Tuition Assistance
Returning Families: For information on reapplying for tuition assistance log in to "Inside Berkwood Hedge" and select "Office - Financial Matters." Your deadlines and required documents are slightly different from new families.
We are glad that your family is considering Berkwood Hedge School for the 2011-12 school year. We actively seek to make our school affordable and accessible to the community. All families of current and prospective students are eligible to apply for tuition assistance.
Applications for tuition assistance are considered independently of the admissions process and awards are need-based. Families may apply for an assistance award for extended care as well as for tuition. We ask every family to contribute a minimum of 25% of tuition/fees.
Applications for assistance are confidentially reviewed by the Tuition Assistance Committee. The committee strives to consider each applicant family's unique situation. Accordingly, we require certain information in order to make equitable determinations.
We use School and Student Services (SSS) to process our tuition assistance applications. SSS is a service of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Based on the financial information you provide, SSS gives us an estimated amount that your family can contribute to educational expenses. This helps our school make fair and equitable tuition assistance decisions. The interface and on-screen help are user-friendly with clear, step-by-step instructions. You will be able to begin your Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) and complete it at a later date and you'll be able to track the receipt of documents, so that you know the status of your application.
You may begin applying for tuition assistance starting on November 1, 2010, as described below. To be eligible for consideration, you must adhere to the deadlines listed below. We will send admissions decision letters and communicate decisions about tuition assistance awards on March 10, 2011 after 12 pm.
To begin your tuition assistance application for the 2011-12 enrollment year, follow the steps below.
ONLINE
Starting on Monday, November 1, 2010 go to sss.nais.org and click on the prompt to begin your Parents' Financial Statement (PFS). Berkwood Hedge's school code is 2904. You need complete only one PFS even if you have more than one child applying to our school.
- You will be given a username and password that will allow you to return to your PFS at a later date before submitting it. Your information will be secure.
- Please also mail the following backup documents to SSS with the PFS Cover Sheet (obtained on line at the time you submit and pay for the PFS)*:
- 2009 federal tax returns (including all schedules) by Friday, January 21, 2011. (If filing separately, copies of both parents'/guardians' returns are required).
- The Berkwood Hedge Tuition Assistance Application Form (PDF) by Friday, January 21, 2011
- The Berkwood Hedge Tuition Assistance Application Form (Word)
- 2010 W-2's by Friday, February 4, 2011
- To complete your file, you will need to provide a copy of your 2010 federal tax returns including all schedules by April 15, 2011.
Note: If you apply for tuition assistance online, your information will be delivered accurately and quickly to our school, allowing us to make a quicker decision about your eligibility for tuition assistance.
BY MAIL
If you prefer to apply by mail, please contact Debbie Lloyd at 510 883-6991 x7# or for a hard copy of the PFS and the Berkwood Hedge Tuition Assistance Application Form and instructions concerning other required documents.
If you have any questions about the Berkwood Hedge Tuition Assistance Application, please contact Betsy Willson, Assistant Director 510 883-6990,
For all other questions, contact:
SSS at (800) 344-8328 (Monday-Friday: 9 am - 8 pm EST, Saturday 9 am - 4 pm EST).
*By US Mail:
School and Student Service by NAIS
Application Processing Center
PO Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368
By Overnight Service
School and Student Service by NAIS
Application Processing Center
437 Turnpike St.
Canton, MA 02021
Other sources of tuition assistance
The Basic Fund
www.basicfund.org, 415 986-5650
The Guardsmen
www.guardsmen.org, 415 856-0939
(You can apply now for assistance from these organizations even if you don't know yet which school your child will be attending or what your tuition amount will be. You can only receive assistance for one of these organizations)