Our Lady of Mount Carmel Tuition Information

Parish School Tuition Criteria
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish School is a ministry of the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.  As such, the parish subsidizes the school to assist parishioners who choose to use the school.  Hence, it is active parishioners who should first benefit from this subsidy.  The following policy defines the criteria for receiving a specific tuition rate level.

Level 1:  IN-PARISH STEWARDSHIP HOUSEHOLD TUITION RATE

1. Family has a current covenant  agreement on file at the parish office AND
2. Parent(s) of the student perform a minimum of four (4) volunteer hours towards the annual parish festival AND
3. Family participates in the Food for Thought Program at the level of $150 profit or cash equivalent
4. Family will apply for CTODP at the non-stewardship tuition rate

Level 2:   IN-PARISH NON-STEWARDSHIP HOUSEHOLD TUITION RATE

1. The family is registered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.  AND
2. The family participates regularly in Sunday and Holy Day worship at Mt. Carmel.  AND
3. The family or some member of the family other than the student is involved in an on-going parish or school ministry or volunteer activity as verified by a parish ministry leader2.  AND
4. Parent(s) of the student perform a minimum of four (4) volunteer hours towards the annual parish festival3 AND
5. Family participates in the Food for Thought Program at the level of $150 profit or cash equivalent.

Level 3:  OUT OF PARISH/IN-PARISH NON-PRACTICING CATHOLIC/NON-CATHOLIC

1. The family is not registered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish but is registered at another Catholic parish, OR is registered at OLMC but not practicing faith to fulfill Level 2 requirement AND
2. The family participates regularly in Sunday and Holy Day worship at that parish.  AND
3. Parent(s) of the student perform a minimum of four (4) volunteer hours towards the annual parish festival AND
4. Family participates in the Food for Thought Program at the level of $150 profit or cash equivalent

1 This will be verified by the use of Sunday collection envelopes or the sure-pay system.  Even if a family cannot contribute to the collection they should submit their empty envelope in the Sunday collection
2A ministry participation form will be available and is to be signed by the appropriate ministry head verifying activity for the past year.  Please see Ministry Directory for available volunteer activities.
3Hours will need to be verified by the Festival Committee or school.  This includes any activity leading up to or during or after the Festival.
4 This is the level for profit.  Actual costs will be higher in order to reach the profit goal.  In lieu of FFT a family may give the equivalent in cash to the Home & School.

These criteria are per family regardless of the number of students a family has enrolled in the school.

To achieve Level 1 status, a Stewardship Covenant Agreement needs to be on file in the Parish Office for a minimum of three months.

If a family moves to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish from another Catholic parish there will be a one-year waiting period before being considered as a stewardship household.  At the end of that time the family will be evaluated on the registration, worship and ministry criteria.

A family can receive a Level 2 tuition rate, if having recently moved into the parish, they have a letter from their previous pastor attesting that they participated in the worship and ministry of that parish, and the family registers at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.   Out of parish Catholics can apply for Level 2 tuition rate if they have a letter of recommendation from their current Pastor documenting their participation in that parish’s ministries, Mass attendance and financial support.

This policy is effective immediately and will be the basis for consideration for tuition rate level for the 2009-2010 school year.  Evaluation of each family will occur each year at different points during the year and may be moved out of their tuition level if they fail to meet their obligations.  Due consideration will be given to a family’s situation (e.g. single parent, caring for sick child or relative, lay-off etc.)  The Pastor, business Manage and Principal will gather the necessary information and make the determination as to which rate a family is given.  In case of dispute the final decision will remain the pastor’s.

A family may appeal the decision to the pastor if they are denied a particular tuition level.  They must demonstrate why they were unable to fulfill the necessary criteria.  The pastor’s decision on the appeal will be final.

Tuition Assistance Policy
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish School seeks to offer Catholic education to its member’s children at an affordable and reasonable rate.  No family should be prevented from enrolling their child(ren) in the parish school due to an inability to afford the tuition.  Every effort will be made to assist families with legitimate financial need to participate in the parish school.

In order to qualify for financial assistance (tuition reduction) a family must demonstrate its need.  This includes:

1. Participation in the Catholic Tuition Organization for the Diocese of Phoenix (CTODP).  Specifically, a family must make an application for tuition assistance through the CTODP.
2. After the CTODP determines the amount of tuition assistance to be provided, if a family still requires assistance they may submit their request to the Pastor.
3. The pastor will submit the request to the Parish Financial Council who will review the request and determine if assistance is still warranted and if so at what amount.  (This review will be done anonymously and only the Pastor and Principal will know the family name)
4. Tuition assistance will be available (after the CTODP monies are received) through the Msgr. McCready School Fund.  Each year a designated amount will be made available from this fund to assist needy parish school families.  Once the designated amount (as stated in the norms governing the Msgr. McCready scholarship Fund) is reached, no more monies will be available for that school year.
5. Families may be required to provide additional volunteer hours as part of the assistance.
6. The family receiving assistance should participate in the Food For Thought Program at the level of $200.
7. The family should also solicit two other to contribute to the CTODP program.

Families who fail to make application for funds from the CTODP will not be considered for additional tuition assistance unless an unforeseen emergency happens after the deadline for CTODP application.  Once again the Parish Financed Council will review the application.

The final decision regarding tuition assistance will be the pastor’s.

2009-2010 Summary of Tuition and Fees

NOTE: Sure Pay is a condition of enrollment.
Tuition and fees may be paid using cash, check, money order, or Visa/MC,  if paid in full before June 16th, 2009.  All others will use Sure Pay to automatically have the monthly fees deducted on the first business day after the 15th of each month for eleven (11) months (June through April).

Fees include: tuition, books, consolidated fees and kindergarten surcharge.

Tuition Payment Schedule 2009-2010
Tuition and fee payments for the 2009/2010 school year are as follows:

Methods of Payment

NOTE: Sure Pay is a condition of enrollment.

Tuition and fees may be paid using cash, check, money order Visa/MC if paid in full before June 16, 2009 or ½ paid by Aug 1st and the other ½ paid by Jan. 1st.  All others will use Sure Pay to automatically have the monthly fees deducted on the first business day after the 15th of each month for eleven (11) months (June thru April).  Fees include: tuition, books, consolidated fees and kindergarten surcharge.  A charge of $25 will be assessed on all NSF transactions.

CTODP

Funds received from CTODP will be applied to the tuition payment for the month after they are received.

Food for Thought
Each family is responsible for $150 profit for the year (May-April).  In order to receive a Rebate you must reach $175 profit for the year (May-April). Food For Thought Online

Tuition Policy
In accord with the Tuition Policy of the Diocese of Phoenix, all tuition/financial obligations must be met in a timely fashion.  Failure to meet tuition/financial obligations may result in a student being unable to take semester exams or from continuing on at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.  Failure to meet tuition/financial obligations will result in withholding of credits, transcripts and/or diplomas.  Students will not be able to register at another Catholic school within the Diocese of Phoenix until all financial obligations have been met at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.