MOST Application FAQs
This set of Frequently Asked Questions is about applying to MOST. Please also see:
Who is eligible for MOST?
In a typical application year, MOST accepts applications from families who meet our financial requirements, and who have a child entering pre-K3, pre-K4, kindergarten, or first grade, or a child (age 3-18) who has a diagnosed disability and will be entering a school that is equipped to address the student’s special needs.
Once in the program, a student will keep the scholarship through the 8th grade as long as the family remains financially eligible and has stayed current with all program requirements. Eighth graders have a one-time opportunity to apply for a MOST High School Scholarship, which is based on both the financial need of the family and the merit of the student.
What is the application process?
Eligible parents or guardians submit a pre-application form by the stated deadline (typically late February), and recipients are selected by a random lottery drawing. The selected families will be sent a New Student Application and will have several weeks from the date of notification to submit their paperwork, including proof of all household income and household residents. Failure to submit the proper paperwork by the deadline will result in the scholarship offer being withdrawn and offered to the next winning lottery number. Applications are only available during an open application season (typically during the months of February and March).
How does MOST calculate household income?
If you are awarded a MOST scholarship, you will be required to submit documentation of all household income (i.e., income earned by anyone in the home, not limited to the student’s biological parents), including
- Earned income (provide entire, most-current year income tax return(s), including all schedules and W-2s),
- Food stamps (provide Food Stamp Issuance History),
- Families First (provide Cash Issuance History),
- Social Security (provide SSA 1099 for each household recipient), and
- Child support (provide Custodial Parent Payment Summary or a signed letter from paying party if support is not court-ordered),
- Any other income not included in the categories above.
You must also provide proof of the number of people in your household by having them listed on your tax return or on the documentation of government aid or child support. If you have a special situation that makes this difficult, please contact MOST for clarification. MOST reserves the right to rescind any scholarship award if a family provides incomplete or inaccurate financial information.
When does MOST accept applications?
On a year-to-year basis, the MOST board of directors decides whether or not it can open the application process based on scholarship funds available. We will always have the application status for the school year starting in August available on our website by February 1 of that same year. The application season will then run from approximately mid-February through late March.
All complete applications received by the deadline will be treated equally. Since scholarships are awarded based on a lottery drawing and not granted on a first-come, first-served basis, there is no benefit to getting applications in early.
Does MOST keep a waiting list?
MOST keeps a waiting list of those students whose pre-applications were part of the lottery, but for that application season only. Once all scholarships have been awarded for a given school year, the list of applicants is destroyed and families must apply again the following year if they are still eligible.
How much are scholarships worth?
The amount of a MOST scholarship is determined by family size and income relative to tuition, less any financial assistance provided by the school. However, there is a maximum award of $1,500 for students in preschool through 8th grade, and $2,000 for students in high school (beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. Families are responsible for finding additional financial aid or paying the balance of the tuition themselves.
The most common reason that families drop out of the MOST program is that they cannot afford to continue their part of tuition payments at their private school. Because stability is important in a child’s education, please seriously evaluate your financial situation and determine whether it is feasible to make private schooling a long-term commitment for your family.
At which schools can scholarships be used?
Scholarships can be used at any of our participating schools. We recommend that you thoroughly research the schools you are looking at for your child, taking into consideration cost (including tuition plus all required fees and expenses -- activities, books, uniforms, aftercare, etc.), location, school size and atmosphere, teaching methods, programs for special needs, and religious teachings, if any. For more information on choosing a school, please see our Resources page.
Does MOST provide scholarships for daycare?
No. Preschool scholarships must be used at a school that also offers at least a kindergarten program.
Have other questions about MOST’s application process? Please contact us.
