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Financial Aid Policies

Guidelines for the Awarding of Financial Aid

In evaluating applications for financial aid and awarding grants, the following policies will serve as the underlying, governing factors for the process.

Bright School will:

  • Commit to including financial aid as an integral and high priority component of each year’s operating budget.
  • To the extent possible, the application process at Bright School will be “blind” regarding matters of financial assistance. No acceptance decisions will be made and no application will be screened for reasons of a financial aid request having been filed on behalf of the applicant.
  • Strictly adhere to all local, state and federal laws and require nondiscriminatory practice in the administration of its financial aid program.
  • Bright’s Financial Aid Committee will review all applications and make awards accordingly.
  • Treat all information provided by a family in the course of making an application for financial aid in the strictest of confidence at all times.
  • Reserve the right to withdraw any offer or award of a tuition grant if it is determined that incomplete, false or misleading information was used in the application process.
  • Not consider financial aid applications when a student’s account carries a past due balance. In cases where an award is made for the upcoming school year and the account subsequently becomes delinquent, Bright School reserves the right to withdraw the financial aid offer.
  • Not make full awards covering all tuition and fees. We believe that every family, regardless of economic standing, should demonstrate a commitment to a child’s education at Bright School by making some contribution toward the cost of that education. We strongly encourage families to seek out additional funding resources.
  • Not subsidize lifestyle choices. If an applicant's family is requesting assistance because they have chosen to commit their resources elsewhere (e.g. luxury automobiles, vacation homes, consumer debt, etc.), the school should not be expected to accommodate that decision. Any family applying for financial assistance must place the highest priority on the education of their child(ren) and be willing to make an appropriate, and if necessary, sacrificial commitment to that end.
  • Utilize a third-party financial aid service provider to provide a uniform and objective evaluation of financial aid applications.

Applicants will:

  • Be required to complete an online application form with submission of the application fee to the third-party financial aid service provider.  No awards can be made without the required supporting documentation. Families will adhere to the provided timelines.
  • Be expected to contribute to their child’s education. Financial aid is based on ability to pay, not willingness to pay. Therefore, both parents must participate in the financial aid process. Both must complete the Clarity Application. If there are extenuating circumstances that warrant waiving this requirement, a written request should be sent to the director of admissions. This policy applies to parents who are divorced, separated, cohabitating, adoptive parents, or adults with legal guardianship of the child(ren).
  • Understand that If one parent does not work and there are no preschool children at home, a salary equal to the current maximum day tuition charge will be added to the family income in the computation of the financial need. Should either parent/legal guardian return to school and not continue working, the previous income or the maximum day tuition will be added to the family income in the computation of the financial aid need. An exception may be made if a parent is caring for a disabled child, parent, grandparent, or critically ill child, parent or grandparent. Consideration will also be given for a parent who is homeschooling children. Documentation is required.
  • Be required to notify the school if, after a financial aid award is made, family income/circumstances change. Bright School reserves the right to adjust awards accordingly. 

The awarding of financial aid is an annual process. Awards are not automatically renewed from year to year. A separate application must be filed for each year in which financial aid is requested.