Financial Assistance Program

The Financial Assistance Program at CMS was established through the work and generosity of the CMS parent community. The goal of the annual financial assistance program is to encourage membership diversity and community responsibility by discounting tuition for families who could otherwise not afford a Montessori education for their child. Applications are processed in confidence. There are two types of financial assistance available: Annual Assistance and Hardship Assistance.

Annual Assistance offers reduced tuition for selected families with financial need. Applications from returning families are due by April 1. Applications are received from community families at any time if their child matches current enrollment needs. Applications include financial information regarding income, assets and debts, unusual recent expenses, and dependents. CMS will request a credit report on each family applying for annual financial assistance. For currently enrolled families, information regarding their volunteer history with CMS will be requested and considered in the granting of assistance. Annual Assistance awards vary based on demonstrated need in each case, but a typical award is approximately $1000 for the school year, based on 10 tuition installments. Continuing families re-apply annually for Annual Assistance.

Hardship Assistance offers temporary tuition reduction for enrolled families with an unexpected and temporary financial need. Hardship Assistance awards vary based on demonstrated need in each case, but a typical award is approximately $150 per month for a family with one child in the school, or $100 per month per child for a family with more than one child in the school, for a period of 5 months.

Financial Assistance applications are submitted to the Executive Director, who forwards the information anonymously to the Financial Assistance Committee. The committee reviews the information with the executive director, and together they determine the need for assistance and the amount of the award.