what is fairness funding?
As an organization committed to the ethos of inclusion, we strive to recognize the ways in which systems of oppression impact our work and the lives of our families. At Mi Casita we want to offer our staff fair living wages and benefits and also want to be accessible to all applicants, regardless of identity and economic resources. We believe in providing a space where we work together to determine your tuition based on your family’s income and financial circumstances, with the help of our guidelines (please see guidelines below).
The set tuitions are the minimum required in order to run an operationally sound, safe, and enriching school for our families and staff. Any amount that your family can pay above and beyond the standard will supplement another family’s opportunity to participate!
We recognize that families take many forms, and that some face financial challenges in which they are under-supported or unsupported (such as extreme medical costs). While other families have supports beyond their own economic means. We understand that all families’ resources and access to resources look different and are subject to ups and downs.
Our system is highly relational, and requires conversation. Think deeply through the tuition and schedule that is most appropriate, given your current financial resources and needs. Please be mindful that if you request a tuition break when you can truthfully afford to pay in full or to pay more, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. At the same time, please be rigorous about paying what you can — we rely on tuition to pay our teachers fair wages, and your generous contribution above the standard provides access to others who may not otherwise be able to. It is in the spirit of the sliding scale model, in the spirit of community, to pay what we can, when we can.
This process requires everyone to consider their stretch.
how do I know if I qualify for fairness funding?
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Am I comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs?
Do I have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs?
Do I own my home or property OR do I rent a higher-end property?
Do I own or lease a car?
Am I employed or do not need to work to meet my needs?
Do I have access to intergenerational wealth?
Do I have regular access to health care?
Do I have access to financial savings?
Do I have an expendable** income?
Can I always buy new items?
Can I afford an annual vacation or take time off?
Do I have family or a third party payee that supports my payments?
Assuming a dual income and a household of 3-4 people, do I have access to an annual gross income of at least $170,000 (including through immediate and extended family)?
* Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.
** Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.
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Do I stress about meeting my basic* needs but still regularly achieve them?
Do I have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs?
Do I own or lease a car?
Do I have access to intergenerational wealth?
Do I have access to health care?
Might I have access to financial savings?
Do I have some expendable** income?
Am I able to buy some new items and/or thrift others?
Can I take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden?
Do I have family or a third party payee that supports my payments?
Assuming a dual income and a household of 3-4 people, do I have access to an annual gross income of at least $110,000 (including through immediate and extended family)?
* Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.
** Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.
You may Qualify for Fairness Funding if YOU can answer yes to all or most of these questions/ Statements:
Do I frequently stress about meeting basic* needs & don’t always achieve them?
Do I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs?
Do I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing?
I do not have a car and I am not always able to comfortably afford an MTA ticket?
Am I unemployed or underemployed?
Do I qualify for government assistance including food stamps & health care?
I have no access to savings
I have no or very limited expendable** income
I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them
I cannot afford a vacation or have the ability to take time off without financial burden.
Would paying full tuition be a financial hardship?
* Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.** Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.