Simpedia

Robin Keehn, Washington

A few of you have asked about providing some type of scholarship to students. I thought I’d share what we have done in our studio and what we no longer do!

First, we have been committed to making sure that at least 10% of our student body receives some type of financial assistance. We’ve done that forever because we consider it a type of tithe or giving back.

That being said, we’ve learned never to give a student free materials or free classes. This is true for our Kindermusik students, our dance students and our Simply Music students. We learned the hard way that giving things for free results in uncommitted students. If they don’t have any “skin in the game” they will not be committed to any long-term relationship. As a result, we always require students to purchase their Student Home Materials and to pay a portion of the tuition.

We have what we call a “Tuition Credit Program.” We have a non-profit portion of our studio and our attorney suggested we avoid the word scholarship, thus the name. We have a questionnaire that students complete with questions such as: Why would you like a tuition credit? What are you hoping to learn? What is your level of commitment? and more questions along those lines. We do not ask for financial information. We figure that if they are actually taking the time to fill out the form, they need help. We do let them know that there are specific terms–such as the requirement to pay for materials or costumes and that they do not automatically qualify for ongoing tuition credits for the next year.

In our studio, anyone who applies is given some type of tuition credit. Sometimes we meet them halfway, sometimes we will ask them only to pay a quarter of the tuition. It depends on what we know of them and where we happen to be financially. This comes straight from our bottom line (not the non-profit). Some years we have had many, many more than 10% of our students receiving assistance. We used to advertise the program but we don’t do that anymore! Currently the demand is greater than we can handle.

I think it is a great thing to offer. I did have one remarkable thing happen about 15 years ago….I had a little girl named Jill, in Kindermusik. She was adorable and her parents were so committed. Dad lost his job and went bankrupt. I continued to teach her and pay for her materials. I did it all at no charge for three years because I wanted to. At the end of three years, they wrote me a check for the full amount when Jill’s dad got a job! I did not want to accept it but they insisted because they were so appreciative. Jill is 18 now and moved away many years ago but her mom recently let me know she is an accomplished musician and pursuing music in college. You just never know what your kindness will do for someone.

Here is our Tuition Credit Application (aka scholarship application). Feel free to edit it and use it in your studios if you wish.

Aspire Academy
Tuition Credit Application
2009-2010 School Year

At Aspire Academy, our goal is to make music and/or dance available to anyone with a desire to learn regardless of financial standing. We realize that there are life circumstances that can create financial hardships for families which limit their ability to participate in extra curricular activities. We believe that everyone should have an opportunity to dance, sing or play an instrument and for that reason we have established the Aspire Academy Tuition Credit Program.

What follows are the terms of our tuition credit and an application for the credit. These tuition credits are limited and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to residents of Clallam County only for use at Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts only.
1. We offer partial tuition credit only. We require that the recipient of the credit pay a portion of the tuition each month. Recipients are also responsible to pay for any materials needed for the class. Our policy for partial payment is based on our belief that monetary investment creates more accountability to Aspire Academy and to the class and teacher.
2. Recipients of the Aspire Academy Tuition Credit are eligible for only tuition credit per family for one class per year. The tuition credit cannot be applied to two different classes. The tuition credit covers a part of your tuition only and cannot be applied to any materials, dancewear, music books or other items that are needed to participate in the class.
3. Recipients must agree to and sign the enrollment policy agreement for Aspire Academy. If the terms of the policy agreement are not met at any time during the agreed term of tuition credit, the credit will be terminated by the Directors.
4. Due to the number of people applying for tuition credit at Aspire Academy we request that families apply only one time in a two year period. This allows for more students to participate in the program. Applications will be reviewed by the Directors and the officers of the Aspire Academy Tuition Credit Program to determine who will be awarded credits each year.

Tuition Credit Application

Last Name__________________________ Student’s Name:_____________________

Father’s Name:______________________Mother’s Name:______________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

Phone Number:_______________________Cell Phone:__________________________

Tuition Credit Requested for What Class?_____________________________________

Start Date:___________________________

Please explain why you would like a tuition credit award for this school year:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you hope to learn this year?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Is there anything else that you think we should know?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dated:

Signed:_______________________________________

Parent or Guardian Signature:___________________________________________

Approved:

Date/Class/Start Date: