Admissions Practice Statement

ISANNE Best Practices

We adhere to ISANNE Best practices for admissions and financial aid

The following document has been developed as “Best Practices” for ISANNE schools relating to admissions, financial aid, and hiring. The Best Practices appear on the ISANNE web site and will also be reviewed with all new heads of schools annually. It is intended that each Head of School will provide these Best Practices to professionals who are impacted by its contents.  The expectation is that all points be instituted consistent with the spirit of its intent. While many individuals in an ISANNE school may participate in these processes, the Head of School is responsible for ensuring that the following standards are met.

 

ADMISSIONS

  1. A school will not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or other protected status in the administration of its admission policies. *
  2. A school will not initiate a conversation with a student or family for the intended purpose of recruiting that student from another member school.
  3. A school recognizes the right of its students or families to visit and consider other schools without notifying the present school. It also recognizes and respects the right of another school to hold preliminary discussions about the possibility of admission.
  4. Upon request and as promptly as possible, a school will send an official copy of a transcript (or its equivalent) and other pertinent information to another school to which a student has applied.* However, if a transcript or other information is being withheld, the present school will notify the requesting school immediately.
  5. (a) A school will advise any school requesting a transcript if a family has not met its financial obligations at its present school.
    (b) A school will not offer an enrollment contract to a student without first receiving an official copy of a transcript (or its equivalent) from the student’s present school.*
  6. A school will not knowingly offer an enrollment contract to a student whose family has not made satisfactory arrangements to meet its financial obligations at another school.
  7. A school will take all reasonable and lawful measures to maintain the confidentiality of reports and information exchanged among schools concerning students and parents.*

FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATION

Need–based financial aid is the primary means to support access to independent schools by students of diverse socio–economic levels. For this reason, ISANNE strongly endorses need–based financial aid and recommends that assistance be granted primarily on the basis of demonstrated financial need.  While many individuals in an ISANNE school may participate in the financial aid process, the Head of School is responsible for ensuring that the following standards are met.

 

  1. A school will not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or other protected status in the administration of its financial aid policies. *
  2. A school will not use merit awards to “bargain” for a student attending, applying to, or committed to attending another ISANNE school.
  3. A school will use a uniform methodology to assess annually, in a consistent and equitable manner, each family’s ability to pay for education.*
  4. A school will require adequate documentation of family resources when determining need.*
  5. A school will provide students and families with factual information about its aid opportunities, financing opportunities, policies, and procedures.
  6. A school will use financial aid only as a means to enroll students who match the school’s mission and academic programs. A school will not make financial awards, whether need–based or merit, to attract a student for whom the school’s philosophy and academic programs are not well suited.
  7. A school will not set different standards of behavior and academic performance for its financial aid recipients.*
  8. A school will refrain from and discourage others within the school community from disclosing the names of financial aid recipients and award amounts.*
  9. A school will safeguard the confidentiality of all financial information supplied by a family.*

 

Adapted from The Association of Independent Maryland Schools Code of Ethics

(*) Adapted from The National Association of Independent Schools “Principles of Good Practice”