Financial Aid

Financial Aid Information for Prospective Families for the 2010-11 school year

Grace Episcopal Day School offers need-based financial aid to current and incoming four year old through eighth grade students.  To be eligible for financial aid, a family must demonstrate financial need based on criteria established by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS). Approximately 18% of the student body received some level of financial aid for the 2009 – 2010 academic year.

SSS is a service of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) used by many independent schools to objectively evaluate and recommend financial aid awards for applying families. The SSS determines an estimated amount that each family can contribute toward educational expenses based on information provided by applicant families.  This information includes W2s and copies of the 2009 IRS Form 1040 (with complete schedules) for both parents, if applicable.  The Financial Aid Committee then reviews the Report of Family Contribution provided by SSS and makes an award determination.

Grace’s Financial Aid Policy requires all families to contribute at least 25% towards the cost of tuition, and accordingly, financial aid awards are limited to 75% of applicable tuition and fees.  Families for whom the SSS recommended contribution is equal to or greater than tuition and fees will not be awarded financial aid.

Financial aid award letters will be mailed beginning the first week of March. Grace strives to provide financial aid to all applicants; however, a qualified applicant may be offered admission along with a space on our financial aid waitlist if funds are no longer available. The Office of Financial Aid will notify families on the waitlist if funds become available.

Grace Episcopal Day School is aware of the major financial commitment and investment that independent school education requires, and we believe that parents applying for financial aid should pay the tuition and additional fees to the best of their ability. If an applicant family believes there are extenuating circumstances that should be considered by the Financial Aid Committee, the family should communicate these circumstances in writing, directing them to the attention of Courtney Hundley, Director of Financial Aid.  The school also believes that recipients of financial aid should support the school's events, including the Annual Fund for Grace, as best as they are able.

Financial Aid Application Process
Prospective or returning families may apply for financial aid starting on November 1, 2009, as described below.  Eligibility for financial aid at Grace Episcopal Day School requires that the SSS’ Parents Financial Statement (PFS) form and supporting documents be submitted to SSS by February 15, 2010. 

To begin your financial aid application for the 2010 – 2011 academic year, follow the steps below.

Online
Starting on November 1, 2009, go to sss.nais.org.

1.  Click on the prompt to begin your PFS. You only need to complete one PFS even if you have more than one child applying to our school.

2.  Enter the code for Grace Episcopal Day School: 3479

3.  Make note of the user name and password that SSS gives you.  SSS will allow you to save information and return to your PFS at a later date before final submission.  Your information will be secure.

Instructions will be provided about how to submit supporting documents directly to SSS.  Supporting documents include W2s and copies of the 2009 IRS Form 1040 (with complete schedules) for both parents, if applicable.   These documents must be received at SSS by February 15, 2010. The information you send to SSS will remain secure and be treated confidentially.

Please note that if you apply for financial aid online, your information will be delivered more quickly to our school, allowing us to respond to your request for financial aid more quickly.

By Mail
Grace Episcopal Day School is working to "go green" and does not routinely mail PFS forms. Please call our office if you would like a paper copy.

1. Complete the PFS (make sure child/children's names are on all documentation submitted).

2. Mail or deliver to:

Application Processing Center
School and Student Services by NAIS
P.O. Box 449, Randolph, MA 02368-0449 USA

Please contact Courtney Hundley, the Director of Financial Aid, at 301-585-3513 x 18 or chundley@geds.org if you have any questions.  (You may also contact the SSS hotline at 1-800-344-8328.)