Tuition Assistance

Purpose of Tuition Assistance

Metropolitan Montessori School strives to make our Montessori education available to the widest range of students. Tuition assistance is available to ensure that children have the opportunity to attend MMS regardless of the family’s financial resources.

How to Apply

For those who may seek tuition assistance, we are now accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year. Families who indicate that they plan to apply for tuition assistance on their application will automatically have their application fee waived.  The process begins with an online application to Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS), a company that conducts need assessments for families seeking tuition assistance. TADS is a third-party that works with independent schools to verify families’ needs for tuition assistance. In addition to submitting the online application, families must send a copy of their W-2 forms and federal and state income tax returns directly to TADS. These tax documents and the report from TADS are maintained in a confidential tuition assistance application file. Once the file is complete (all reports and forms), the Tuition Assistance Committee will review the TADS report and decide on awards of assistance for each child.

The submission deadline is December 15, 2019.

If you have any questions during the process, you may reach TADS at 800-477-8237, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., central time. They are also available through live chat on their website and email at help@tads.com.

The MMS Tuition Assistance Policy

Here are the key provisions of the MMS policy:

• Tuition assistance is awarded without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, physical difference, sexual orientation, or academic ability on an annual basis. Families must reapply for every year in which aid is requested.
• In order to be considered for assistance, families must complete the tuition assistance application from TADS, and must supply all requested information and supporting documentation. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The school allocates a percentage of tuition revenue for funding tuition assistance awards of varying amounts.
• If there is any evidence that a family knowingly withheld or misrepresented information in the tuition assistance process, the award will be eliminated and no further awards will be made in the future.
• The Tuition Assistance Committee (as recommended by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the American Montessori Society) will consist of three voting members composed of alumni parents, with the Head of School, the Director of Admissions, and the Director of Finance present in an advisory capacity only. The committee keeps all financial information confidential.