Tuition Assistance

A St. Matthew School Education is Affordable

PSAS /STO Tuition Assistance Timeline

March 15 Completed applications must be post-marked or filed electronically.

Completed applications must be post-marked or filed electronically.

May 10 Award notification letters sent to all families who applied. May 30 Families receiving assistance send confirmation they are accepting/declining the assistance back to the school.
School Code When completing the application, our school/system code is 3267. The password online is Arch1.

Award notification letters sent to all families who applied. May 30 Families receiving assistance send confirmation they are accepting/declining the assistance back to the school.
School Code When completing the application, our school/system code is 3267. The password online is Arch1.

Archdiocese Grant

The Board of Education and Formation of St. Matthew Parish is the recipient of $10,236.31 grant award from the Educational Development Fund of the Archdiocese of Dubuque for the purpose of providing tuition assistance to those families who can least afford the cost of a Catholic School education. Grant awards were received from the Tuition Assistance program and/or the Minority Grant program supported by the Educational Development Fund. The Educational Development Fund Board allocated a total of $445,000 for these two programs for the 2009/10 program year.

The Educational Development Fund of the Archdiocese of Dubuque has also provided an additional $60,000 in grant awards for the 2009/10 year for catechists’ formation resources and leadership development.

The Educational Development Fund was developed for the purpose of supporting the educational programs of the Archdiocese. This is the twenty-fourth year that grants have been awarded. Over 6.2 million dollars have been distributed since the Educational Development Fund was established. Grants are made possible through the generous donations of contributors and parishioners throughout the Archdiocese.

Please consider donating to this fund that directly impacts the educational programs in the schools and parishes of the Archdiocese. For additional information concerning the Educational Development Fund or making a contribution toward Catholic Education, contact the

Office of Educational Development, 1229 Mt. Loretta Avenue, P.O. Box 479, Dubuque, IA 52004-0479, phone 563.556.2580, or email:dbqcstewdev@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us

SCHOOL TUITION ORGANIZATION (STO)

St. Matthew School is a member of the Our Faith, Our Children, Our Future School Tuition Organization (STO). The STO offers tuition assistance to families based upon their identified financial need and the amount of money available in the program, as determined by Private School Aid Service. Those families whose income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level qualify for assistance through this program.

ST. MATTHEW SCHOOL ASSISTANCE

St. Matthew School is committed to making sure Catholic education is available to all students who desire it. St. Matthew School offers tuition assistance in addition to the STO assistance. Applying for tuition assistance is very simple, and St. Matthew School encourages you to apply even if you question your ability to qualify.

TUITION ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES

2009 Guidelines
*Family Size
STO Qualifying Maximum Income
Two
$43,710
Three
$54,930
Four
$66,150
Five
$77,370
Six
$88,590
Seven
$99,810
* Family size includes parents/ guardians plus dependents claimed on 2009 tax return.

ONE APPLICATION FORM

• Both STO and St. Matthew School assistance programs utilize Private School Aid Service

(PSAS) to assist in determining the level of assistance to be awarded.

• Your personal information will be held in strictest confidence at all times.

• If you have a child at more than one Archdiocesan School or if you wish to apply for both types

of assistance, you will only need to complete one application form.

TWO WAYS TO FILE

• PSAS applications are available at St. Matthew School.

• Online at www.psas.org. St. Matthew’s school code is 3267 and the authorization code for filing online is arch 1.

A ST.MATTHEW SCHOOL EDUCATION IS AFFORDABLE

1. SCHOOL TUITION ORGANIZATION (STO)

2. ST.MATTHEW SCHOOL ASSISTANCE

3. STATE OF IOWA TUITION TAX CREDIT

4. TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

5. SCRIP

STATE OF IOWA TUITION TAX CREDIT

A tuition credit equal to 25% of the first $1,000 paid for tuition and textbooks for each student is offered by the state of Iowa. This credit directly reduces your Iowa tax liability by up to $250. For example, if you pay $1,000 toward your student’s St. Matthew School tuition bill in the fall of 2009, you can then deduct $250 from your 2009 Iowa tax liability. This effectively provides $250 toward your student’s education at St. Matthew School. Each January, St. Matthew School provides you with a tuition statement to remind you of this credit and to help you keep track of your payments

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

Parents of children attending St. Matthew School may be reimbursed for at least part of their transportation costs. If a student does not receive bussing and lives 2 miles or more from St. Matthew School they may be entitled to reimbursement from the school district. Claims must be filed by December 1st and May 1st. St. Matthew School sends these claim forms home in November and April.

SCRIP

SCRIP is a substitute for money in the form of certificates or cards that can be used like cash to purchase products or services. Scrip can be used to purchase anything from groceries, fuel, and clothing to entertainment, electronics, and home improvement. A portion of the SCRIP you purchase is set aside for you to use toward your tuition. St. Matthew School applies your proceeds each Fall to your tuition account.