Financial Aid

Financial Aid Guidelines
Important Notes about Financial Aid
Procedures for Applying for Financial Aid
Deadlines

Financial Aid Guidelines

Since its founding, Trinity Christian School has provided financial aid to families based on their individual needs and according to established guidelines.  Financial aid is funded by private donations and by means of an allowance of the school’s anticipated tuition income for the coming school year.  
This funding supports aid to the following:

• Families with more than one student attending Trinity and who have expressed a need
• Students of faculty and staff members
• Families who complete an application and qualify for need-based financial aid

Financial aid applications are processed through the online service FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition).  FAST does not decide whether financial aid will be given or the amount of financial aid, but rather provides an analysis report to the school based on specified criteria and gives a recommendation of the amount a family should reasonably contribute towards tuition.

An ad hoc committee of the Board of Trustees makes a determination regarding financial aid based upon a thorough review of the FAST report and supporting materials.  When considering a family’s request for financial aid, the following factors are taken into account:

• Number of children enrolled currently
• Total number of school age children
• Total family income
• Net worth
• Housing costs
• Cost of living for our area
• Significant health-related expenses
• Employment in full-time Christian ministry
• Single parent/child support issues
• The family’s previous payment history with the school
• Other extenuating circumstances

 Important Notes about Financial Aid

1. Parents submit their application for financial aid online through the FAST link on this webpage.
2. The due date for financial aid applications is February 28, 2010.
   Please be advised that funds are limited, with a large percentage awarded to applicants submitting by the February 28 deadline.  However, a limited amount of funds are set aside each year for families applying after that date.
3. Responses to financial aid requests filed by the deadline are supplied in writing by March 19, 2010, or two weeks after applying if enrolling at a later date.
4. Financial aid is awarded only after a student has been formally accepted and FAST has received all required documentation. 
5. All families applying for financial aid are asked to seriously explore all other avenues of meeting their tuition needs (e.g., help from extended family members, part-time employment) before turning to the school for assistance.
6. Financial aid cannot exceed 50% of the family’s total tuition expense and applies only to tuition.  All other fees must be paid in full.
7. Measures are in place to protect the confidentiality and security of all financial information provided to FAST and to the school.

Procedures for Applying for Financial Aid

Parents access the FAST website using this icon:     

1. The application process is self-guided and allows navigation in and out of the program.  FAST provides online customer support via email and a 24/7 helpline.
2. We recommend reviewing the materials needed to complete the application and gathering those materials prior to entering the information.  The online application process, once the materials have been gathered, takes approximately one hour.
3. The charge for the application is $34 and is paid by Visa or MasterCard at the end of the session.  For those who do not have a Visa or MasterCard, please contact the Business Office prior to beginning the application process to pay by check and receive a voucher to use at the end of the session.
4.  After completing the online application, 2009 Federal and State tax returns, with all schedules and W-2s, must be mailed to FAST using the following address:

             FAST Processing
             Independent School Management
            1316 North Union Street
             Wilmington, DE  19806-2594

Pre-addressed envelopes are available in the Business Office and in the Office of Admission.  If a pre-addressed envelope is not used, please write “Trinity Christian School” below the return address to ensure faster processing of the application.

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Deadlines

February 28, 2010 – Deadline for submission of applications online via FAST
March 6, 2010 – Postmark deadline for mailing of tax information to FAST

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