Go to SSS at https://sssandtadsfa.force.com/familyportal.
1. Be sure to submit your Parent Financial Statement (PFS) by the appropriate deadline. By signing the PFS electronically, parents indicate that they have filled out the PFS with the best available knowledge. They agree to inform the school of any changes in their financial situation. The preliminary financial aid award may be adjusted once the file is complete with the required documentation.
2. By the date specified, upload to the Family Portal W-2s, 1099s, 4506-Ts, and most recent tax return (if applying for financial aid for the first time).
3. By the date specified, upload to the Family Portal the just-completed income tax return for the previous year, including all schedules, and forms. (W-2s and 1099s should have already been sent to SSS.)

Schools will often reserve the right to request additional financial information from financial aid applicants or their parents. You may call 800-344-8328 with any questions about your PFS or about SSS.

SSS uses a methodology to compute a family’s ability to pay for educational expenses for all their children in tuition-charging institutions — and the end result is a number that represents how much a family can pay toward tuition. This methodology takes
into consideration taxable and non-taxable income, assets, liabilities, family size, and the number of children in tuition-charging institutions. After allowances for required and basic necessities, a portion of remaining resources are considered available
for education on a sliding scale. 

Financial aid decisions are made after a student has been admitted. For this reason, you should apply for financial aid at the same time that you start the application process. SSS will compute the amount your family can pay toward tuition and, once you are accepted, the Financial Aid Committee at the school will take this number into consideration to calculate your financial aid award.

This varies at Hershey Montessori School based on program level, number of years a child or family has been enrolled at Hershey Montessori School. It is important to note that, with very few exceptions, families will pay some tuition.

At most schools, including Hershey Montessori School, a student’s need is recalculated annually. Therefore, parents and caregivers are required to submit the PFS along with the other required documentation each year for review by the school’s Financial Aid Committee.

We recognize that families have the freedmom to make choices regarding their financial status. If only one parent works outside the home, the Financial Aid Committee, according to Hershey Montessori School policy, will add to the income of the family. An exception to this policy might occur if the parent at home is caring for a preschool-aged child, a child with a disability, a seriously ill child, parent or grandparent, or if there are other special circumstances. Parents should present these possible exceptions at the end of the PFS before submitting.

At Hershey Montessori School, we believe that all parents have an obligation to contribute to the expense of educating their child. All parents/guardians must complete the PFS and submit the required documentation in order for the school to gain a realistic picture of family resources.

Please note: When parents complete separate PFSs, they must spell the student’s name correctly. For example, they should not use all capital or lowercase characters. If the child has a suffix (Jr., III, etc.) both PFSs much indicate the same suffix.

The Financial Aid Committee will not be bound by the assertation that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for education expenses. If the custodial parent has not heard from the non-custodial parent for a period of time to be determined by the Financial Aid Committee or the involvement of the non-custodial parent is not in the best interest of the student, the above requirements may be waived. An letter of explanation and verification from a third party such as a minister, attorney, or social worker may be required.

If either parent has remarried, the needs analysis considers the assets and earnings potential of the step-parent in conjunction with the natural parent, keeping in mind the step-parents responsibility to his/her/their own children.

Children who are living with guardians are usually reviewed on an individual basis. If the parents are still living and are claiming their child on their tax return, the parents and possible, the guardians must complete the PFS and submit the required documention. If other family members have custody, they must also complete the PFS and submit required documentation. The school’s Financial Aid Committee may require proof of custody.

At Hershey Montessori School, if a family has new information that was not included in the PFS and might have some bearing on the financial aid award, the parents should include that information in a letter to the Financial Aid Committee via the SSS Portal or by email to the Director of Admissions.

If you do not have a W-2 handy, you can figure out your income/wages and salaries for the PFS by using year-to-date information from your most recent paystub. This can be done by following these steps:

1. Find gross regular earnings year-to-date from paycheck stub.

2. Subtract pre-tax contributions, for example: flex plan/125 cons; 401(k) or 403(b) contributions; other pre-tax income deductions.

3. That figure should be close to waht would appear in Box 1 of the W-2, so please include that on the PFS.

If you are considering filing a late application and believe you will need financial aid, we advise that you check in with the admissions office before submitting an application. Please email Director of Admissions, Diana Le Sieur at dlesieur@hershey-montessori.org or call 440-357-0918.