Frequently Asked Questions

For Applicants/Recipients

  1. What are the steps for families who wish to apply for tuition assistance through this program?  Applications are made available through the local school beginning in late January of each year. These applications, which will require a copy of the previous year’s income tax form and other information, will be completed by the family and then mailed to FAIR.
  2. Who is FAIR?  FAIR is a company hired by CTO to review all applicant information, analyze their financial need and recommend an award amount based on criteria established by the CTO board of directors.  FAIR provides an impartial evaluation of all applicants and is not swayed by personal relationships with the applicants or their schools.
  3. Is my information kept confidential?  All information will be kept confidential. 
  4. How is my application approved?  A report will be generated by FAIR and is sent to the CTO Board of Directors who will recommend the level of tuition assistance to be awarded to eligible families based upon the total funds available from the CTO.
  5. When are families notified if they will receive tuition assistance?  The schools will then make the final tuition assistance award known to the families. Applications received by the spring deadline, will be notified before the end of the school year.  Late applicants, if there is tuition assistance monies still available, will be notified prior to the start of the fall semester.
  6. Who can help me complete my application?  Schools will assist families in the completion of the financial aid applications.
  7. In addition to income level and number of dependants, will other factors be considered to determine the level of assistance to be awarded? The amount of tuition assistance awarded to individual families will take into consideration such factors as; income level and number of dependants, as well as, tuition level of the school, family circumstances, cost of living for the area, and the ability to meet all local admissions requirements. It will not take into consideration factors such as retirement funds, mortgage levels, or consumer debt.

  8. Who is eligible to apply? All families are eligible to apply. However, only those families whose adjusted gross income falls below the income guidelines below, and meet all local admissions requirements, qualify for assistance through this program. All other families who do not qualify for this program but feel they need additional assistance will need to contact their local school.

    2008 Income Guidelines

    Persons in Family or Household

    Income

    2

    $43,710

    3

    $54,930

    4

    $66,150

    5

    $77,370

    6

    $88,590

    7

    $99,810

    8

    $111,030

    For each additional person, add:

    $11,220

  9. Do tuition grants received by a family through this program impact local tuition assistance gifts to that same family? The CTO will issue gifts to families based upon that families’ identified need. Any additional assistance presented to that family would be a local decision.

  10. Is there an appeal process if the total level of tuition assistance is perceived to be insufficient? No. There will be no additional funds available for a broad-based CTO appeal process. Local schools may develop local protocols, funded locally, to support an appeal process.

  11. What if a student who has received assistance, withdraws before the end of the school year? The amount of the assistance will be pro-rated based upon the number of days the student attends the school.

  12. What if a student transfers to another parochial school participating in the CTO? The assistance will continue at the new school.

  13. When can I apply for next school year?  Printed applications are available at all of our schools in January of each year.  Applications can be submitted online at www.fairapp.com in mid-February. 

  14. What are the deadlines for the application process?   The spring deadline is the first Friday in April with some dollars reserved for a second application deadline of late summer.  This second application deadline is for families who may have moved into the school district during the summer or missed the first application deadline.
     
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