Tuition Program Helps Defray Catholic School Cost

Students looking to attend one of Rhode Island's 42 Catholic schools — including All Saints Academy in Middletown — can get some help with tuition through the Diocese of Providence's Financial Aid for Children’s Education of Rhode Island (FACE) program.

Gena Bianco-Robbins is the director of the program. In a recent e-mail message, she outlined some of the program's specifics, including eligibility requirements.

The FACE program is directed at students in households with income of less than 250 percent of the federal poverty standard, Bianco-Robbins explained, with their need also verified by a third party.

During the current school year, 162 students out of a total of 4,947 who received financial aid were through FACE — and even though the number of students was down from the 2010-11 year, Bianco-Robbins noted that the amount provided to each student went up.

"The amount of quantified need increases each year — this is true even though we have fewer students enrolled," Bianco-Robbins explained. "So, need is deeper every single year as the cost of education increases. This is due to our stale economic climate, double-digit unemployment and tuition increases."

FACE is supported by donations from businesses who receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit [not a tax deduction] for supporting the program, Bianco-Robbins also noted, adding that the program is also seeking more contributions.

"We only support about 10 percent of the quantified need in the Diocese due to our somewhat limited resources," she explained.

Click the links above for more information on FACE, and on how to make business contributions to the program.