UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Policy Statement
Falk Laboratory School is committed to creating and nurturing a school community that is economically, socially and racially/ethnically diverse, as well as in regards to interests, viewpoints, and talents. The mission of the Falk
Tuition Assistance Program is to offer financial support to as many students as we possibly can for whom Falk
School’s educational opportunities would not otherwise be available.
Tuition assistance is supported through the Falk School operating budget, the Falk School Scholarship Fund, the
Roy J. Creek Excellence in Teaching Fund, and funds received through the Pennsylvania EITC and OSTC programs. As a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, Falk follows NAIS’ Principles of
Good Practice for Financial Aid Administration. (See Appendix A)
Tuition assistance is available for tuition only and is not available for lunches, school snacks, Extended Day programs, or fees.
Tuition assistance is exclusively need-based. Each year, families must reapply and submit up-to-date supporting documentation through the third-party FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment Service. FACTS services over 2,600 institutions and is known for the excellent customer service it provides via phone or email. Falk School uses this online service to assist us in assessing a family’s ability to pay for private school education and to help families feel confident that their request(s) for financial assistance is/are being treated objectively and professionally.
Tuition Assistance Priorities
Remaining consistent with the School’s mission and values, the granting of financial assistance awards are guided by the following priorities:
1.
Qualifying students presently enrolled and currently receiving financial assistance
2.
Students presently enrolled, not receiving financial assistance but newly needing financial assistance in order to ensure their continued enrollment
3.
Newly-enrolled younger siblings of current Falk School students who are receiving financial assistance
4.
Children of new Falk School families who qualify for financial assistance
Tuition Assistance Committee
The Falk School Tuition Assistance Committee, in partnership with the School’s Director and Manager of
Business Operations, provides direction to and oversight of the School’s Tuition Assistance Program’s practices and policies. The committee works to balance the need for financial assistance with the economic health of the
School. All tuition assistance awards are made by the Tuition Assistance Committee, based upon the information that families submit to and then are verified by FACTS.
Statement on Confidentiality
Applications for admission are completely separate from applications for tuition assistance. Falk School will treat all financial information provided by families as confidential and secure. Applying for tuition assistance has no bearing on admissions decisions. No student will be denied admission because of financial need.
However, as Falk’s budget for financial assistance is limited, the School may be unable to provide tuition aid to admitted families who have expressed, documented needs for aid.
HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM FACTS
Call 1
‐
866
‐
315
‐
9262 or e-mail help@factstuitionaid.com

Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School
Tuition Assistance Policy
Page 2 of 5
Overview

Any family enrolled at Falk School is eligible to apply for tuition assistance.

Any family applying to Falk School is eligible to apply for tuition assistance the year they will be entering.
Families applying to kindergarten for academic year 2016-17, should apply by February 1, 2016.

The Tuition Assistance Committee does not discuss tuition assistance or make awards until the FACTS application file is complete with all required supporting documentation. A delay in FACTS’ receipt of a family’s supporting documents means a delay with the award process.

Returning families must have all of their School accounts up to date in order to apply for tuition assistance for the following year.

Returning families must have a signed contract and deposit received/confirmed by the main office.

Tuition assistance is intended to address tuition only and is not available for lunches, school snacks,
Extended Day programs, or fees.
Note: For unique family circumstances, see Appendix B.
1.
Complete and submit the FACTS online application for school year 2016-2017 at www.factstuitionaid.com.
There is a $30.00 fee. Falk School does not offer paper applications. If your family does not have a home computer, we suggest using your local library computer center or calling to schedule time to complete the process on a Falk School computer. Returning families must submit the online application by February 1, 2016. New* families applying to kindergarten should submit the application by February 1, 2016. New* families applying to other grades should submit the application after a space has been offered.
2.
Mail or fax all supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment Service.
Following are FACTS’ mailing address, fax number and an application checklist. Families must submit supporting documentation by March 31, 2016. FACTS will analyze and verify your information and make a recommendation to Falk School.
3.
Wait to receive an estimated award notice.
The estimated award allows you to make an informed decision about enrollment. You will receive a final award amount after all supporting documentation has been submitted to, and verified by, FACTS.
4.
Make sure you have completed all requirements by the deadlines provided.
A family’s file must be complete before a final amount can be awarded. Be mindful of all deadlines and be responsive to emails and letters from FACTS or Falk School.
5.
Wait to receive a final award amount.
The Falk School Tuition Assistance Committee will review the
FACTS report and supporting documentation to make an informed decision about your tuition assistance award. The committee will formally communicate their decision via postal mail.
* New families applying after February 1 should follow the March 31 deadline for both application and supporting documents. After March 31, contact the Tuition Assistance Committee, c/o Haniza Yaacob-Ritz at hay1@pitt.edu.
HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM FACTS
Call 1
‐
866
‐
315
‐
9262 or e-mail help@factstuitionaid.com

Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School
Tuition Assistance Policy
Page 3 of 5
1.
Review Tuition Assistance Policy at http://www.falkschool.pitt.edu/admissions-tuition/tuition-aid .
2.
Submit your 
 online 
 application 
 by 
 visiting 
 https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/3MW3L .
3.
Submit 
 the 
 following 
 supporting 
 documents 
 to 
 FACTS: 
 a.
Copy of 2015 IRS Federal Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040-EZ 
 U.S. Individual Tax Return
If the applicant and co-applicant file separately, we require both tax returns for the same tax year. We do not accept state tax returns. b.
Copies of all 2015 W-2 Wage and Tax Statements for each parent and/or household If you are applying before you have received all 2015 W-2 Wage and Tax Statements, please submit them as soon as they become available. c.
Copies of supporting tax schedules IF you have income from any of the following:

Business: Attach Schedule C or C-EZ (Form 1040) and Form 4562 Depreciation and Amortization

Farm: Attach Schedule F (Form 1040) and Form 4562 Depreciation and Amortization

Rental Property: Attach Schedule E (Form 1040)

S
‐
Corporation: Attach Schedule E (Form 1040), Form 1120S (4 pages), Schedule K-1, and Form
8825

Partnership: Attach Schedule E (Form 1040), Form 1056 (5 pages), Schedule K-1, and Form 8825

Estates and Trusts: Attach Schedule E (Form 1040), Form, Form 1041, and Schedule 
 K
‐
1 d.
Copies of all supporting documentation IF you have income from the following:

Social Security Income

Welfare

Child Support

Food Stamps
 Workers’ Compensation

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
4.
Adhere to the following deadlines: a.
Complete online application by February 1, 2016 b.
Submit supporting documentation to FACTS by March 31, 2016
FAX 
 documents 
 to 
 866
‐
315
‐
9264
Or, send documents by mail to:
FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment
PO Box 82524
Lincoln, NE 68501
‐
2524
If you are applying after the deadlines, please notify Haniza Yaacob-Ritz at hay1@pitt.edu
.
All application deadlines are made by Falk School, not by FACTS. Tuition award decisions are not made by
FACTS, but by the Falk School Tuition Assistance Committee using data provided by FACTS.
HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM FACTS
Call 1
‐
866
‐
315
‐
9262 or e-mail help@factstuitionaid.com

Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School
Tuition Assistance Policy
Page 4 of 5
Recognizing that each family bears the primary responsibility for financing a student's education costs, NAIS
Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid Administration are designed to serve as guideposts in the development of professional policies and orderly procedures among schools. Through these principles, NAIS affirms its belief that the purpose of a financial aid program is to provide monetary assistance to those students who cannot afford the cost of attending an independent school. Furthermore, these principles reflect the standards of equity and fairness NAIS embraces and reassert NAIS’s ongoing commitment to access and diversity.
1.
The school adheres to all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including those that require non-discriminatory practice in administering its financial aid policies.
2.
The school operates within the context of both short- and long-range financial aid budget and policy goals.
3.
The school uses objective research to measure the effectiveness of its progress towards its goals, and communicates the outcomes to its constituents as appropriate.
4.
The school provides clear and transparent information to families through outreach, education, and guidance on all aspects of its financial aid process and the factors that influence admission and aid eligibility.
5.
The school determines eligibility for admission without regard to a student's application for financial aid.
6.
The school commits to providing financial aid dollars to applicants who demonstrate that their family resources are insufficient to meet all or part of the total educational costs.
7.
The school continues to provide support to students as long as they demonstrate financial need.
8.
The school maintains the same standards of behavior and academic performance for recipients of financial aid as it does for non-recipients.
9.
The school enacts documented procedures that ensure a fair, consistent, and equitable assessment of each family's ability to contribute toward educational expenses.
10.
The school makes and communicates financial aid decisions in a manner that allows families to make timely, careful, and fully informed enrollment decisions.
11.
The school establishes administrative and accounting procedures that distinguish the school's need-based financial aid program from tuition assistance programs that are not based on financial need.
12.
The school safeguards the confidentiality of financial aid applications, records, and decisions while respecting the right of each family to discuss its own financial aid outcomes in an appropriate manner.
13.
The school supports collaboration between the financial aid office and other offices within the school.
14.
The school supports collegial relationships with other schools and organizations for professional development, exchange of best practices, and other information sharing, as appropriate.
HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM FACTS
Call 1
‐
866
‐
315
‐
9262 or e-mail help@factstuitionaid.com

Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School
Tuition Assistance Policy
Page 5 of 5
Unmarried, Separated, Divorced Parents
In the case of divorced or separated parents, the goal of the Tuition Assistance Committee is to get as much information as possible from both parties, as well as from the spouse or domestic partner of the custodial parent, in order to make an informed assessment of the family’s ability to pay for tuition. The same documentation is required of both parents/households. When either parent or stepparent refuses to comply, the Tuition Assistance
Committee will determine if the family will be considered for tuition assistance.
1.
Both the custodial and non-custodial parent needs to complete the FACTS application.
2.
Both the custodial and non-custodial parent must provide the FACTS office with signed and stamped tax returns and all schedules and attachments, W-2’s, and other financial information requested.
Unmarried Couples Living Together and Never-Married Parents
If unmarried couples are living together, we require financial information from both parties. If the child is from a former relationship of either party, forms will be required of the current household and the noncustodial parent.
The School will consider the circumstances and income of the entire household in determining awards. Amounts of money to be provided for education as stipulated in a divorce decree may provide useful information, but are not controlling as they reflect only a part of the financial settlement, and Falk School is not a party to such proceedings. The requirement of non-custodial parent participation may be waived when it is determined that the noncustodial parent has had little or no contact with the child for a period of at least two years and has not provided more than five percent of the cost of the child’s support during that time. The school may require written documentation from a disinterested third party who is aware of the situation in a professional capacity.
This might include a minister, doctor, teacher, lawyer, or social worker.
Dual Household Contributions
Ability to contribute to tuition may require a separate evaluation of each parental household. The sum of these evaluations and the student asset contribution will be used in determining each family’s ability to pay. In calculating ability to pay, the student will be considered a member of the custodial or primary caregiver family.
Child support will be considered as income for the payee.
Communication with Dual Households
Notification of tuition assistance will be made to the custodial parents or primary caregivers. In order to provide a breakdown of parental contributions, the School requires written permission from both households. Absent this permission, only a single figure will be listed as the award amount.
Children Living with Other Relatives or Guardians
Tuition assistance for children living with other relatives or a guardian will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Unemployed or Underemployed Parents
Parents have the primary responsibility for financing their child’s education. Tuition assistance is intended only to supplement the family contribution in cases of demonstrated need (supported with required documentation). In calculating a family’s ability to contribute to their child’s cost of education, an amount equal to a full-time minimum wage job will be imputed as the income of the non-working parent(s). Certain non-working or underemployed parents who are caring for preschool age children, a disabled child, or other relative in the home, or other extenuating circumstances may be exempt from the preceding provision.
HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM FACTS
Call 1
‐
866
‐
315
‐
9262 or e-mail help@factstuitionaid.com