Financial Aid:
Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST)
This year Trinity Oaks Christian Academy will utilize the online service of Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) to process our families’ financial aid applications. Like the system we used in the past, FAST provides Trinity Oaks a need-based financial aid analysis service which ensures that our process for establishing financial need adheres to nationally established standards of best practice. All information from FAST is kept confidential, as is all information pertaining to any family’s financial aid request.
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 reasonably contribute toward tuition. All information from FAST is kept strictly confidential. The information supplied to FAST by you, the applicant, and the results of FAST’s analysis is then reviewed by the school to determine the financial awards to be granted. Once this process is completed, financial aid award letters will be sent to families.
As a reminder, you must reapply for financial assistance each year. To start the process, please do the following:
Step 1 – Click the FAST icon.
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.
FAST requires a fee of $36 payable via Visa or MasterCard and the application fee will be billed to your credit card under the name of “Independent School Management (ISM)”, the company which provides the FAST application service.
The FAST application deadline for returning families is Monday, April 2, 2012.
The FAST application deadline for new families is two weeks after new student application is submitted.
Step 2 – File your 2011 Tax Return early.
After completing the online application, you will be required to mail copies of your tax documents both state and federal with all schedules and W-2’s to the address below. Please do not send any originals, and do not fax or e-mail the tax information:
FAST Processing
ISM
1316 North Union Street
Wilmington DE 19806-2594
For returning school families the FAST deadline for your 2011 tax information is to have them postmarked no later than April 2, 2012.
For new families the FAST deadline for receiving the tax returns is two weeks after FAST application is submitted.
Including the school’s name on the outside of the envelope will ensure faster processing of your application.
PLEASE NOTE: Financial assistance will not be awarded until a student has been accepted through either the Re-enrollment or New Student Admissions process.
Our goal is to have award determinations made by the end of May. Because financial aid funds are limited and the demand is high, late filing of the applications and supporting documentation may result in non-renewal of a financial aid award. Therefore, it is imperative that you meet the deadline of April 2, 2012. Financial aid awards are not considered final until all tax returns and W-2′s have been received and verified by FAST.
If you have any questions about the overall financial aid process, please feel free to contact me at (847) 472-5971 x22.
We look forward to partnering with you in educating your child’s education at Trinity Oaks Christian Academy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Wrobbel
Head of School
