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The ADVIS Guidelines of Good Practice for Independent Schools
 In the judgment of participating schools, the following guidelines serve both families and schools by helping to ensure orderly, ethical, and professional admission practices. These guidelines are to be provided to applicant families, as well as to a school’s teachers, administrators, trustees, coaches, parents, and alumni.1. Promoting Schools Each family interested in an independent school education for their child should choose a school appropriate to the child’s needs. Each independent school in the greater Delaware Valley has its own character and unique mission. It is always sensible for a family to investigate several options before reaching a decision about an independent school. Therefore: Each school will make appropriate events and materials available to help parents choose a school. Inquiries from prospective parents and students should be directed to the Admissions Office. Members of a school community -- including trustees, faculty, coaches, parents, alumni, and students -- are encouraged to speak accurately and positively about their own school and, if they speak of other schools, to do so in a courteous, positive manner. Indeed, schools committed to these guidelines will make every effort to cooperate with one another in serving the student and family during the admission process . Schools should not require a potential family to state a first choice. Pressure should never be used to influence a family’s decision. 2. School Admissions Policies The Director of Admissions, in conjunction with the Head of School, should, upon request, inform inquiring families of the school’s admissions policies, procedures, criteria, application and tuition costs, and calendar of dates, and should endeavor to keep appropriate personnel within the school informed of such matters. The Director of Admissions should endeavor to see that the school’s admissions criteria and processes are consistent with its mission. A school, in the administration of its admissions policies, will not discriminate, contrary to law, on the basis of race, color, or ethnic or national origin or any other category protected by law. 3. Rights of the Family A school will recognize the rights of its students or families to visit and consider other schools. A family need not tell the child’s present school of such visits until a transcript is requested, but clear communication between the family and current school is encouraged. While a school will make efforts to retain its students, such efforts should not result in undue pressure on the family or, especially, the student. 4. Truthful, Accurate, and Complete Information Because each school considers an offer of admission to be a significant commitment: The applicant and family, in response to a school’s requests, must provide truthful, accurate and complete information, including information about academic performance, conduct, and reasons for seeking a change in schools, and any other information and documentation the school may reasonably request in order to determine whether the student meets the school’s admission requirements and whether the school would be an appropriate place for the student. If it occurs that a school was not provided with full and accurate information in response to its requests during any point prior to a student’s matriculation, the school has the right to revoke its offer of admission. 5. Transcripts/Confidentiality Upon written request of the parents, and as promptly as possible, a school will sent a transcript (or its equivalent) and other pertinent requested information to another school to which a student has applied. However, a school may not required to release a transcript (or its equivalent) or any other information to a new school if the school has not been paid in full for all tuition and other charges payable by the family. A school will not offer a place for a student without first receiving an official transcript -- if available -- directly from the student’s current school. A school will take reasonable and lawful measures to maintain the confidentiality of reports and information received from another school concerning students and parents. 6. Standards for Personal References Any recommendation for an applicant should be based on a referrer’s actual knowledge of the applicant. Members of a school community -- including trustees, administrators, parents and alumni leaders, coaches, advisors, and benefactors -- will not presume to influence an admissions committee decision, nor will they imply that they possess such powers of influence. 7. Notification Dates Many independent schools observe the following annual dates: 1) February 1 (or similar midwinter date) as the time when families are notified of admissions decisions. 2) March 1 as the first day by which a family can be required to respond to an offer of admissions. The Admissions Calendar differs from school to school. Each school will make its own timetable available to inquiring families. Admissions officers will extend every reasonable courtesy to families caught in a conflict of dates. 8. Financial Aid Policies and Practices A school’s financial aid program is administered in a dignified and professional manner. Each applicant for financial aid must provide required documentation of family financial resources in order to be considered for an award. Full, timely, and truthful disclosure, in conformity with the school’s stated policies, is a condition that each applicant family must meet. A school cannot be obligated to fulfill a promised aid award if it becomes clear that the award was based on incomplete or incorrect information. Schools may avail themselves of all legal remedies to recover losses stemming from such misrepresentations. Financial aid applicant families should be notified in writing of their award decision, and no sooner than at the time of admission. The amount of aid awarded is entirely subject to the school’s discretion, consistent with its stated policies. These guidelines are not intended to create any legally binding obligations or confer any legally binding rights upon schools, students or their families. Adopted by the ADVIS Board of Directors, 5/14/96 |
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