Dragonfly Financial Aid Program
Mancos Valley Dragonfly School provides needs-based tuition support for families, to keep the school accessible to as many families as possible. We offer four forms of assistance: the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Universal Preschool (UPK), the Dragonfly Tuition Assistance Fund, and select work trade arrangements. As a nonprofit school, we can give one form of aid per child.
The Dragonfly Tuition Assistance Program is made possible by funding through in-house fundraising efforts via grants and individual donors, to make all of the above options for aid available. The Tuition Assistance Committee seeks to give as much help with what funds are available.
Every dollar we award in need-based tuition assistance is a dollar Dragonfly has to make up for through other revenue streams and fundraising efforts. We ask that families give their children’s education a high priority in their financial planning. In addition, we ask that families get creative with paying for a child’s tuition, including considering help and contributions from both parents/guardians, and extended family.
We are building a close school community together. As Dragonfly commits to the family to provide a nurturing, nature-based Waldorf-inspired Early Childhood experience, we in turn ask families to commit fully to the school. If a family can not give Dragonfly tuition funds, we ask that they try to give of their time and unique talents. All enrolled families are expected to attend festivals, help at volunteer work days, and engage with their child’s education here.
The Application process:
Applications for aid are due by May 15th every year, or at the time of Enrollment inquiry if a family applies/inquires after that date.
Tuition support requests are a separate, parallel process to your application for admission. Families are asked to complete a new application each school year, and only one application per family is needed.
ALL information in this process is kept confidential.
Applications must be turned in with all pertinent financial information, including the first two pages of your families’ most recent 1040 tax return. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. If parents are separated, please submit both parents’ 1040s.
Once all information is received, the Director will contact parents to schedule an in-person meeting to discuss their application for aid. We recognize that every family is different, and every family has their own circumstances and levels of need. Therefore we feel it is important to have this follow up meeting for families to fill out their story.
Family’s application will be given to Dragonfly’s Tuition Assistance Committee, who then consider each application with care.
Families will receive notice of acceptance or denial, and award levels in a timely manner.
Families may apply for financial assistance at any time during the school year, based on availability of funds. If your family is awarded tuition assistance, invoices will reflect the discount in the next billing cycle.
Tuition assistance will not be applied to past due balances, the annual $250 deposit and materials fee, or summer programs.
Your family must remain current on tuition payments. If tuition becomes delinquent 30 days or more a student is subject to suspension. When a payment is missed, the parents are expected to contact the Director immediately in order to develop a spirit of working together to address the issue.
The following criteria will be used to evaluate each application:
1. Income level: Dragonfly evaluates a need for aid based on income and family size, and the tiers reflect the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Your family must meet the low/moderate income level and must demonstrate the need for assistance in order for your child to qualify.
2. In person interview: Life is more complicated than what is shown on paper. Meeting between the family and the Director takes into consideration a family’s situation to determine a families’ eligibility. All information is kept confidential.
3. Family’s willingness to volunteer time and services towards the school.
4. Agreement: The family must observe School policies outlined in the Parent Handbook and sign our Tuition Assistance Agreement, which will be received upon acceptance.