Financially Supporting a Waldorf Education
Summerfield’s Board and Faculty are deeply committed to keeping tuition low so that all who want to attend our school can do so. As a result, 50% of all families currently receive some form of financial aid. Through a process developed over the years, and using specific formulas, the community members who make up the financial aid committee engage in a transparent conversation about what each family is able to pay towards tuition costs so that their children can receive a Summerfield education.
Tuition and Fee Schedules:
New to Summerfield? Please do not apply for Financial Assistance until after you have completed the application to the school. Click here to apply to the school.
Our Financial Assistance Process
Financial assistance grants are based on financial information submitted by parents and processed through an independent company, FACTS Grant and Aid. The total amount of financial assistance funding in the school’s budget is determined by the Board of Directors and is set at the time of drafting the operating budget for the school year. The report we receive from FACTS is a required additional tool for our Financial Assistance Committee to use in meeting our intention of awarding financial assistance grants in the most objective way possible.
Important Dates
⇒ January 29, 2021: Financial Assistance applications for all prospective 9th graders are due. Prospective 9th graders will receive any grant offer by February 12, 2021.
⇒ February 12, 2021: Financial Assistance applications for all other grades are due. Grants will be offered by March 2, 2021. After this deadline, you may still apply for the second round of grants.
⇒ April 30, 2021: Upload a copy of last year’s Tax Return(s), W-2(s) and supporting documents. Email fa@summerfieldwaldorf.org if you won’t be filing until October. You may also mail all documents directly to FACTS at P.O. Box 8252, Lincoln, NE 68501-2524 or bring to the Finance office for upload.
Apply Here through FACTS:
Go to https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/3F63P to login and select the “Start Application” link. There is a $35 application fee payable directly to FACTS. Note: Where the FACTS questionnaire is asking for “most recent tax return” info, they are referring to your 2020 income. Please complete the questionnaire with estimated 2020 income amounts. You will be able to update your FACTS application via phone (866)-315-9262 or by logging into your account once you have filed your 2020 taxes, which for the School’s purposes needs to be completed by you no later than April 30, 2021.
*Note that if a current Summerfield family is re-applying for aid, all parent/guardian tax returns for the past year must be uploaded into FACTS in order to qualify for financial aid in the coming school year. For example, a family currently receiving aid must have uploaded their 2019 tax returns for the 20-21 school year in order to qualify again for aid in 2020-21.
Families Living in Separate Households
A copy of any educational responsibility decreed by the court or a letter specifying the parents’ agreement for payment of educational costs, signed by both parents, must be received in the SWSF Finance Office by respective due date.
First Time in Private School?
If your family has a student in Kindergarten through 8th grade and is exploring the private school option for the first time, you may also look into scholarship availability through The BASIC Fund, www.basicfund.org. The BASIC Fund is a separate fund from Summerfield’s financial assistance program and offers scholarships based on its own criteria. The BASIC Fund offers scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis to families in financial need. The awards are based on household size and income and cover up to $2,000 of the tuition per child each school year. Here is the Basic Fund website application page to learn more and apply: www.basicfund.org/apply
Important Dates
August-May: Tuition collected
December 1 of every year: Financial Assistance process begins. Completed applications are due in January.
June 1: Annual Fees Due