Tuition Refund for Expelled Students

Rick Spradling

No Date

________________________________________________________________

Colleagues:

Here is the summary of what I received as feedback to my query about

tuition refunds for students who were expelled from school. About 25

schools responded.

About 60% said that they WOULD give a partial tuition credit or refund

in such a case. Thus, about 40% said that they would NOT do so.

Miscellaneous points made:

--in the case of such a refund, only tuition would be refunded (not

capital assessment, registration fees, etc.)

--for all of those schools who would make such a refund, the credit

would be PARTIAL, and based on the school's regular tuition schedule for

any type of withdrawal (voluntary)

--a couple of schools suggested that such a credit only be made by

WRITTEN REQUEST of the parents; this puts the burden on the parents, and

in some cases could actually protect the school in case of later

litigation

--many schools indicated that they do not refund partial tuition for ANY

student; in some cases, the credit is held for a child from the same

sponsoring organization, but only until the end of the year; these

schools make the case that the school's costs do not change upon student

withdrawal and the commitment is made on both sides

--those schools that would refuse any refund for expulsion took the same

position, plus the position that the student expelled for behavioral

reasons had in effect broken the contract between school and family and

thus had no claim to refund

--those schools who would refund tuition for expulsion noted that it was

often politically expedient to do so, avoiding additional unpleasantness

in the situation, even if they felt that no refund ought to be given

--one school made the case that they do not refund for normal withdrawal

but DO refund for expulsion or other instances where the school asks the

child to leave; their position is that sometimes a school asks a child

to leave for sound academic or other non-behavioral reasons and should

thus be credited

Thanks to all of you who responded.

Rick Spradling

--

Richard L. Spradling, Ph.D.

Director

American International School (PK-12, 780 students)

Salmannsdorfer Strasse 47

A-1190 Wien (Vienna), AUSTRIA

Tel: (43-1) 401320

Fax: (43-1) 401325

E-Mail: r.spradling@ais.at

Website: www.ais.at

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