Financial Aid Policy 2026-27
Sunstone Montessori School is committed to the ideal of providing quality AMI Montessori
education. Tuition assistance is Sunstone’s attempt to support families when they need
assistance to attend, or continue to attend Sunstone. There is a limited budget and it’s
important to note that most monies are awarded in March and April of each year. Parents are
free to consult with the Business Manager or Head of School for help in completing the request.
Application Procedure
An application consists of several different forms due FEBRUARY 23, 2026:
- Sunstone Montessori Financial Aid Application – This form is submitted via secure
upload to SSSFA. - Parents’ Financial Statement for the School and Student Service for Financial Aid
(SSSFA) to be filled in online at https://sssandtadsfa.force.com/familyportal The due date for
SMS to receive available uploaded information is February 23, 2026. - Copies of both Parents’ 2025 IRS W-2 Forms with the application. Copies of 2024 Tax
returns when filed. The return copy needs to be signed and include all schedules. These forms
are submitted via secure upload to SSSFA. Please note: If information for both parents is not
available, please submit an explanation. - Current payroll stub or wage verification submitted via secure upload to SSSFA.
- $250 nonrefundable deposit for returning students for the 2026-27 school year, to
be applied to your student’s tuition.
Deadlines
All items must be uploaded and received by February 23, 2026, to be considered on time and
complete. Please note that the Parents’ Financial Statement must be submitted to SSSFA in a timely manner for the report to arrive at Sunstone on time (online applications are usually processed within 72 hours).
Once we have received all the components of your application, your request will be considered by the
Financial Aid Committee. Notification of assistance will be made by March 16, 2026. TUITION DEPOSITS WILL BE DUE ON March 23, 2026.
Criteria
This is a subjective evaluation that will consider the documents sent, as well as the child’s tenure at
Sunstone and the family’s contribution and commitment to Montessori education and the SMS community.
Review Process
Each year the Board of Trustees of Sunstone Montessori School authorizes a maximum amount of funds
to be awarded as financial assistance. Financial Aid will be awarded by the Financial Aid Committee. No
current parents will be appointed to this committee in order to respect confidentiality.
The Financial Aid Committee shall have the discretion to award all or part of the available funds to be
applied to the current annual tuition per applicant. Awards are for one year at a time. Families must
reapply annually for continued assistance and eligibility is determined annually based on the most
recent financial information.
Awards are subject to review and can be modified or revoked under certain circumstances as described in the Award Letter. All decisions of the Financial Aid Committee are final. Applications received for consideration will be held in strict confidentiality by the Committee and will be retained in confidential files.
Commitment to Diversity
Sunstone Montessori School welcomes students and staff of any race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion,
sexual orientation and family constellation to all programs and activities at the school. The school does not discriminate in its educational, hiring, admission, or school-administered policies. It is our goal that the school reflects the rich diversity of our community, including varied cultures, economic status, and diverse educational needs.
Our decision for aid is not based on race, color, national and ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.