Foundations in Education Extends Application Deadline for New Student K-8 Tuition Assistance
April 28, 2021 | Foundations in Education | News
Foundations in Education is pleased to announce they are extending the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund application deadline for new K-8 families as long as funds permit. The hope is the extension will boost enrollment and also encourage consideration of Catholic education.
The mission of the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund is to help families afford Catholic elementary school tuition in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Now in its 7th year, the fund has awarded nearly $15 million in assistance to thousands of students attending Diocesan schools in Fairfield County who demonstrate financial need.
Last year, an anonymous donor to Foundations in Education (FIE) provided $1 million in additional funding for COVID-19 emergency tuition assistance for K-8 families suffering financial hardship from coronavirus-related illness, loss of employment, or loss of business.
Together with this fund, FIE awarded 1,480 students over $3.5 million in tuition assistance for the 2020-2021 academic year.
“We have a lot of great donors who really believe in the value of Catholic education because they received so much from their own Catholic education or have seen the great work Catholic schools are doing,” said Foundations’ Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoine.
The deadline for new families to apply to the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund was April 15 but has since been extended for a limited time, while funding permits.
After witnessing a delay in new student applications last spring due to COVID-19, FIE extended last year’s deadline. In doing so, a record high 260 new students applied for assistance.
This year, the deadline is being extended as a result of a continued surge of interest from public school families.
FIE’s Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoine observes, “We saw firsthand the difference Catholic schools make in the lives of students. For the most part our teachers met in person with their students five days a week throughout the year, putting students first. They are our unsung heroes and are instrumental in delivering an exceptional education to students. Now is a great time to assure your child’s academic future by enrolling in one of our Catholic schools.”
The application process is streamlined for convenience. Applicants apply online via the FACTS Grant and Aid application at www.FACTSmgt.com/aid. Schools can assist new families with the application process.
According to the Office of the Superintendent, the nineteen Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport welcomed 1,114 new students in September 2020.
Principal at Saint Mary School in Ridgefield, Anna O’Rourke, shares, “Our objective this year was to provide a safe, in-person environment for students. Our protocols have been very effective, with minimal disruption. We see the benefit of in-person learning, and that is reinforced by parents, as we had 45 new students join us from Kindergarten – Grade 8.”
Bishop’s Scholarship Fund tuition assistance is made possible through donors to Foundations in Education. Click here to find out how your tax-deductible gift to FIE can help transform the life of a student.