Faith-based education is within reach. Despite the rising cost of living, faith-based education is still possible if you know where to look. Port Catholic School provides education opportunities for all children within its religious community through its Tuition Assistance Program.
Port Catholic’s Tuition Assistance Program gives families that would struggle to pay or are unable to pay current tuition rates, the opportunity to provide their child with a faith-based education at Port Catholic. Port Catholic’s philosophy is that no child within the Port Catholic religious community will be turned away because of cost. Today, Port Catholic’s religious community includes St. Mary’s, St. Peter’s, Immaculate Conception, St. Mary’s Lake Church, and St. Rose.
The Tuition Assistance Program was implemented 18 years ago, when St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s schools merged to form Port Catholic. In order to establish the Tuition Assistance Program, both St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s made a one-time contribution from each of their endowment funds. Its goal at its inception was the same as it is today: to make faith-based education more affordable.
Modeled after a program at St. Francis Children’s Center, the Tuition Assistance Program and process is completely confidential. The program is administered by two individuals. A Tuition Assistance Administrator processes the application and an independent tuition negotiator works with the applicant to determine a "reasonable" tuition figure and payment schedule. All documents remain with the independent negotiator and are completely confidential.
The registration process for families that utilize Tuition Assistance is very similar to the regular registration process. An interested family contacts the school and requests a registration packet. Included in every registration packet are Tuition Assistance forms. All the forms, including the Tuition Assistance Application, are completed and returned to the school office. However, Tuition Assistance Applications are returned separate from regular registration forms. The completed Tuition Assistance Application and a copy of the previous year’s tax return are returned in a sealed envelope clearly labeled Tuition Assistance Application. Family names are not on the outside of the envelope. The sealed envelope is then forwarded to Port Catholic’s Tuition Assistance Administrator to begin the tuition assistance process.
Over the years, funding for this program has come from a number of sources. Port Catholic’s Home & School Association commits some of its fundraising money to this effort in the form of the Fr. Glass Scholarship. Various foundations, trusts, parishioners, and alumni have also given to this program.
Today, 12% of Port Catholic’s families take advantage of the Tuition Assistance Program. Our goal is to expand this program to more families within our religious community. You can help. Contribute to the Port Catholic Tuition Assistance Program. Give families, who would normally find tuition a financial hardship, a chance to benefit from the same quality, faith-based education from which many of you have benefited.
Expanding the Port Catholic Tuition Assistance Program will result in more educational opportunities, a stronger school, and stronger civic and religious communities. Consider the possibilities!