Tuition

Tuition Rates and Policies

Tuition Rates 2019-2020
(to be paid in 10 equal monthly payments)

Program

2 half days, 8:30 - 11:30
2 full days, 8:30 - 3:00
3 half days, 8:30 -11:30
3 full days, 8:30 - 3:00
5 half days, 8:30 - 11:30
5 full days, 8:30 - 3:00
Before and After Care

Primary (PS-K)        Monthly Tuition
            $320
            $465
            $420
            $565
            $580
            $680
     $5 per hour

Elementary (1-8)
    Monthly Tuition
5 full days (only option)
$565
Please note that Grades 7&8 pay a once annual $200 activities fee.

$5 per hour

For information on the current school year's tuition rates, just email us at learn@steppingstonesmontessorischool.com.

Sibling Discount Note:
Any families with multiple children enrolled are offered a 10% sibling discount off the lowest tuition amount.

Payment Plan is as follows:
After the deposit (equal to September’s tuition) is paid to the school upon enrollment, nine monthly payments of the balance, due September 1 through May 1, will be paid to SMART Tuition.
Click here for Before/After Care information

Payment Policies

For newly enrolled families, the first payment (for September) is due upon enrollment..
For returning families who are re-enrolling, the first payment (for September) is charged by SMART tuition in equal payments on March 1 and April 1. Slots cannot be guaranteed without payment by these due dates. The nine remaining payments will then be made monthly (due on the first of each month) from September through May, with each payment applied to the following month’s tuition. This gets our payment schedule one month ahead. Please note that there are 10 equal tuition payments per academic year.

We have a 30-day notice policy. If a child is withdrawn from enrollment at Stepping Stones/ Cushnoc Academy for any reason, the family must, upon withdrawal, bring their account current with the 30-day pay ahead schedule.

Unlike many schools, we do not expect lump-sum tuition payments for the entire year. For parents of Primary classroom students—we do understand that sometimes a child’s amount of time at school may need to change. However, please remember that a slot has been saved for your child and it takes time to fill that slot. If you reduce your child’s amount of time at school, you must pay the previous rate for an additional 30 days. Also, you cannot reduce your child’s time at school/tuition payment for the month of June. No changes will be accepted for the month of June, as we cannot fill an open slot that late in the school year.

Before Care (7:45-8:30am) and After Care (3-5pm), should you choose these options, are at an additional hourly rate of $5 per hour.

Late tuition payments (after the 1st of the month) are subject to a $30 SMART fee. Accounts more than 30 days late are subject to a $75 school fee.

Please note that all payments are non-refundable (including tuition payments, deposits, pre-payments, registration fees, etc.).

Please help us by following these payment policies. We feel we are as flexible as we can be and are trying to keep tuition reasonable.Examples: Our tuition cost is the lowest in central and Southern Maine for Montessori schools. Our tuition is lower than the hourly market rate for childcare statewide. Our tuition is much lower than the per pupil cost for public elementary schools in Maine. Please come to us with any questions. Thank you.

...taking the next step with your child each day...

“The first duty of an education is to stir up life, but leave it free to develop.”

—Maria Montessori