Baltimore Tuition Rebate Initiative!! Hug from Hashem!

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 11:39 am

I got an email this morning regarding my rebate. I assumed we would not qualify, so I ignored all the emails about it, because we are on MEGA tuition assistance and I just figured our rebate would go to "fill the hole", so to speak. Like my rebate was already given as a tuition break.

But no! Chasdei Hashem! I get a few hundred dollars in a check! Not even as a tuition credit.

This is such a massive hug from HaKodesh Baruch Hu!

amother

Catmint ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 1:49 pm

Quote:

If you paid any tuition, are up to date on your obligations, attend one of the participating schools, and live in Baltimore you qualify. It has nothing to do with how much of a tuition break you get.

Read the FAQs about how it works. This year is 3.5%, but they are hoping to get donations and up it next year.

amother

Begonia ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 2:17 pm

amother Mulberry wrote:

I have a question-they say it’s initially for the 10 biggest schools, but Bnos is on for this year and BT isn’t. Isn’t BT bigger than Bnos?

I was assuming that BT had opted out of the program for some reason, is that possible?

amother

↑ Mulberry ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 2:20 pm

amother Begonia wrote:

I was assuming that BT had opted out of the program for some reason, is that possible?

Maybe. I was just wondering, that’s all. No idea if any schools opted out.

amother

↑ Catmint ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 2:31 pm

Quote:

I have a question-they say it’s initially for the 10 biggest schools, but Bnos is on for this year and BT isn’t. Isn’t BT bigger than Bnos?

Bnos is smaller than BT as is Toras Simcha and Kesser Torah.

Maybe they meant the mainstream schools, maybe the schools had to opt in, maybe BT tuition is so much higher (which I understand it is) that 3.5% coverage may be out of the budget donated? To be honest I don't know the reasoning. But they did say as they raise more money, more schools may be added.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 2:40 pm

amother Catmint wrote:

Quote:

Right, and BH we met THAT criteria! I ignored the emails. All of them. Because I assumed we just did not meet it considering we get financial assistance. The money that is coming is not a lot, but it's SO amazing to me to be getting it. I cant believe it honestly. They would have been well within their rights to tell anyone who gets assistance that they rebate will be for them, in the form of tuition credit and not an actual check, to go towards the assistance we get.

This is huge for Rosh Hashana!

amother

↑ Catmint ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 3:25 pm

amother OP wrote:

The point is to help the families paying tuition. The schools don't see a penny of it. This is not a school initiative--it is initiated by wealthy people in town.

Even if you choose to donate it back, it goes back to the initiative to help more families. It does not go back to the schools.

amother

Mintgreen ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 4:52 pm

amother Firethorn wrote:

How does this work? Won’t the schools simply negotiate a tuition that is 3.5% less discounted than they would have because the family can now swing it?

I don't think the community leaders would let that happen. The whole point is to help families, not give more money to the schools.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 4:54 pm

amother Firethorn wrote:

How does this work? Won’t the schools simply negotiate a tuition that is 3.5% less discounted than they would have because the family can now swing it?

No. BH the Baltimore schools don't play games like this.

The point of the initiative is to encourage parents to complete paying that year's tuition by the end of the year and not to hold over a balance.

If you think about it, aside from being kind and generous, it's a much better way to get the tuition paid as opposed to kicking kids out of school or using the diploma as leverage for paying. Reward, don't threaten.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 4:55 pm

amother Catmint wrote:

That's true. It's through the Associated as the organizer and donors.

amother

↑ Firethorn

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 5:54 pm

amother Mintgreen wrote:

I don't think the community leaders would let that happen. The whole point is to help families, not give more money to the schools.

Still don’t get this. Don’t tuition committees settle on a number based on ability to pay? If a family was only able to afford 50k tuition for their 5 kids last year based on income and assets, they can now afford 52k. The school will simply ignore the additional 3.5% in assets that the family now has when negotiating the new years tuition?

amother

Mint ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 6:07 pm

amother OP wrote:

How does a family in these Baltimore schools not pay? Don't you have to sign up with facts or give your bank info? Wondering how it's possible to end up with an unpaid balance

amother

↑ Dandelion ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 6:13 pm

amother Mint wrote:

How does a family in these Baltimore schools not pay? Don't you have to sign up with facts or give your bank info? Wondering how it's possible to end up with an unpaid balance

Was wondering that too

amother

Wandflower ↓

Tue, Sep 10 2024, 9:42 pm

The schools have agreed not to raise tuition more than their historical norms based on this initiative.

Bnos does even better - the past couple of years you can opt for a set increase and don't even have to fill out a scholarship request form so the annual increases are pretty much set already (example - kid staying within same division is $300 annual increase; kid going up a division $600 annual increase).