Schools! We need them to educate our children, and they need our support so that they can continue to innovate and provide quality. Schools are products of the altruistic dreams of their owners, and thus you find it beneath you to write stern letters to those unfortunate parents who’ve come into hardship for non-payment of tuition fees. What to say without hurting their feelings? Just because they’re scraping a living doesn’t mean their kids are less entitled to an education than their affluent peers. Read on for a few tips!
Help the parents; lend a compassionate ear to their predicament, and offer any assistance or advice you can give.
Once words are put on paper, it somehow gives them power; to mend or break a parent’s heart, embarrassing as it already is for them. Appreciate the parents for their contribution to your school; whether it was donations, volunteering, or school board involvement. With kind words remind them that policies cannot be circumscribed.
Take a look at this sample letter:
Letter for Non-payment of Fees (from School to Parents)
December 18, 2016
Dear Mr. Watson:
This serves as a reminder that payment of your child Jamie’s (Grade 8) tuition fee of $ 4,170 for the months of October and November is still pending.
We are really proud of Jamie; he is a brilliant student who is making progress in leaps and bounds, and I know you are amazing parents! That’s why I hate to break it to you this way, knowing of the recent loss of your job, Mr. Watson. Regretfully, I’m bound by school policy to inform you that failure on your part to pay Jamie’s tuition fee within 30 days from the date of this letter, will lead to Jamie’s expulsion.
If there is any way Oliver High could be of assistance in resolving this matter, I’ve arranged for you to meet with me in my office at 10:30 am, on Friday, April 5, 2016, to see if your circumstances qualify you for financial aid, and offer my advice on how to apply for aid, if any is available in your case.
Please consider this invitation as a last-ditch attempt to save Jamie’s chance at continuing to study at Oliver High, and your cooperation is the best thing for him. I understand it’s difficult for you to raise the fee amount, however if it turns out that your case is not eligible for financial aid, I’m afraid it may be time to consider transferring Jamie. We don’t want to lose Jamie to another school!
I want you both to know how much I appreciate all the hard work you put into your Jamie’s education, and hope we can work out a solution for this non-payment issue.
Looking forward for your prompt response.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Natalie P. Jacobs
Principal
City School, San Diego, CA 96554
(000) 254-8585 | n.jacobs @ cityschool. com