3.11 Tuition Assistance Policy

Tuition assistance shall be provided by FIS through an established criteria and budget process to support both need-based and employee student-dependent access to an FIS education. The school is mindful that awarding assistance to students who will benefit from an international education but whose families are otherwise unable to pay the normal tuition will increase the socio-economic diversity of the FIS community. To be eligible for tuition assistance a family must not have any access to alternative financial support for the student’s education through corporate, government or any other sponsorship.

 The Administration shall maintain a process to offer and manage the following: 

• Tuition Reduction Program (TRP) 

• Hardship or Strategic Circumstances

• Tuition Waiver for Dependent Children of Employees

Tuition Reduction Program (TRP)

FIS has established a tuition reduction program for current and prospective students who might otherwise be unable to attend FIS. Student financial need must be demonstrated and documented prior to the granting of any tuition reduction. FIS will adhere to the principles outlined below, which are intended to promote full compliance with Federal and State mandates and to ensure orderly, fair and confidential financial reduction procedures.

FIS will not discriminate in the administration of its tuition reduction policies because of race, color, religion, ethnic origin, sex, age, sexual orientation and world ideology and as mandated by the German Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG).

FIS will strive through its website to provide students and families with factual information about the annual tuition and its reduction opportunities, policies and procedures. Such reduction shall not substitute for an employer's contribution toward tuition.

FIS will use a uniform methodology to annually assess, in a consistent and equitable manner, each applicant family's ability to pay for education.

FIS will require adequate documentation of family resources when determining need.

FIS will notify accepted reduction applicants of tuition reduction decisions before expecting a binding reply to the offer of admission or re-enrollment.

Hardship or Strategic Circumstances

FIS will have a review procedure for families whose financial need becomes greater during the school year due to exceptional circumstances, such as the death, incapacitation, divorce, separation, or loss of employment of the supporting member of the family, resulting in substantial loss of income. This tuition reduction shall cease or be reduced immediately in the event the financial position of the family improves significantly. It shall also be withdrawn in case the family has furnished a false declaration about its gross income when claiming the rebate. 

In specific circumstances, tuition assistance may be provided if it is in the strategic interest of the school. Tuition assistance terms are subject to annual review by the Finance Committee. 

In assessing applications for tuition assistance, the Administration shall adhere to a process that both complies with Federal and State mandates and ensures a transparent, orderly, fair, and confidential process. The Administration shall establish clear criteria for determining eligibility and selection and a committee established by the Head of School for this purpose shall review applications and award assistance. The Administration shall work with the Finance Committee to determine the funding available for all tuition assistance programs and obtain the approval of the Board of Trustees for any proposed changes to the tuition assistance programs that would materially impact eligibility or materially increase the costs of such programs.

The application process and the criteria for determining eligibility and selection for all tuition assistance programs are provided in the Administrative Policy Manual and, where applicable, on the FIS website and internal web portal.

Tuition Waiver for Dependent Children of Employees

FIS offers a tuition waiver (the “Tuition Waiver”) program for dependent children of FIS employees.  This Tuition Waiver program is designed to attract and retain top employee talent to FIS as well as to honor the school's mission statement to be a family-oriented school. It is a discretionary and voluntary benefit (so-called fringe benefit), not an entitlement, and is subject to work performance expectations and budget considerations. This policy provides the guiding principles of the Tuition Waiver program and shall be reviewed annually by the Board Finance Committee.  

1. The Tuition Waiver program participation shall be targeted not to exceed 5% of the aggregate number of children at FIS. The Tuition Waiver program and the 5% participation threshold are reviewed annually by the Board Finance Committee. If the 5% target is exceeded in more than 3 consecutive years, this policy must be subsequently revised by the Board of Trustees.

2. A committee consisting of the Head of School, the Director of Finance and Operations, and the Director of Admissions comprises the Tuition Waiver Committee. The Tuition Waiver Committee will review all Tuition Waiver applications and will allocate the Tuition Waiver grants by November 1 for the following school year in line with the following criteria:

a. Children who are dependents of FIS employees shall be eligible for FIS admission if their school records are satisfactory. 

b. Full-time tenured dual FIS employees (i.e., both parents of a child are FIS employees) are eligible to apply for a Tuition Waiver for up to 2 children at FIS. For additional

children, FIS employees must pay the full tuition.

c. Full-time tenured sole FIS employees (i.e., one parent of a child is a FIS employee) are eligible to apply for a Tuition Waiver for up to 2 children at FIS provided that: 

(i) Spouse/partner's company or organization does not cover or has not in the past covered the costs of education.

(ii) The total household income does not exceed four times the median German household income (as set forth by the German Federal Statistical Office) in any

relevant school year to be confirmed upon request by the respective FIS employee on the basis of a tax return to be submitted at the time of application and at 

each division level entry point (2nd, 6th, and 9th grade). All eligible FIS employees will indicate to FIS if their financial circumstances change. FIS reserves the right to ask for a current tax return of the respective FIS employee on an ad hoc basis to review if the financial circumstances have changed. 

(iii) In the event that a full-time employee is below the income threshold as set forth in (ii) above, but is in Germany under a tax-privileged status (SOFA, diplomatic

status, EU agreements, etc.), the employee will pay the appropriate rate equivalent per child, aligned to the Tuition Reduction Program Tier 5.

(iv) For additional children FIS employees must pay the full tuition.

d. All FIS employees eligible to benefit from a Tuition Waiver for their children must be in active service at FIS, i.e., such employees must not be on sabbatical leave, on a

leave of absence, or similar.

e. A Tuition Waiver shall remain in effect during a FIS employee‘s parental leave at FIS for up to 12 months for each of the two eligible children.  

f. Non-tuition fees (i.e., admission fees, re-enrollment fees, capital assessment fees, and school transportation fees on existing school bus routes with available non-payer capacity) are included in the Tuition Waiver program.

g. Any additional fees for specialized instruction such as learning support, occupational therapy, etc. and any cost not specifically granted in the Tuition Waiver are at the

expense of the employee.

h. Furthermore, the Tuition Waiver Committee has the authority to make decisions in line with the following criteria:

Child Criteria

• Meet all FIS admissions process requirements.

• Demonstrated need for FIS education (including the school district exemption process ‘Ausnahmegenehmigung,’ if applicable, and situation of continuing and international education).

• Fluency in the English language, i.e., not requiring ELA.

Colleague Criteria

• Has a permanent full-time contract and tenure-track employment at FIS, having been employed at FIS for two years.

• International hires (outside of the state of Hesse) can apply for the Tuition Waiver during the 2-year probation period without having a tenured contract.

• Accurate and timely completion of the Tuition Waiver application by October 1 the latest for enrollment in the subsequent school year.

• The FIS employee shall be responsible for any individual tax liabilities or social security contributions arising in connection with any Tuition Waiver benefit.

• A colleague must enroll their child by the start of Grade 5 or when the Tuition Waiver first becomes available to them. Enrollment in the Tuition Waiver after the start of Grade 5 is on a space-available basis.

Process for Exceptional Cases

• In cases of special hardship, extraordinary circumstances, and if the 5% target allows, individual criteria may be modified or waived at the discretion of the Tuition Waiver Committee. 

• In cases of sustained employee performance concerns, the Tuition Waiver may be reviewed by the Head of School.

Should a FIS employee leave the employment of FIS and subsequently rejoin, the employee will be treated as a new employee for the purposes of this policy. 

Should a FIS employee benefit from a Tuition Waiver for its children and change its status from full-time to part-time employment, the amount of the Tuition Waiver may be pro-rated or the Tuition Waiver may be discontinued, in each case at the discretion of the Tuition Waiver Committee.

All Tuition Waiver grants shall terminate in the event that the respective FIS employee’s employment at FIS is terminated.

This policy regarding Tuition Waivers shall apply to new FIS employees signing an employment contract with FIS after the policy has been duly adopted by the Board and becomes effective. Discretion may be applied during the transition period after this policy has entered into force to accommodate current FIS employees and pending Tuition Waiver applicants. All children of FIS employees enrolled prior to the entering into force of this policy are not affected.