are any questions or concerns about the award amount offered, families should send in their enrollment deposit and follow the instructions for appealing their award. The Committee will revisit such cases and may adjust awards if deemed appropriate. If no agreement can be reached regarding the amount of the award, the enrollment deposit is refunded.
Please address any questions or requests for application help to Amy Coty, CFO, at acoty@tehiyah.org or 510.233.3013 x103.
