Basic Principles of Financial Aid at Breck

1.    A student must be currently enrolled or an applicant for admission to Breck before his or her family receives financial aid application materials.

2.    To ensure the awarding of financial aid is determined in an equitable manner, Breck utilizes the services of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), a service under the aegis of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). To receive financial aid consideration, it is necessary to complete the SSS Parents’ Confidential Statement (PFS) application in one of two ways: via the hard copy, which is contained in the SSS packet mailed to families on December 1, or by accessing SSS Online through Breck’s website.

    In separated or divorced situations, the non-custodial parent must also complete this process. In this regard, it is the responsibiliity of the parent making application for admission to provide the non-custodial parent's name and mailing information on that form so that a separate financial aid packet can b mailed. Breck School is not in a position to assume the financial responsibility of a non-custodial parent, unless there is a legal release, i.e., termination of parental rights, in which case  a copy of the legal document or divorce decree must be sent to the director of financial aid.

    When the application process is complete, parents, including those separated or divorced, must submit to the director of financial aid a copy of their 2008 Federal Income Tax 1040, including the accompanying schedules as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, all W2s and Breck's Supplementary Information form, which is included in the financial aid packet.

    After analyzing each family’s application individually, SSS sends Breck’s director of financial aid a Report of Family Contribution summary form. The process is repeated each year. Breck reserves the right to verify all submitted information.

3.    SSS analyzes each family’s application individually by considering pertinent factors such as income (total, effective and adjusted-effective), number of children in a family and attending a tuition-bearing school, age of the oldest primary working parent, real estate, investments, savings, allowable debts, unusual circumstances, etc. SSS then determines discretionary income, the figure used to determine an appropriate amount available for the family to contribute toward the cost of an independent school education.

4.    SSS does not make decisions or provide financial aid funds to the school. It makes a recommendation only as to the amount of financial aid that might be awarded. The amount of aid awarded by Breck is determined by the financial aid committee. All grants are awarded from the school’s financial aid budget.

5.    Aid is awarded strictly on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Breck awards no merit or athletic grants.

Financial Aid Procedures

It is assumed that parents making application for financial aid will have read and understood all contents of the financial aid packet before completing and submitting the PFS application either by hard copy or via SSS Online. The director of financial aid welcomes appointments or calls for clarification. It is essential that the form (either hard copy or online) be completed per the instructions and submitted as soon as possible after January 1, but no later than February 1. Financial aid awards will be made beginning March, 2009. Incomplete or late applications will cause a delay in processing and risk a depleted financial aid budget.

Presentation of Financial Aid Requests

In order for a financial aid application to be presented to the financial aid committee, the following conditions must be met:

  1. The applicant must be accepted as a Breck student;
  2. The family’s Report of Parental Contribution form from SSS must have reached the director of financial aid;
  3. A copy of the family’s income tax return (Form 1040) for the year just ended, W2s and all accompanying schedules must have been received by the director of financial aid; and
  4. The family’s completed supplementary information form must be on file in the office of the director of financial aid.

The student’s tuition deposit will be refunded in full if the financial aid committee denies aid or if the amount granted is not sufficient for the family to meet the total remaining financial obligation to Breck.

Award Renewal

Financial aid grants are awarded on a yearly basis; however, it is the committee’s intent to continue funding those students currently enrolled and receiving financial aid. To do so, parents of re-enrolling grant recipients must complete the SSS application process so that a family’s current level of need can be assessed.

For further information, clarification or an appointment, please contact

Marion Jones Kennon
Director of Financial Aid
phone: 763-381-8204
fax: 763-381-8288
email: marion.kennon@breckschool.org

 
 
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