The main goal of the Financial Assistance Program at Black Pine Circle is to provide tuition assistance for students and families who cannot otherwise afford a BPC education.  Approximately 30% of our families receive financial assistance.  Scholarships are awarded to families from various income levels.  In past years, awards ranged from 5% to 80% of tuition.

Black Pine Circle School’s Financial Assistance Program offers need-based scholarships that cover tuition costs.  In addition to tuition assistance, field trips, extended day care, and after school classes and clubs, will be subsidized at approximately the same level as the awarded scholarship.

Our admissions decisions remain separate from financial assistance decisions.  All financial aid information provided during the admission process is confidential.

1. 1.Complete and mail the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS)
   

2. As with many other independent schools in the area, we utilize the service of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS).  All parents must complete the application form called the Parents’ Financial Aid Statement (PFS) and send a copy to the SSS.  The forms are normally available in November. You can also apply online at the National Association of Independent Schools website (http://sss.nais.org).  You may use the PFS for more than one school; just remember to include BPC as a recipient of their report (BPC code is 1710).
   

2. Submit the following to Black Pine Circle (address below):

1. 1.Black Pine Circle’s Application for Financial Aid form
   

2. 2.Copy of PFS (SSS application)
   

3. 3.Copy of your 2008 tax return with W-2s and schedules by January 15, 2010.
   

4. 4.  Copy of your 2009 tax return with W-2s and schedules by February 12, 2010.

3. Mail Financial Assistance materials to:

1. Black Pine Circle School
   

2. Attn: Financial Assistance Committee
   

3. 2027 7th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Contact: (click to email)

Faye Wu, Admissions Director

Via Phone: 510-644-1023 ex 14

BPC Financial Assistance Workshop:

1. If you would like assistance in applying for financial aid, please plan to attend our
   

2. Financial Assistance Workshop  on Thursday, December 10, 2009  at 7:00 in the evening.

Each year the Board of Directors determines the level of financial assistance funds available. Since there is a finite dollar amount of funds available for financial assistance, the application process is time-sensitive and materials must be received by the deadlines noted.  If these deadlines are not met, we will be unable to consider your application. New applications must be re-submitted each year.

To be considered for a financial assistance award, families must submit an application package each year along with their tax returns.  Results of the official Financial Aid Application, determined by an independent organization, the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), as well as your response to BPC’s Application for Financial Assistance are used to determine need.  An unbiased committee meets to discuss the disbursement of financial aid awards.

Questions? Please contact the Business Office at (510) 644-1023 x 13 or

email:  Bill Shea for all financial aid related questions.

Notification of financial assistance for new students will be sent with

an enrollment contract on March 12, 2010.