Number: 3.3021

Title: Tuition Assistance Policy

Effective date: September 2022

Tuition assistance will be provided by the school within the budget process to support both need-based and employee student-dependent access to an FIS education. There are three different forms of tuition assistance at FIS:

• Tuition Reduction Program (TRP)

• Tuition for Student Dependents of Employees

• Hardship or Strategic Circumstances

Tuition assistance is managed as follows:

Tuition Reduction Program:

Overview

Frankfurt International School e.V. (FIS) was established in 1961 to serve highly mobile international families in the Frankfurt/ Rhine-Main region. Our school offers an international educational curriculum from early childhood through Grade 12. As a supplementary school (Ergänzungsschule) FIS is financed almost exclusively by tuition. The employers of families or the families themselves who are sending their children to FIS pay tuition. Frankfurt International School does not seek to make a profit, the revenues being devoted entirely to ensuring that the school fulfills its educational mission and objectives. In consideration of the statutory purpose of the school, FIS will offer a Tuition Reduction Program. Its purpose is to ensure international and social diversity and to make Frankfurt International School e. V. accessible to students with the interest and need for an international education, but who are unable to pay the normal tuition.

Eligibility

As of January 2008, Frankfurt International School accepts applications for tuition reduction from current students and new applicants. All applications for a given school year must be reviewed before that school year has begun. Applications submitted during a school year will be considered for the following school year only if updated financial information is received by 1 May.

To be eligible for tuition reduction a student or family must not have any access to alternative financial or educational support through corporate, government or any other sponsorship. As a secular institution without political affiliations, FIS may also not offer financial aid to missionaries or other expatriates who have come to Germany to work for a religious organization or foreign government. In addition, the student’s need for a tuition reduction must be established through the completion of a tuition reduction application, which requires timely submission of detailed family financial information. The school reserves the right to request a certified translation of required financial information.

All students’ eligibility for tuition reduction is guided by the following parameters and requirements:

1. All financial information shared with the school is confidential, with procedures aligned to the European General Data Protection Regulation .

2. All required information must be submitted to the school by 1 May for returning students, and by new students at the time they are completing the admission process.

3. At least one parent must be gainfully employed in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main area during the past school year to be eligible for financial assistance. Current students whose parent(s) have repatriated to their home country are not eligible for support.

4. To allow resources to be broadly shared within the community, generally a maximum of two students per family will be allowed to receive a tuition reduction.

5. The student, prior to his or her consideration for a tuition reduction, must meet the generally applicable admission criteria, provide evidence of a strong academic standing and show the interest and ability to benefit from our international school program of studies.

6. The family is internationally oriented and there is a clear student need for, or demonstrable benefit to, an international education program.

7. The family is able and willing to support the student’s success in attending an English language school.

8. The family and student are willing, interested and able to pursue further study opportunities to build on the FIS international school experience.

Tuition reductions are granted for one year and reviewed annually. The Tuition Reduction Program does not confer an enforceable claim to receive a reduction even if all criteria are met.

Selection Process for Tuition Reduction Participants:

A Tuition Assistance Committee composed of the Head of School, Director of Admissions and Advancement and Director of Finance and Operations will determine tuition reduction participants from the applications submitted. Once admission eligibility has been established, funding for tuition reduction will be prioritized using the following criteria:

1. Students nearing graduation.

2. Students from a single-parent household.

3. Students from families with more than two children enrolled in the school.

4. All other students will be processed in the order of the date the application was received.

In the event a student’s family is unable to meet the obligations of tuition payments due to a financial emergency or family circumstances, the tuition reduction committee will reconsider the level of previously granted tuition reduction.

Levels of Support for Tuition Reduction

The amount of tuition reduction a student receives is based on his or her family’s gross annual income.

Tuition for Student Dependents of Employees:

1. Students who are dependents of FIS employees shall automatically be eligible for admission if their school records are satisfactory.

2. The school shall waive tuition fees for students enrolled at the school who are dependents of FIS employees with full-time contracts whose point of hire, as stated in the employment contract, is outside of Germany, unless the spouse/partner's company covers the costs of education.

3. The school shall waive non-tuition fees (i.e. admission fees, re-enrollment fees, capital assessment fees, and school transportation fees on existing school bus routes with capacity) for students enrolled at the school who are dependents of FIS employees with full-time contracts, unless the spouse/partner's company covers the costs of education.

4. The school may provide up to ten additional places for the remission of tuition fees for the dependents of employees with full-time contracts, whose point of hire is within Germany, unless the spouse/partner's company covers the costs of education. The employee must be in active service at FIS (i.e. not on parental, maternal, sick, or sabbatical leave, or taking leave of absence). Local hire teachers applying for the remission of tuition fees must be on a tenured contract. Applications for this tuition exemption are due by 01 October of the preceding year. A Tuition Benefit Committee consisting of the Head of School, the Director of Finance and Operations, division principals, and one other member appointed ad hoc will review these applications, and will allocate the available spaces by the end of each calendar year. The Tuition Benefit Committee allocates spaces according to the following criteria:

   • Accurate and timely completion of the application

   • Spouse/partner's company does not cover the costs of education

   • Demonstrated need for FIS education

   • Length of active employment of the parent(s) at FIS

   • Students nearing graduation

   • Siblings at FIS

   • Any other contributing factors

   • Note: In cases of special hardship, some criteria may be waived.

5. The employee shall pay any tax liability or social security contributions arising from the benefit.

6. Should an employee leave the employment of FIS and rejoin later, he/she will be treated as a new employee for the purposes of this policy. Should an employee receiving tuition benefit change from full-time to part-time employment, tuition remission may be pro-rated or discontinued, at the discretion of the Tuition Assistance Committee.

7. Tuition benefits end when an employee leaves the employ of the school.

8. All employees are entitled to apply for the Tuition Reduction Program.

Hardship or Strategic Circumstances:

In the exceptional event a student’s family is unable to meet the obligations of tuition payments due to a financial emergency or family circumstances, the tuition assistance committee will consider whether a level of assistance may be provided.

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