Financial Aid for the 2009-2010 Academic Year
Rawson-Saunders is committed to assisting families in need, and financial aid is awarded based
on the financial need of the family. Awards
will range from 5% to 50% of annual tuition. Financial aid awards are considered and granted May 1.
The Financial Aid Committee will consider all pertinent information
made available to it and make awards within the financial aid
budget of the school.
To assist applicants for financial aid, a checklist is available.
Click here for a
copy of the checklist.
Financial need will be assessed using the following documents:
- The FACTS Financial Need Assessment. Click here to obtain this form
or request via mail at
P.O. Box 82524, Lincoln, NE 68501-2524.
- Complete the FACTS assessment as soon as possible after January 1,
making payment directly to FACTS for this service.
- Keep a copy of the FACTS assessment application for your records.
- Current and prior two years’ IRS forms 1040, all W-2 forms,
and 1099 statements (and all schedules).
- The current (2008) tax forms must be submitted to
Rawson-Saunders Financial Aid office by April 21st.
- IRS form 4506, if applicable.
Applicants may submit a one-page letter providing additional information if it would help
the Financial Aid Committee better understand the family's financial situation.
Financial aid will be awarded in the following order of priority:
- Currently enrolled Rawson-Saunders students
- Already accepted new students
- Students accepted during the 2009-2010 academic year
Financial Aid Policies:
- Financial awards will be granted to families with completed applications
on a first come, first served basis. All required documents must be received
by the Financial Aid Committee before the application will be reviewed.
- A standing Financial Aid Committee, responsible for reviewing and approving
financial aid awards recommended by the Financial Aid Officer,
will include the Admissions Director, the Head of School,
the office manager, and one or two community Board members (non-parents).
Other members as appointed by the Head of School may be included.
The committee will operate according to the NAIS best practices for
financial aid administration, and will review and revise
Rawson-Saunders’ financial aid policies and procedures annually.
The Financial Aid Committee will endeavor to keep applicant
information confidential. Rawson-Saunders recognizes that some
information may need to be shared with certain school employees,
and in that event, it will be handled with discretion and reminders
of the need for confidentiality.
- The Head of School may serve as the school’s Financial Aid Officer.
- The Head of School is not empowered to grant financial aid without
Financial Aid Committee review and approval.
- All information submitted to the committee shall be kept confidential
and will consist only of that information pertinent to the award decision.
Only the financial committee will know the applicant’s identity.
- Awards are mailed to families as applications are processed.
- All grants are for one year, and must be reapplied for each year,
following the procedures outlined above.
- Financial aid students will be held to the same academic and behavioral
standards as the rest of the student body.
- In cases of parents’ divorce or separation, the school will not be bound
by any divorce agreement specifying a parent’s responsibility for education expenses.
It is expected that both parents will participate in the financial aid application
and in the financial support of the student’s education. If a parent has remarried,
it is expected that the new spouse will participate in the financial aid application
and in the financial support of the student’s education.
- It is expected that both parents will provide income in support of the
student’s educational expenses unless a parent is disabled or is caring
for a pre-school child, a disabled child, or a disabled relative.
If a parent does not meet the criteria of these exemptions and is
not providing income, the school reserves the right to impute income for that parent.
If a parent chooses not to work and all children in the household are in grade
levels from kindergarten and above, a minimum of $25,000 of income, or the last
reported earnings, if higher, is imputed in calculating the family’s gross income
figure for the year. The Financial Aid Committee, at its sole discretion,
may decide to impute a higher level of income to calculate gross income.
Factors such as prior employment, training, and education degrees may be
used to evaluate the imputation of income. The committee may also review
and re-evaluate award calculations taking into consideration family choices
regarding work and ability to work. Both adults’ assets, whether married,
living together or separated, will be used to determine the family’s need for aid.
- It is expected that the family will provide for financial support of the student’s
education before making charitable contributions to other institutions or organizations.
- It is expected that a family’s financial support of the student’s education is a
greater priority than owning and maintaining a second home.
- Business losses and expenses that do not affect cash flow
(such as depreciation and home office write-offs) may be disallowed when
computing financial need.
- College and/or other private school tuition will be taken into account
when computing financial need. It is assumed that the other institutions
will provide financial aid at least to the extent provided by Rawson-Saunders School.
- It is expected that applicants for financial aid will notify the school of
contributions toward the student’s expense from sources other than the immediate family.
Contributions made by grandparents must be reported to the committee,
and will be taken into account for the determination of financial need.
Rawson-Saunders School reserves the right to update these policies as needed.
