Re- registration for Grades K - 8 is fast approaching for the upcoming academic year and this is just a reminder of two sources of tuition assistance, the Bishop's Education Fund (BEF) and Scholastic Opportunities Scholarship (SOS), available for families with students in Catholic Schools. The Bishop's Education Fund is awarded on the basis of financial need. In order to be eligible the applicants must be practicing Catholics registered in a parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, attend one of the diocesan, parish, or regional schools and have demonstrated financial need. The Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship (SOS) Tuition Assistance Program was developed when the General Assembly of Pennsylvania established Act 4 in May of 2001. This law provided for the establishment of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) to be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Act 4 authorizes the award of tax credits to businesses that make contributions to the scholarship organizations. Therefore the Diocese of Pittsburgh has formed the Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship program (SOS) to receive tax credit gifts. The funds available through the SOS program will be awarded to families based solely on economic eligibility requirements. Students who are Pennsylvania residents enrolled in any Catholic school in the Diocese of Pittsburgh are eligible. Applicants can be Catholic or non- Catholic. The funds will be sent in the students name to the school where the child is enrolled. You must complete the new PSAS form to be considered for either of these tuition assistance programs.

Need Assessment through Private School Aid Service (PSAS) All parents applying to either the Bishop's Education Fund or Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship Fund must have their need assessed by Private School Aid Service (PSAS), a company from Rocky River, Ohio which specializes in evaluating need for families attending private elementary or secondary schools. Parents will submit a copy of their federal tax return (and state tax return if applying to SOS), a completed "Student Aid Form" (with their pastor's signature if applying to BEF) and a $20 administrative fee. "Student Aid Forms" are due to PSAS no later than March 15. Incomplete forms will be returned. The signed "Student Aid Form" must be sent directly to PSAS as indicated in the instructions on the form itself. Photocopied forms will not be accepted by PSAS. PSAS forms are available now; just contact Mrs. Schumacher in the school office at (412) 884 - 5676 for a PSAS form. Do not hesitate in applying for tuition assistance before you know it March 15th will have come and gone.