GRACE Families,
Beginning in February 2024, for the first time all students in North Carolina will be eligible to apply for the NC Opportunity Scholarship regardless of income level, which can be used towards paying tuition at a private school. A student’s scholarship amount will depend upon the family’s household income. You are an important part of the GRACE community and we hope that the expansion of the NC Opportunity Scholarship program will be a blessing to many GRACE families.
Below is information about applying for the opportunity scholarship and financial aid from GRACE. If you have any questions about this information, please contact Felicia Iuga in the GRACE Finance office at [email protected].
Thank you,
Eric Bradley and the GRACE Finance team
NC Opportunity Scholarship Help Session
Save the Date:
Thursday, February 8th
8:30 am - 2:30 pm // drop-in anytime during this window
Lower Campus Gym
As a service to our GRACE families, we are partnering with Parents for Educational Freedom in NC to provide an on-campus event to assist you in completing the NC Opportunity Scholarship application. Please RSVP here.
What to Bring:
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Laptop or personal device
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Parent’s social security number
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Parent’s driver’s license
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Each student’s’ social security numbers
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Completed Annual 2023 Household Income Worksheet (linked)
Application Window: February 1 - March 1, 2024
Scholarship Amounts: Range from $3,000 to $7,000, based on household income level (see here for income tiers and awards).
Who Qualifies:
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Student is at least 5 years old by August 31 or at least 4 by April 16 and approved for kindergarten according to State guidelines
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Lives in North Carolina
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Has not graduated high school
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Has not enrolled in a post-secondary institution full-time (12 or more credit hours in a given semester)
NC Opportunity Scholarship Process and Timeline
Now
1. Create an account in My Portal (see instructions).
February 1, 2024 - March 1, 2024
2. Complete the Opportunity Scholarship Application *Select GRACE Christian of Raleigh as your school.
3. Sign the O.S. Financial Responsibility Form – due 3/1/24 (Available in your Parent Blackbaud account at: gracechristian.myschoolapp.com). If you decline the form, we will assume you are not applying for the Opportunity Scholarship.
4. Email: [email protected]
a. Your application confirmation
b. Your income tier
Early April 2024
5. Award offers made (check your portal)
May 2024
6. GRACE tuition accounts adjusted for scholarship amount
June 2024
7. 2024/25 GRACE tuition payments begin
August 2024
8. Look for email indicating GRACE has certified your student(s)
Aug/Sept 2024
9. Parent endorsement needed for FALL semester (check your portal or funds WON’T be released!)
Jan/Feb 2025
10. Parent endorsement needed for SPRING semester (check your portal or funds WON’T be released!)
Due to the expansion of the NC Opportunity Scholarship Program, free lunch will no longer be provided as part of the program.
GRACE Christian School is not involved in the administration or distribution of NC Opportunity Scholarship funds. For additional information about the NC Opportunity Scholarship Program, please go to https://www.ncseaa.edu/k12/opportunity/.
GRACE Financial Aid Process
Application Window opens: February 1, 2024Application Window closes: April 1, 2024
Process & Timeline
February 1, 2024
1. Step one: APPLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP first.
2. Create an account/login to an existing account in Blackbaud Financial Aid Management (see attached Blackbaud instructions).
3. Complete the GRACE Financial Aid Application/Submit documents including 2023 Income Tax Returns and Opportunity Scholarship Application confirmation.
*** Be on the lookout for emails from Blackbaud notifying you of status updates or additional information needed
4. Sign the GRACE Financial Responsibility Form – due 4/1/24 (Available in your Parent Blackbaud account at: gracechristian.myschoolapp.com). If you decline the form, we will assume you are not applying for the GRACE financial aid.
May 15, 2024
5. Award offers made provided all steps are complete (check your email!)
May 2024
6. GRACE tuition accounts adjusted for financial aid amount
June 2024
7. 2024/25 GRACE tuition payments begin