NEW TUITION PLAN SMS My Fair Share St Mary’s Catholic School January 2016

Overview: It’s MyFairShare Key questions: What is MyFairShare? How is MyFairShare different? What is MyFairShare trying to accomplish? How do we know if MyFairShare’s working?

Current Financial Aid Process Families apply for aide in March for the upcoming school year Process includes proof of income, desire for Catholic education and extenuating circumstances Local church is asked for pledge St. Mary’s is asked to cover additional expenses Families agree to terms and conditions of partnering including service hours, academics and attendance.

What MyFairShare Is

The Facts and Philosophy Every student deserves a quality Christian education that is accessible and affordable. The current process of limitless financial assistance is a financial strain on the parish and is no longer sustainable. The current process does not always provide equitable and fair distribution of funds and puts the school in a terrible position of evaluating pastoral needs. This plan publishes a scaled tuition ranging from 40% to 100% of actual cost.

How we talk about MyFairShare Students are not “on” MyFairShare… Families pay tuition below the top of the index Families pay tuition that is affordable for their economic profile MyFairShare makes an SMS education accessible to families from a wide range of economic circumstances MyFairShare supports the school’s commitment to economic diversity

How MyFairShare Is Different

The Process Families submit current year’s Tax Return and registration fee with letter of intent by March 15. The finance committee will evaluate tax information in context of budget to determine a families fair share Families will be asked to contribute between 40 to 100% of Actual Tuition Families will be notified by letter by April 15 th of expected Contribution Families repeat the process each year

What MYFairShare will Not change Families will continue to receive a $100 per month stipend from their home Parish – regardless of MyFairShare range. Families will continue to receive multi child discounts Academic, attendance, behavior and financial requirements must be upheld to continue discounted tuition Enrichment, Athletic and other fees will continue to be in addition to tuition Fund raising obligations twice a year will remain unchanged Teachers will continue to receive one child free and additional children at the multi-child discounted rate. Teachers may also get the parish stipend if they qualify. Teachers that receive the “myfairshare” for a high school student will pay the difference between 8 th grade and high school tuition.

What MYFairShare will change All families, regardless of indexed tuition, will be able to choose between 10 or 12 month payment plans. Families will receive a multi child discount for high school students Students entering high school beginning 2015 will not receive a “lock in” rate but may be subject to incremental cost of education increases. Any family that can not meet the expected MyFairShare rate must appeal to their parish priest for assistance beyond qualified indexed amount based on pastoral needs. Additional service hours will not be required for MyFairShare Committed volunteer hours (work trade) will not be considered for any incoming new families Teachers that do not have any biological children at SMS may sponser 1 child for Their “my fairshare”.

Financial Aid Traditional term, providing help Financial Assistance Slightly More Modern, synonym for help Flexible Tuition Reduced tuition to ability to pay MyFairShare Tuition at the level a family can afford

Access/affordability Economic diversity Retention Recruitment

St Mary’s Catholic School 405 Hollybrook Drive Longview, TX Contact Information Amy Allen, principal MTS, MEd