Tuition Assistance for 2024/25
Conestoga Christian School desires to offer Christian schooling to as many families as possible regardless of their socio-economic status. While recognizing that some degree of sacrifice is appropriate for something as crucial as a child’s education, the Board of Trustees recognizes that financial assistance will be necessary to build and maintain the sort of student body that CCS aspires to have. For that reason, significant funds are devoted each year to tuition assistance.
Consistent with the CCS commitment to partnership with families, several discounts are offered to qualifying families to help reduce tuition. The school will use these reduced tuition amounts when considering families for tuition assistance. Examples of ways to reduce tuition are: Returning Family Credit, New Student Discount, Referring Family Incentive, Roll Over Credits, International Student Host Credit, Early Payment Discount, and Church and Mission Agency Staff Discount. For more information go to our "Ways to Reduce Tuition " page or contact the Business Office.
In order to allocate resources wisely and fairly, CCS has enlisted the help of Independent School Management’s FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) program. FAST provides the school with a recommendation of what a family should reasonably contribute toward tuition.
Tuition assistance awards typically close only a portion of the gap between what a family should reasonably expect to contribute toward tuition, as determined by FAST, and the actual tuition cost. Tuition assistance awards are made to enrolled families only. Prospective families considering enrollment are encouraged to complete the FAST application as part of the Admissions application process.
Family Eligibility:
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Tuition assistance is granted towards K-12 tuition on a need basis. Assistance is not offered for Pre-School tuition. The Tuition Assistance Committee (TAC) determines need by focusing on families’ financial statements as well as other factors. The Committee uses FAST financial aid services to help determine a family’s need.
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All applications, forms, and copies of requested documents must be completed via the FAST on-line application process. The TAC will not consider a family’s tuition assistance needs before the application process is completed.
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FAST application due dates are as follows:
a. FAST On-line application:
Round 1 - February 28, 2024
Round 2 – April 24, 2024
Round 3 – July 3, 2024
b. All information requested by FAST must be provided to them no later than the below noted dates. Information requested
includes, but is not limited to, your 2023 Federal and State Income Tax Returns, and W-2’s.
Round 1 – March 14, 2024
Round 2 – May 8, 2024
Round 3 – July 17, 2024
Guidelines:
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Tuition assistance is granted to families who have enrolled their students in CCS and have remitted any required registration fees.
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Tuition assistance is determined by the Tuition Assistance Committee (TAC) with a maximum aid amount of 50% of tuition. Tuition assistance is available only for tuition and resource room fees.
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All applications and related materials are kept confidential.
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Tuition assistance may be reduced during the year to those families whose tuition account is not in good standing unless prior arrangements are made with the business office.
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Tuition assistance is not granted retroactively.
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Families of students who owe CCS funds resulting from overdue tuition, late fees, library fines, etc. will not be considered for tuition assistance in subsequent years until the delinquent account is paid.
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Families receiving tuition assistance are strongly encouraged to donate service time to CCS.
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CCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, ethnic or national origin in the administration of its tuition assistance program.
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CCS may request additional information at a later date to comply with various private and public programs.
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Tuition assistance is granted to faculty and staff according to the Dependent Tuition Allowance policy.
Tuition Assistance Process:
Total tuition assistance granted cannot exceed the budget unless approved by the Board of Trustees.
1. The Tuition Assistance Committee (TAC) will grant tuition assistance in three rounds.
a. All rounds are for families who have completed the FAST application process by the specified due dates.
b. The approximate percentage of assistance awarded to each round will be as follows:
• 75% to Round 1
• 15% to Round 2
• 10% to Round 3
2. The timing for Tuition Assistance determinations will be as follows:
• Round 1 - early April
• Round 2 - early June
• Round 3 - early August
Families will be notified as soon as practically possible of the amount of aid granted. If the amount awarded does not meet a family’s financial need, an appeal can be submitted through FAST and further considerations will be discussed by the TAC.
3. The TAC will take into account both tuition and resource room fees when determining tuition assistance.
4. The TAC is aware of the possibility that families may encounter mid-year challenges such as layoffs and will be prepared to
address those challenges from a Tuition Assistance standpoint.
How to Apply:
1. Click on the FAST button. Note: You will be able to complete a portion of the application and return to it at another time if your
application session is interrupted.
2. The fee to apply is $53 and is payable to FAST. You will be asked to pay by credit card at the end of your application session.
3. After completing the application session, you will be required to provide FAST with copies of your most recent state and federal tax
returns and W-2’s by:
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mailing them to the address specified by FAST; or
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uploading scanned copies of the documentation into your FAST application.
4. No tuition assistance will be awarded until all supporting documents have been received by FAST.