Withdrawal/Refund Policy

Enrollment is for the full 34-week school year. A student may withdraw at any time during the school year by submitting written or electronic (email) notification to the Office Manager.

WITHDRAWALS MUST BE IN WRITING

Written notification of withdrawal may be received in person or by mail at 14735 Bratton Lane, #125 Austin Texas 78728

or via email at aca-acb@austin.rr.com.

Do not stop attending classes without notification.

Until a withdrawal notice is received in writing, you will be responsible for tuition in full.

Informing an instructor is not a formal withdrawal.

Calling the Schools office is not a formal withdrawal.

Upon WRITTEN notification of withdrawal, after the first 4 weeks of class, you will be responsible for the balance of the tuition for the half year in which the withdrawal is requested and calculated for the half year from the start of the school year (August 24, 2010-January 23, 2011

and (January 25, 2011-May 29, 2011) to the end of the half year.

There is a $30.00 withdrawal fee. All withdrawals at any time during the year will be assessed the $30.00 fee.

Production Fees and Registration Fees are non-refundable.

Students in Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet who miss 5 consecutive classes without notifying the Schools Office will be automatically withdrawn from their class. You will be responsible for tuition calculated from the start of the school year to the end of the half year in which the student is withdrawn by the Office. In order to prevent unnecessary billing to your account, please notify the Office when your child will be withdrawing from the class. The full tuition early discount (if applicable) will be relinquished if the student withdraws before the completion of the school year.

Class Schedule Change Policy

To request a change please e-mail Pam Barta or Julie Ratzesberger at aca-acb@austin.rr.com who will check class availability and process the class change. Until you hear back from the Office, please do not make the class change. Only class changes that are approved through the Office will be recognized. You will be notified when the request has been processed.

Please do not request a class change with your child’s instructor.

NO refunds will be given for classes missed because of a student’s personal schedule. In the event of a prolonged illness or injury that prohibits dancing, a doctor’s statement must be presented to the Director or the Office Manager in order to be considered for a partial refund.

Production and Registration fees are not refundable.

There are no refunds on Costumes once the order has been placed. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Waiting Area

Parents are invited to wait for their child in the lobby of ACA. There are snacks and drinksfor sale available for your convenience. Bring your cell phone, your laptop or a really good book and make our home your home. If you have brought other children with you while waiting, please be sure that you are supervising them. We do also ask that parents remain in the lobby and do not block class doorways. The back hallway area is only for the use of students.

ILLNESS & INJURY

While attendance is important, we do not want others infected.

Please see Class Make-up Policy. Injured dancers are encouraged to come observe class so they are familiar with the curriculum and combinations being taught when they return to class.

ABSENCE

If you know before a class when your student will be absent, or if a student has already missed a class, please email the absence date and excuse to aca-acb@austin.rr.com. The student’s absence will then be forwarded to the Director and to your student’s teacher.

MAKE-UP POLICY

Students may make-up missed classes by attending any class of the same level or any class of a level lower than their current level of study. Students may make-up missed classes through the end of the school year. Please inform the office to schedule make up classes.

Tell the instructor you are there for a make-up class. Any missed classes remaining at the end of the school year are FORFEITED.

PARENT OBSERVATION WEEK

Two Observation Weeks are scheduled each school year. Refer to the school calendar for dates. They are scheduled each fall and spring for parents and family members to attend class and observe the progress made by their students. Because we respect that not all students have a signed photo/videotape release, there will be no photography or videotaping during Observation Week. No cameras in the studio please.

OTHER VIEWING & STUDIO ACCESS

All studios are designed with windows so that class can be viewed from outside the studio. Parents and students are asked not to go into any studio without a teacher present. Parents are asked not to go into the studio while class is in progress.

COMMUNICATION

One of our highest priorities is to provide open communication between parents, students and The Austin Conservatory of the Arts.

Please keep information distributed after enrollment, to ensure that you have Academy dates and policies and procedures.

Bulletin Boards – Bulletin boards are located in the waiting area. Parents are encouraged to check the bulletin boards for current postings. Students should check the boards each time they come to class for any schedule/studio changes or important announcements.

E-mail – E-mail is used to communicate to parents and students with reminders, helpful information and updates. Students may want to include their email as well.

It is important that we have a current email address for each

family. If your e-mail address changes during the year please be sure to inform the office.

Handouts – Letters and handouts are occasionally distributed by the teacher at the end of a class.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION

Please direct any questions about your student’s level, attendance concerns, student conferences, or other questions about curriculum or progression and any general communication to the Office Managers at 512-989-3363 or

aca-acb@austin.rr.com.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

If classes are not held due to inclement weather students may make up any of those classes during the remainder of the school year at any time that is convenient in the same level or a level lower.

If classes are not canceled but threatening weather conditions make it unsafe for you to drive to ACA, please use your discretion and stay home. You may make up any missed class during the remainder of the school year.

HOLIDAYS AND CLOSINGS

Holidays and closings are listed on the enclosed calendar, posted on bulletin boards, listed on the website

There may be unforeseen circumstances that require ACA to cancel a class or change a class on any given day. Students will be given advance notice if this needs to happen when possible. Refunds are not given for classes not held, but the class Make-up Policy applies.

The Austin Conservatory of the Arts does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin.