Financial

Parental Financial Commitment (PFC)

Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School uses the Parental Financial Commitment (PFC) process to meet the financial needs of the school. This annual process involves the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee setting:

• A  Parental Financial Commitment per student. This amount may change from year-to-year.  For the school year of 2006-07, the Parental Financial Commitment was set at $5,250 per student, based on the projected cost of education per child at PRWS.

• An adjustment process for those unable to pay the full Parental Financial Commitment.  

• A balanced budget for the next school year. 

PRWS will accept any family that is willing to work with PRWS and is committed to holding PRWS education high on their list of financial priorities. We are committed to making Waldorf education available to all families valuing the Waldorf curriculum.

For families of students where full Parental Financial Commitment is beyond their ability, PRWS will use a financial appraisal and allocation system to determine an adjusted Parental Financial Commitment.

All families participate in a Parental Commitment Meeting in April to discuss the school budget, volunteer needs, and fund raising plan for the coming year.

Appraisal Guidelines for Parental Financial Commitment Adjustment

To participate in the Parental Financial Commitment adjustment process, you will be asked to:

• Complete the Parental Financial Commitment Adjustment. These form(s) are available from the school March 1. 

• Provide a copy of your completed and signed Federal Income Tax return for 2005 or 2006 if available.

• Have available for review any additional documents that may be needed to support claims of undeclared income and expenses, and net worth. The adjustment is not intended to support a family's discretionary expenses such as large amounts of home or property equity, second homes, investment portfolios, etc.  Having any of these does not preclude an adjustment, but will be taken into consideration in relation to the school's needs.

Allocation Guidelines for Parental Financial Commitment Adjustment

Once all of the forms are turned in for each family seeking a Parental Financial Commitment Adjustment, the Finance Committee, working through a confidential third party, will determine the amount each participating family will be asked to pay.   

If the adjusted Parental Financial Commitment is still beyond a family's ability to pay, an agreeable level of financial commitment that works for both you and the school will be determined at the Parental Commitment Meeting in April. At this meeting you need to provide a detailed explanation justifying the additional adjustment.                   



Appraisal Confidentiality 
                                     
The information provided by families participating in the Parental Financial Commitment Adjustment process will be handled in a confidential manner by the Finance Committee.  The information will be blind to everyone except the third party consultant in order to evaluate and normalize the data.