Crean Lutheran High School

Financial Aid

Need-Based Financial Aid Process

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift — Jesus Christ! II Corinthians 8:13-15, 9:15

Blessings to you and your family through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thank you for your interest in and excitement for the unique brand of Christian education we are thrilled to offer. We look forward to a wonderful school year this coming Fall and also anticipate a mutually beneficial partnership with you and your family. Last year alone, we awarded around $600,000 to over 150 families! Therefore, we ask that our families prayerfully consider their ability to pay alongside the possible forthcoming offer of financial assistance.

We will begin accepting FAST applications in January 16, 2012 and will review of the details shortly thereafter. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call the Admissions Office at 949)387-1199.

Our sincere thanks for your interest,

Crean Lutheran High School Admissions

Key dates: NOTE: Once these dates (below) have past, financial aid applications through FAST will still be accepted and the Financial Aid Committee will continue to evaluate family's needs and financial aid resources. However, please recognize that the vast majority of financial aid resources are disbursed immediately following the March 1 deadline.

* IMPORTANT: Please do not submit your application for financial aid for the 2012-13 academic year until January 16, 2012, or after -- because of the need for 2011 Tax Year materials.

• March 2 – All completed online FAST applications for financial aid are due. (This means completed, and submitted, not in process.)

NOTE 1:
The FAST-required financial forms (prior tax returns, etc.) should be post-marked by March 2.

NOTE 2:
Since there is a charge ($34) for making application for financial aid, please call the office AFTER March 2 before completing an application to see if there are still financial aid funds available. This is an outside financial aid firm and therefore CLHS cannot refund application fees.

NOTE 3
: It is not necessary to disclose Social Security Numbers in the applications (or on tax forms). However, if you do (or have), please know that all submitted information is secure and confidential.

NOTE 4:
It is expected that all families receiving financial aid keep up with their portion of monthly payments. If a family or student falls 2 or more months behind, the school may suspend the remaining prorated portion of financial aid for the school year, and future granting of financial aid for succeeding years may be jeopardized.

• Thursday, March 8, 2012, 7-8pm. CLICK HERE to RSVP! REQUIRED to receive financial aid! Attend our Annual How on Earth do I Pay for/Finance Christian Education for Heaven's Sake? (A practical workshop). All families applying for financial aid are asked to attend. If you are/were not able to attend this event, you may call Mr. Dan Heidelberger, with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, at 949-639-0396, and set up a personal appointment with him for the purpose of becoming aware of tips and financial management tools and tax-advantaged savings plans which are helpful in paying high school tuition as well as future college tuition.

• April 16 – Financial aid notification.

• April 30 -- Deadline for acceptance of aid. If financial aid is not accepted by the family through finalizing the enrollment process, the award may be withdrawn and/or redirected.

Dear Families,

Families seeking financial aid must file an application through the Independent School Management Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) Program. There will still be personalized input and oversight in the financial aid process. However, many families appreciate the confidentiality of this service as it analyzes each family's need based on financial aid best practices, and adjusted according to zip code cost of living.

To ease the online application process, FAST provides 24/7/365 help desk support -- CALL 1-877-326-3278. There is also a very helpful Parent User Guide that can be downloaded (see left side once you enter the site).

FAST provides Crean Lutheran a need-based financial aid analysis service which ensures that our process for establishing financial need adheres to nationally established standards of best practice. All information from FAST is kept confidential, as is all information pertaining to a family's financial aid request.

Financial Aid grants are made for one year only and, therefore, you must reapply each year. To start the process you may click the icon below. IMPORTANT: Please do not submit your application for financial aid for the 2012-13 academic year until January 16, 2012, or after -- because of the need for 2011 Tax Year materials.

The application process is self-guided. You may navigate in and out of the program, allowing you to partially complete an application and go back to it at another time. Online e-mail and a 24/7 helpline is provided. The charge for the application is $34.00, to be paid by credit card at the end of the session.

After completing the online application, you will be required to mail your 2011 tax return (or 2010 tax return if you cannot file your 2011 return until after March 1) for both State and Federal taxes with all schedules and W-2's to:

FAST Processing

ISM

1316 North Union Street

Wilmington DE 19806-2594

Including the School's name on the outside of the envelope will ensure faster processing of your application.

Checklist For Documents Needed

Please send a copy of the following items for 2011 (if 2011 return is not available, 2010 is acceptable).

□ W2’s – AND your last pay stub of the year

□ W-2G needed for gambling winnings

□ 1099’s for IRA, Pensions/Annuities (if you have entered figures on lines 15 and 16 of the Federal 1040), Unemployment compensation, Cancellation of Debt

□ Federal Tax Return – 1040-1040A- 1040 EZ (please send complete copy of only the current year taxes, unless otherwise requested by your school)

□ Additional applicable schedules: Schedule C or C-EZ (Business Income)

Schedule D (Capital Gains)

Schedule E (Supplemental Income)

□ State Tax Return if your State requires you to file a Return

□ All Business Tax returns, such as K1s and 1120 for S Corp (if your business is incorporated)

□ If you own the home you live in, please send proof of Property Taxes paid

□ Documentation for Alimony and/or Child Support

Please do not send originals, as we can not return these items.

Tax forms should reach us at least 10 business days prior to the requested tax form deadline. If you are unsure of the application/tax deadline, please check the front of the application. Deadlines are set by the school - FAST cannot adjust the deadline.

Please send all items requested, so that we may process your application in a timely manner.

Complete application packages (all requested forms) will be processed. Incomplete packages will not be processed.

Faxed information cannot be accepted.

You will receive an email confirmation when your tax forms and your application have been completely processed by FAST.

Please make your tax appointment early. The school has a Financial Aid Budget and when that money has been awarded, there may be no more for this year. It is in your best interest to send your tax information shortly after January 31.

PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, BEND, OR STAPLE PAPERWORK MAILED TO FAST as this will delay processing your application.

Mail To: FAST Processing

1316 North Union Street

Wilmington DE 19806-2594

IMPORTANT You must put “Crean Lutheran High School” on the front of the envelope under your return address.

Financial Aid notification will be approximately April 16. Families will need to formally accept the award by signing a tuition agreement as a part of the completion of the registration process.

Because financial aid funds are limited and demand is high, late filing of materials may result in non-renewal of a financial aid grant.

If you need more information or assistance, please contact Assistant Director of External Affairs, LeighAnn Mertens, MertensL@clshs.org or 949.387.1199, ext. 2300.

Anyone may apply for financial aid. We do not discriminate with regard to race, national origin or sex. Crean Lutheran High School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the students of the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

We look forward to working with you on your child's education at Crean Lutheran High School

In Christ,

The Financial Aid Committee