Private school contract when on public school waitlist
We have a child going into K next Fall (2021-2022) and are navigating the charter, OUSD, independent school process. I believe we have to commit by 3/25/21 for a school, but there is a chance of getting off a charter or OUSD waitlist at any point through the following school year.
How have other parents handled the decision for independent schools? Are we committed to paying for the full year's tuition (or paying for insurance and a % of the tuition) if we get off a waitlist and withdraw from private school mid-year? Presumably independent schools have a waitlist too and what if they are able to back fill the spot?
Thanks for the advice and sharing your experiences! So many impossible decisions this year!
Dec 14, 2020
Parent Replies
For most independent schools, you have until May to withdraw your child and only pay 10% of the tuition. After that, it ramps up pretty quickly to 100% by the time school starts. You will know about your initial OUSD assignment and placement on waitlists before the deposit is due, and then you'll have a window of a couple months to withdraw and just owe the deposit should you get off the waitlist at a school you prefer. Families certainly do withdraw later than that on occasion and just eat the cost with the long term view in mind. OUSD waitlists dissolve on the tenth day of school, so you will likely know if you have a spot at your desired school before most area independent schools start classes. Do note that tuition insurance doesn't cover withdrawing to go to a different school, though; it's only for withdrawing for reasons beyond your control (job loss, relocation, etc.) Good luck with the process!
We got the tuition insurance offered by my child's private school this year because we weren't sure what was to come. It's definitely a good idea to read the fine print and call them to make sure your situation would apply. I would also make sure that what the previous poster said about insurance is correct (that it doesn't cover certain types of withdrawal) -- we did read the fine print for ours, and spoke to them, and our situation was covered, so maybe it varies by policy. Not all private schools offer it though.
I agree with both posters, read the contract and insurance policies carefully. I never purchased the insurance at my son’s school, but I did consider it and it did NOT cover changing your mind, not a good fit, switch to another school, etc. Also, at his school, the contact that I sign each year states that I am responsible for 100% of tuition after a certain date, so in theory, the school could come after me for a year’s worth of tuition if he did withdraw once the school year started. I’m not sure any schools really do that, but they are within their rights if they do. These decisions are hard. Good luck!