Introducing Parents to FAST

Dear Parents,

This year we will utilize the online service of Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) to process applications. FAST will be the standard submission format for all Financial Aid applications. FAST is owned by Independent School Management(ISM), one of the leading management-support firms for private-independent schools in the United States and abroad.

FAST does not decide whether financial assistance will be given or how much to give; rather FAST provides a need-based financial aid analysis service which includes a recommendation of what a family should contribute toward tuition. All information from FAST is kept confidential. Results are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee who makes recommendations to the Head of School based on next year’s budget. Financial aid offers are then sent to families.

• As a reminder, you must reapply each year.
• Please continue to read through the following policies to make sure you are interested in applying.
• The application process is self-guided. You may navigate in and out of the program allowing you to partially complete an application and go back to it at another time. Online e-mail and a 24/7 helpline is provided. Please do not call the school with questions.
• The charge for the application is $34.00 and to be paid by credit card at the end of the session. If you do not have a credit card, or cannot budget the fee, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for assistance.

The goal is to have an award determination made by the time contracts are issued.

• For returning parents, we ask you to submit your applications as soon as possible after submitting your re-enrollment registration, but no later than March 30th, 2010.
• For new students, we ask that you submit your application to FAST at the same time as your application for enrollment to St. James Episcopal School.
• After completing the online application you will be required to mail your 2009 federal tax returns with all schedules and W-2’s to FAST.
• Your tax return must follow the submission. The tax submission deadline is 2 weeks after your application has been completed.
• Please make your tax appointment early.

We believe that using FAST will allow us to gather information consistently across all candidates, and to make as equitable a decision as possible. This is particularly important due to our limited budget for financial aid. We also believe it will keep your financial data secure, and maintain the high degree of confidentiality that you expect.

Sincerely,

Loree Birkenback/Head of School

Continue to Financial Assistance Policy