Tuition Adjustments
Tuition Adjustment Program
Tacoma Waldorf School believes that any family seeking a Waldorf Education for their child should not let lack of financial resources stop them from applying. To the extent that our funds permit, financial aid is available to families that are able to establish financial need through the Tuition Adjustment Program (TAP).
Tuition Adjustment does not cover the application fee, enrollment fee, capital asset fee, supply fee, nor does it cover costs that arise during the school year, such as, recorders, field trips or musical instrument rentals. Tuition Adjustment cannot be used in conjunction with discounts (sibling or prepaid).
Financial aid does not automatically renew each year. If you wish to receive financial assistance for the next school year, you must complete an application. All financial aid information received will be treated confidentially.
All admissions decisions are made independently of the financial aid process. The families of incoming students should apply for aid only after receiving a letter of acceptance.
Should I apply for Financial Aid?
TWS recognizes that the primary responsibility for financing a student's Waldorf Education rests with his or her family. For most families, meeting this financial commitment takes planning and effort. There are no set guidelines that we can offer to help you decide whether to apply for financial aid. The best way to determine your eligibility is to submit an application and proceed through the process. Each family's circumstances are different and many other factors beyond income are taken into consideration when making financial aid awards.
General Award Guidelines
A financial analysis is conducted through SMART Tuition, our tuition management company, this is the primary information used in determining financial aid awards. However, the school uses these results only as a guideline. The range of tuition assistance awarded generally falls between 5% and 50% of tuition costs.
How do I apply for Financial Aid? How can I get more information?
- New Families – A SMART Tuition Aid Application Form may be requested with the Enrollment Contract. Mail, or e-mail the SMART Tuition Aid Application, application fee and necessary paperwork to SMART Tuition for processing. Submit the Enrollment Contract (leaving tuition fields blank) and the nonrefundable enrollment fee to the school office. (if the TAP award does not meet your financial needs for enrolling an exception will be made and you enrollment fee will be refunded).
- Returning Families – A SMART Tuition Aid Application Form may be requested with the Enrollment Contract. Mail, or e-mail the SMART Tuition Aid Application, application fee and necessary paperwork to SMART Tuition for processing. Submit the completed Enrollment Contract (leaving tuition fields blank) and nonrefundable re-enrollment fee to the school office. TAP applications are processed in batches. All paperwork must be completed by February 28th to be eligible in the first batch. All future batches will be processed during open enrollment and your child’s space cannot be guaranteed. (if the TAP award does not meet your financial needs for enrolling an exception will be made and you enrollment fee will be refunded).
- Each application is coded and reviewed by SMART Tuition with recommendations for tuition award amounts and returned for evaluation to TWS for the standing TAP committee to review. The TAP committee consists of the Business Manager, Board Member and a Faculty member. The TAP committee will then determine each family’s TAP award. Applicants are notified of the award decision through an award letter within three to four weeks.
- If the applicant chooses to accept their award amount they are asked to come to the school office to complete a SMART Tuition Form and complete the Enrollment Contract reflecting the new tuition rate within 2 weeks of receipt of their award letter. The award is forfeited if a signed re-enrollment/enrollment contract and SMART Tuition Form are not returned to the school within this time period.
- Written communication regarding the adjusted tuition will then be sent to the school bookkeeper.
