Policy and Guidelines

Pinecrest Academy recognizes that a private education is a significant investment for families.  We are committed to making a Pinecrest education affordable to all qualified students to the extent that our resources allow.

Accordingly, the school offers a tuition assistance program intended to help families who demonstrate financial need (tuition assistance is not available for pre-kindergarten students or international students).

PHILOSOPHY

Pinecrest Academy awarded over $1.6 million in tuition assistance, inclusive of Goal Scholarships, in the 2011 - 2012 school year under the guidance of the Financial Aid Committee.

Tuition assistance helps to fill the gap between the actual cost of tuition and what a family can realistically pay toward this cost, and is based solely upon demonstrated financial need; families will be expected to contribute to their child's educational expenses to the greatest extent they are able and sacrifices will be expected by the families.  Tuition assistance is given at the school’s discretion based on an assessment of the family’s financial need and on the availability of funds; preference is given to families who have children already attending the school. While it is not possible to fulfill all financial requests, Pinecrest Academy makes every effort to help as many families as resources allow.

Pinecrest operates a need-blind admission policy, therefore a family's application for financial aid will have no bearing on a student's application for admission. Once a student has been admitted to Pinecrest, financial aid must be applied for, determined, and renewed annually on the basis of the current demonstrated financial need against the funds available.

To promote clarity and good understanding, we would like to stress the following points:

• To participate in the Tuition Assistance Program, each family is expected to hold Pinecrest Academy high on your list of financial priorities. An adjustment in tuition is not intended to support discretionary items such as a second home, investment portfolios, debt-free status, extended vacations, or large amounts of home equity. Having any of these situations does not preclude an adjustment but will be taken into consideration in relations to the school’s needs.
• Participation in the Goal Scholarship program during the 2011 calendar year and all subsequent years is expected for all families awarded tuition assistance who fall within the state guidelines, unless a family has communicated to the Business Office in writing that they have no ($0) state tax liability for the given year.
• Should a family’s financial situation change in any way, for better or for worse, it is imperative that the Business Office be contacted immediately.
• The health of the school depends on the involvement of all our parents and wider community and it is asked that all families participating in the Tuition Assistance Program commit to volunteering their help with fundraising events and tasks at the school.
• Tuition Assistance funds are limited; not all families who qualify for tuition assistance are awarded tuition assistance, nor is it sometimes possible to award all the assistance that is requested.

HOW TO APPLY

To help determine each family's need, we subscribe to the School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS). All information submitted is held in strict confidence between School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), the application service, and Pinecrest Academy.

The SSS report is a necessary tool for the Tuition Assistance Committee to meet its intention of awarding tuition assistance in the most objective and equitable way possible. Your SSS Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) is submitted online. SSS charges a flat fee of $35 to submit an application for tuition assistance. After the SSS has processed your PFS, they will generate a report which will be sent directly to Pinecrest Academy.

THIS REPORT (PARENTS’ FINANCIAL STATEMENT) MUST BE RECEIVED BY SSS BY DECEMBER 16, 2011. APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RE-ENROLLING FAMILIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AFTER DECEMBER 16, 2011.

Important Dates for Current Families - Tuition Assistance Applications for 2012-2013 Academic Year

STEPS FOR SUBMITTING TUITION ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS

1. Tuition Assistance Applications must be filled out on-line at http://sss.nais.org/parents. Paper applications will not be accepted. If you have any questions about the on-line application process, please call SSS at 800.344.8328. The SSS system will be available for online entry beginning November 1, 2011.
   
   
   1. Gather materials needed to complete your PFS such as your most recent pay stub and 1040.
   2. Click on the above link to the SSS homepage and click on “Apply NOW!”
   3. Click on “Start a New PFS” to set up your PFS Online account with your e-mail address and a password. Click on “Save and Login”. Returning parents: If you completed an online PFS application last year, use your e-mail address and existing password. If you have forgotten your password, click on “Forgot my password”.
   4. Answer each question, using line by line help. Please ignore the instructions for submitting a paper application as paper applications will not be accepted. Only on-line applications will be accepted. The school code for Pinecrest Academy is 5795.
   5. Complete the application and submit it on line including the $35 flat fee. 
      
      
2. Please send the following documents directly to SSS along with the required Cover Sheet found on the SSS website.
   
   
   1. Photocopy of your 2010 IRS Tax Return
   2. Photocopy of your child’s 2010 tax return if you have filed for them
   3. Tax Extension Statement if you have files for an extension in 2010 Download Income Tax Extension Statement
   4. Income Tax Non-Filer Statement if you are not required to file taxes in 2010 Download Income Tax Non Filer Statement
   5. Photo copy of your most recent paycheck stub
   6. Photo copy of your estimated tax filings for 2011 if self employed
   7. For families that own their home(s), a copy of each of the most recent property tax assessment(s)
   8. Completed and signed, but not dated IRS form 4506T Download IRS-4506T
   9. For new students, copy of transcript from previous school
   10. For Kindergarten, copy of birth certificate

The mailing address is:
School and Student Services by NAIS
PO Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368-0449 USA

Please note the following:

• Tuition assistance applications are deemed complete and will be eligible for review only if all of the above documents are received by SSS. If you are separated or divorced, please be sure to read the information that follows regarding our financial aid policy for separated or divorced parents and note that each parent must complete and sign all forms as stated above.

• Tuition assistance is not available for international students or pre-kindergarten students.

NOTE: No application is reviewed until all required information is received. The online application with SSS and all additional documents must be submitted to SSS by December 16, 2011 to be considered. Please, it is your responsibility to make sure your file is complete.

NOTIFICATION

Notification of the Tuition Assistance decision will be mailed to parents along with an Enrollment Contract February 2012.

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

All returning Pinecrest Academy families applying for Tuition Assistance must be current in their tuition payments by the submission deadline (December 16, 2011) to be eligible to both return to Pinecrest and apply for tuition assistance for the 2012 - 2013 academic year. Participation in the GOAL Scholarship program is expected for all Tuition Assistance applicants who have a Georgia state tax liability.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS WHO ARE SEPARATED OR DIVORCED

Pinecrest Academy requires that separated or divorced parents requesting financial aid must both complete a financial aid application. This includes the custodial parent and non-custodial parent. Each parent is required to submit all forms including copies of his or her Federal tax return(s) in addition to the online Parent’s Financial Statement Form (PFS) to SSS.

Pinecrest Academy’s policy in determining financial need of students of separated or divorced families is derived from the underlying principles on which we base financial aid for all students – parents have the responsibility for educational expenses. Therefore, the income, expenses, assets and liabilities of the entire family are considered to determine what the family can contribute to the cost of education.

The term custodial parent refers to the parent with whom the student resides (or resided with most during the 12 months prior to the date of the application). The other parent is referred to as the non-custodial parent even in cases where parents legally share joint custody. Please remember that under joint custody, both parents are liable for the full amount of tuition owed.

The school wishes to minimize any potential problems families may encounter as a result of this policy, so the Financial Aid Committee would be glad to accept written information as part of the SSS application relevant to any special circumstances that might prevent compliance, such as:

1. The location of the non-custodial parent is unknown
2. The non-custodial parent has had no contact with the family for more than three (3) years

Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any further questions.