Fees Management for Schools

Direct API integration with FACTS Tuition Management, Blackbaud Smart Tuition, and TADS. Tuition payment plans, statements, balances, and payment history sync into the platform; parents see consolidated tuition view from the school portal without bouncing to FACTS / Smart Tuition / TADS login. Schools using FACTS for collections keep FACTS workflow (payment processing, ACH handling, late-fee notifications) but consolidate the parent view in OpenEduCat. Schools migrating off FACTS handle direct billing within OpenEduCat — payment processing via Stripe, Authorize.net, or other gateways; collections via the platform's native workflow.

Sibling discount rules configure per school policy: typical 10% on second child, 15-20% on third, 25%+ on fourth and beyond, often capped at 100% remission for fifth or sixth child. Discounts apply automatically on the family-level statement. Multi-school families (one child at the lower school, one at the upper school within an independent school group) handle correctly — the family unit qualifies for discount regardless of which campus each child attends. Faculty-child remission (50% partial or 100% full per school policy) and need-based aid layer onto sibling discount transparently. Calculated discount amount per child shows on the statement.

Direct certification with state SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid data sources automates FRL eligibility for many students — federal law (HHFKA) allows direct certification to flow eligibility without parent application. Application-based FRL eligibility processes the remainder with privacy controls (per USDA, FRL information cannot disclose to non-school staff and cannot identify specific students in classroom contexts). Per-meal accounting tracks NSLP-eligible meals (free, reduced, paid) for federal reimbursement reporting. Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools where 40%+ identified students qualify for direct certification can serve all students free meals — the platform handles CEP accounting per USDA FNS rules. Per USDA FNS, about 52% of US public school students qualify for Free or Reduced-price Lunch.

Yes. Account holds (transcript hold for unpaid balance, registration hold blocking course registration for next term, diploma hold blocking graduation diploma release) integrate with the SIS — academic action follows financial status without manual reconciliation. Hold thresholds configure per school: many schools hold transcripts at any unpaid balance; some hold registration at $X delinquency; diploma holds typically activate at unpaid graduation-year tuition. Hold release automates upon payment — the registrar doesn't manually clear holds when the business office receives payment. Hold communication to parents follows escalation workflow (notification at threshold, second notification before escalation, escalation notification at hold activation).

Refund policy configures per school: pro-rata refund per week of attendance (typical at colleges and some boarding schools), fixed schedule (typical: full refund through Date X — often 1 week before school starts, 80% refund through Date Y — often first month, 50% through Date Z — often first quarter, no refund after Date Z), or no refund post-deposit per school policy (typical at NAIS day schools with binding contracts). Withdrawal workflow generates final ledger with applicable refund or balance owed. Mid-year withdrawal accommodation for family relocation, military reassignment, or family circumstance change handles per school policy with optional discretionary refund per head-of-school approval. Federal Title IV R2T4 for college withdrawals automates per the federally-mandated 60% breakpoint.