BFS admissions: Tuition assistance











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Financial Aid at Brooklyn Friends School

See application and financial aid application deadlines. All tuition assistance forms and supporting materials must be received by BFS no later than January 9, 2008 for current families or no later than January 11, 2008 for prospective families.

NEW! You can now complete the Parents’ Financial Statement online—see information.

The Mission Statement of Brooklyn Friends School underscores the school’s commitment to educate each student in a diverse community. Our financial aid program supports that mission and strives to ensure socioeconomic diversity within the student population.

While we believe the primary responsibility for financing a student’s independent school education rests with his/her family, we work diligently to make a Brooklyn Friends School education accessible to as many families of varying economic backgrounds as possible.

See tuition schedule.

GENERAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES

All students accepted to the school for Kindergarten to Grade 11 are eligible to receive a tuition grant if need is demonstrated; however, admissions decisions and financial aid decisions are made separately. Grants are based on demonstrated financial need. Financial need is defined as the difference between BFS tuition costs and the family’s ability to pay. Because of the school’s limited funds, an acceptance by the admissions office does not guarantee a grant even if need is demonstrated.
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THE PROCESS

Brooklyn Friends School is a member of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, NJ, which assists independent schools in determining financial need. BFS funds all tuition grants, not SSS. The BFS Financial Aid Committee annually assesses, in an equitable manner, each family’s ability to pay for education, using the information provided by SSS and other financial information provided by the family. The tuition grants are awarded from the school’s financial aid budget determined by The Brooklyn Friends School Committee.

All families who wish to obtain grants must apply each year they anticipate need. Because requests for tuition grants often exceed the available funds, families are encouraged to apply early enough to meet the school’s deadlines, thereby ensuring due consideration.

If you are a member of the New York Quarterly Meeting, you may also apply for aid through the New York Quarterly Education Fund to the Phoebe Anna Thorne Scholarship Committee. Priority is given to elementary and secondary students who are attending Quaker schools. Applications are generally due in January and notification is mailed in May. The BFS Financial Aid Committee will not take this aid into account when determining your family’s tuition grant.

Families are not required to submit a contract to the school, finalizing their commitment of enrollment, until they have been notified in writing of their tuition grant. Generally, families have 7 to 10 business days to return the contract and required, non-refundable deposit to Brooklyn Friends School. For families who have been awarded a grant, the required deposit is determined by the amount of the award and will be indicated in the award letter.

Funding for the tuition grants program at Brooklyn Friends School include gifts from parents, alumni/ae, friends of the school, and Quaker endowments.

Please Note:

Our tuition grants program begins in kindergarten.

If parents are separated, divorced or have never married, each parent must file separately with SSS.

The school does not offer merit awards for prospective students, educational loans, or service in exchange for tuition payment.

The school does not award more than is determined to be the difference between the applicant’s resources and the school’s tuition.

Families should anticipate tuition increases each year. The tuition balance due to BFS may increase each year relative to tuition increases.

Brooklyn Friends gives priority to children of Quaker families, BFS faculty and staff, alumni/ae, siblings, and children who will ensure the diversity of the community.

All grant information is kept in strict confidence, and students receiving tuition assistance are not held to different academic or behavioral standards.

The Financial Aid Committee will not award the financial aid to any student whose re-enrollment contract has not been released.

See more information for parents on the website of the National Association of Independent Schools. Families can now complete and submit the Parents’ Financial Statement online, at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss. PFS Online lets you complete the PFS faster, around the clock, with password access for confidentiality, on-screen help, and an error-checking process that warns you of potential delay-causing mistakes.

CRITERIA

Major factors in determining tuition assistance include, but are not limited to, net income, assets (such as home equity and savings), the number of dependents, and the number of children attending tuition-charging educational institutions. The formula used by SSS to determine a family’s discretionary income includes allowances for working parents and consideration for parents who are reaching retirement age.

BFS policies and procedures take into account more information than the calculation done at SSS. The following paragraphs provide examples of how the Brooklyn Friends School calculation for the parent/guardian contribution may differ from the SSS calculation.

The Financial Aid Committee expects financial information from all adults living in the student’s household. In addition, if the parents are divorced, separated, or have never been married, both parents must apply. If the non-custodial parent is unavailable or has no contact with the student, the school requires a letter from a clergyman or attorney attesting to the absence of the non-custodial parent. If divorced parents have remarried, financial information from the stepparent is required. The committee will take into consideration the parent’s financial commitment to his or her other children. Because family situations are varied and unique, it is important to explain any unusual circumstances to the committee in a letter accompanying the paperwork sent to the school.

If a parent is not working, the Financial Aid Committee will consider the earning potential of that parent. If the parent is not working because he or she is caring for an infant or an elderly family member, or is ill, this should be explained to the committee in a letter accompanying the paperwork sent to the school.

The Financial Aid Committee makes an adjustment to depreciation on investment properties, hobby businesses, and most losses on second homes. This policy may change the “Other Taxable Income” figure submitted to SSS and, thereby, change the suggested family contribution indicated by the SSS calculation.

INFORMATION FOR TUITION GRANT APPLICANTS

The Financial Aid Committee recommends that parents/guardians:

Fill out the Parent Financial Statement online.

Request and pay for the “Family Report” from SSS. Parents will receive this report at approximately the same time the school receives its information from SSS. In this way, parents can be assured the information was sent out, and they can examine the calculation results to ensure accuracy.

For your convenience, you may send the required documents electronically to admissions [at] brooklynfriends [dot] org.

Adhere to the appropriate deadline (for re-enrolling student or for prospective student) for all required paperwork. The committee will not review an application until all the information is completed and received. The committee reviews complete files on a first-come-first-served basis until the budget is exhausted.

Fill out the SSS form (s) as accurately and as completely as possible given the information available at the time of application. Families can complete and submit the Parents’ Financial Statement online, at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss, starting November 15. Do not leave spaces blank. Please fill in a zero or N/A for “Not Applicable.” Please give special attention to the space at the end of the SSS form, where you should explain in detail all circled items with an entry other than zero and any unusual circumstances. If you need more space, you may add an additional piece of paper. Please write clearly.

Read the directions carefully when filling out the SSS form(s), particularly for question 17, asking for any “Unusual Expenses.” The only allowable unusual expenses are: child support paid, closing costs for home purchases or home refinancing, legal fees, nursing home care, sewer, street, and water assessments (installation only), unreimbursed tuition for parent’s education, and uninsured natural disaster expenses (flood, fire, storm damage, etc.).

TUITION SCHEDULES

Please note that a $2,000 nonrefundable deposit is required with the enrollment contract. (This may be adjusted accordingly for financial aid applicants.)

Brooklyn Friends School offers several payment options:

payment of the full balance due on or before May 1st;

two equal payments of the balance due on or before May 1st and on or before September 1st; and

a ten-month payment plan paid to Key Bank beginning May 1st through February 1st (processing charge).

The school also recommends the educational loan program offered by Key Education Resources, the Achiever Loan. Parents/Guardians can find out specific information by calling 800 KEY LEND or on the Internet at www.Key.com/educate/independent. The school also recommends TERI Educational Loans. TERI’s customer service number is 800 255-TERI or find them on the Internet at www.teri.org.
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TUITION GRANTS FILING CHECKLIST

The Financial Aid Committee of the Brooklyn Friends School Committee has endorsed the following procedures for awarding tuition grants to students. Please follow these directions carefully:

STEP 1: Fill out the Parent’s Financial Statement (the SSS application form).

Please make two copies of this form.

Send the original to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) with a check for their fee.

Send one copy to Brooklyn Friends School.

Keep one copy for your own records.

STEP 2: In addition to the copy of the SSS application form, submit the following paperwork directly to Brooklyn Friends School, c/o The Financial Aid Committee, 375 Pearl Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201:

A signed (not dated) copy of IRS form 4506.

A copy of your 2006 US Individual or Joint Tax Return (Form 1040) including all schedules.

When available, a copy of your 2007 W-2 and/ or 1099 tax forms.

If appropriate to your family’s circumstances, the SSS Business form and a copy of your 2006 form 1120S or form 1065.

If appropriate to your family’s circumstances, a copy of your child’s 2006 Individual Tax Form (Form 1040).

Call Brooklyn Friends School if you need forms: (718) 852-1029, ext. 201.
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DEADLINES

All of the above MUST BE RECEIVED by Brooklyn Friends School by the following dates:

No later than JANUARY 9, 2008, if you are a returning family OR

No later than JANUARY 11, 2008, if you are applying for admission

Please Note:

The Financial Aid Committee reserves the right to ask for additional financial documents or explanation and/or the 1040 Tax Form (after the April 15th tax filing) if more information is needed.

You will be notified of your grant award by letter in time for you to meet your enrollment deadline if the school received the required paperwork on time. The school cannot guarantee that funds will be available to applicants who file after the deadline. Awards are not final until the school receives all required documentation. If your award makes it impossible for you to enroll, please contact the admissions director to discuss a possible appeal to the Financial Aid Committee. In order to appeal the Financial Aid Committee’s decision, your financial aid file must have been completed (SSS information, tax form, and any other relevant documents) by the deadline. A family may only appeal once.

If you have any questions or require additional forms, do not hesitate to contact our admissions office or business office.
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