Reduced Tuition for
Staff Members
Alan Conkey
15 March 2000
________________________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 09:20:12 +0200
Sender: Headmasters List at International Schools <HEAD-NET@TC.UMN.EDU>
From: Alan Conkey <conkey@EURONET.NL>
Subject: Results of Survey for Reduced Tuition
Dear Headnetters:
I received 36 responses from international schools dealing with reduced tuition for families with more than one student attending school. The results of the survey are as follows:
Yes, we give a reduction: 6 schools
Of the schools giving a reduction for more than one child attending:
School 1 10% discount for 3rd child and all others that follow
School 2 50% discount for 5th child (first 4 pay 100%)
School 3 Each child after the first receives a 2% discount
School 4 2nd child 97.5%, 3rd child 95% 4th child on 90%
School 5 1st child 100%, 2nd child 95%, 3rd child 90%, 4th child 50%
School 6 3rd child = 25% reduction 4th ... also 25% reduction
No, we do not give a reduction: 30 schools
Two of the reporting schools mentioned that they had this type of program at one time, but revoked it. Some schools suggested handling this through some sort of financial aid program but on a case by case basis.
Thanks to all who helped out.
Alan
Dear Sherry,
I know that the schools in your area are different from the locations i have served, but I would stay away from institutionalizing tuition breaks for students based on whether the company pays or the individual pays or on how many kids the family has enrolled.
We never did it in my schools and the topic often came up. Parents who pay their own tuition assume (wrongly) that embassies and corporations have deep pockets and could care less what they pay. In this age of cost cutting, that certainly is not true & you could get a backlash from such companies if they see where they are essentially underwriting tuition for the rest of the school.
IMHO (in my humble opinion) it is better to use the mechanism of bursaries (scholarships, whatever you call it) to roll back tuition on whatever basis you decide. This makes it confidential and allows you to say "We charge the same tuition to everyone" up front while being compassionate to those in need.
I know that some schools offer reduced tuition for large families, but I oppose that unless assistence is done via a scholarship program. Earmark a portion of the budget to be devoted to scholarships and form a committee to decide on allocation AFTER the school board has determined the policy. These committees are a real pain and quite time-consuming, but they give people looking for work a cause and something to do.
Regards,
Jim Ambrose