Need-Based Financial Assistance

Thank you for your interest in scholarships and need-based financial assistance at The Miami Valley School.

MVS offers financial aid for families in kindergarten through twelfth grade with demonstrated need. Financial aid is not available for early childhood students. This year The Miami Valley School allocated more than $1.5 million in financial assistance to 36 percent of our students and their families. The assistance consisted of merit scholarships, legacy scholarships, military scholarships, and need-based grants. Educational loans are also available for families for tuition and incidental costs accumulating to over $1,000 per year.

The Miami Valley School subscribes to an objective, third-party organization to assess financial need. The School and Student Services (SSS) was created by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) with a mission of making independent school education affordable and accessible for families. Based on the financial information you provide, SSS provides The Miami Valley School Financial Aid Committee with an estimated amount that your family can contribute to educational expenses. The Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) enables the school to make fair and balanced financial aid decisions. The Family Guide to Financial Aid published by SSS provides a description of the process and helpful guidance for families in managing the costs of an independent school education. To begin your financial aid application for the 2011-12 enrollment year or as part of military family rolling admission for the 2010-2011 enrollment year, follow these steps:

Guidelines

• Families who anticipate needing financial aid at any time during their child's career at MVS should apply for aid at the time of the admissions application.
• Current families who encounter changes to their financial situation necessitating assistance should consult the Director of Financial Aid as soon as a payment challenge is anticipated.
• To be eligible for need-based financial assistance, the financial aid application must be completed each year.
• It is not possible for the school to consider requests for financial assistance after enrollment decisions are made.

Application

Step 1: Parent Financial Statement

First, complete the online Parent Financial Statement (PFS) by creating an account and logging into the PFS online website. In a divorced or separated family, a separate PFS must be submitted for each household. In your PFS, indicate The Miami Valley School as a recipient of the report for your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Our school code is 5062.

• Applications for financial aid may be begun as early as November 1, 2011.
• Applications for financial aid for returning students are due in February 1, 2012.
• Applications for financial aid for admission applicants are due in June 8, 2012.

Step 2: Additional Required Documents

Second, mail the following United Stated federal government Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms to School and Student Services, PO Box 449, Randolph, MA 02368-0449.

The following additional required documents must be received by February 1, 2012 for returning students and June 8, 2012 for admission applicants.

• Completed SSS Required Documents Cover Sheet (always include this page when mailing forms to SSS).
• Signed copies of your family's 2010 Federal Tax Return (1040), including all supporting schedules and forms.
• Copies of the Wage and Tax Statements (W-2) and Miscellaneous Income Statement (1099) for each parent or guardian associated with the 2011 Federal Tax Return.
• For families who own businesses or farms, the Business or Farm Statement must be completed. It asks for information about the business or farm for the year 2010, and estimated figures for the year 2011.

Step 3: Supplemental Supporting Documentation

Finally, while your financial aid package will be calculated and provided in the form of a Financial Aid Letter by the Director of Financial Aid and Financial Aid Committee, it is tentative until copies of your 2011 Federal Tax Return (1040), including all supporting schedules and forms are received by SSS as soon as possible after April 15, 2012 for returning students and June 8, 2012 for admission applicants. Be sure to include the SSS Required Documents Cover Sheet then you mail the paperwork.