Continuous Enrollment
We are proud that each year, our Schechter families remain deeply committed to our school and our mission - preparing students to become well-rounded mensches who can navigate this complex world through a distinctively Jewish lens.
That’s why we are clearing away the yearly hassle of our returning families having to re-enroll and instead, moving to a simpler, easier method called Continuous Enrollment.
What does Continuous Enrollment mean?
- You’ll save time – no more filling out the same lengthy re-enrollment forms year after year. Your parent administrative load will be simpler and lighter.
- Continuous Enrollment also helps SSDS provide your children with authentic and engaging learning experiences that make Schechter the dynamic, joyful place it is through gathering critical long-term enrollment information. This helps in planning for allocating resources for staffing, curriculum, and new exciting programs.
- You’ll guarantee your child’s placement, ensuring that your children will be part of the Schechter Kehillah through your children’s graduation, or until you tell us otherwise.
FAQ's
What is Continuous Enrollment?
Continuous Enrollment enables you to automatically re-enroll your child(ren) each year until graduation from Schechter Bergen instead of having to repeat the same re-enrollment process and paperwork each year.
What is the benefit of Continuous Enrollment?
We place our priority with you, our current families, who have already committed to giving your child the gift of a Jewish day school education at Schechter. Continuous Enrollment eliminates the need to complete re-enrollment paperwork each year. When you, our families “sign on the line” that you will be coming back each year, it saves you time and takes the “guesswork” out of the number of students we need to plan for each year - and helps the school make solid plans for staffing, allocating educational resources, and how to best use our facility. We take seriously the stewardship of the tuition you entrust to us every year and we want to invest your tuition dollars wisely so that we can provide the best education possible for your children.
Why change to Continuous Enrollment?
Up until this point, re-enrollment has always been a yearly “opt-in” program that requires our parents to complete the same forms year after year. Every year, we have to ask every family, “Are you coming back?” By completing a Continuous Enrollment agreement, you will be flipping that script. Rather than an opt-in annual re-enrollment process, Schechter’s annual re-enrollment will become an opt-out process. In other words, if you’re coming back after signing your “Continuous Enrollment Agreement,” you’ll never have to worry about this again.
How is "Continuous Enrollment" different from Schechter Bergen's current re-enrollment process?
Our existing re-enrollment model requires our school to reach out to you and repeat the same process every year. Continuous Enrollment is a once-and-for-all process. Once you sign your Continuous Enrollment Agreement you’ll never have to deal with re-enrollment again (unless your family plans change). In the event that things do change, you’ll have until the end of February every year to simply notify us and face absolutely no penalty.
What do I get out of this?
Simplicity and guaranteed placement for your child(ren). Each year, we find ourselves at or near waitlists in a number of our grades, particularly in our younger grades. By participating in continuous enrollment, you’ll be locking down that seat for your child until graduation.
When will this take place?
Continuous Enrollment contracts will be mailed to you during the first week of January; by renewing your child’s contract for the last time by January 31, 2020, you will be given first priority at securing a placement for your child for next year and every year until graduation.
What will Continuous Enrollment look like?
For this year only, all Schechter families will receive a Continuous Enrollment packet in the regular mail in early January 2020. Each family will be asked to complete and submit all forms by January 31, 2020. Going forward, and for every school year after that, you will simply receive a communication reminder that if you may be thinking about leaving our school, you will need to notify us prior to the end of February. This means that most of you, our Schechter families will have secured your child’s placement and will have to do absolutely nothing going forward until your child graduates!
How do I sign up for this?
For the first year ONLY (2020-2021), every current Schechter Bergen family will receive a Continuous Enrollment packet in the mail with a prepaid return envelope; all forms will need to be completed and submitted to our school by January 31, along with a Continuous Enrollment fee of $525 per student. After January 31, the late-enrollment fee will be $1,050 per student.
What if my family's circumstances change?
Schechter recognizes that family plans may change and we’ve built flexibility into this agreement. For major life changes such as moving away from our school, or if Schechter can no longer meet your child’s educational needs as mutually agreed, if we ask your family to leave, or if there is some unforeseen circumstance that our School approves, there will be no financial penalty.
- Moving/Relocation out of town from Schechter Bergen.
- Educational needs for the student that can no longer be met at SSDS as determined by our Student Services team.
- Withdrawal or dismissal at the sole discretion and request of Schechter Bergen.
- If your verified financial documentation determines the tuition would be a hardship, and the tuition award cannot close the gap for you.
What is the penalty if I break this agreement?
Schechter families that are re-enrolled, but break the agreement by cancelling or withdrawing after the specified date will be contractually obligated to pay full tuition.
The Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Solomon Schechter does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of our educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.