The Armstrong Community Music School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, orientation, gender or identity in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs and other school-administered programs.

Enrollment

· Households that are new to ACMS will be charged a one-time $35 Registration Fee at the time of their first lesson. The Registration Fee is nonrefundable. 

· When a lesson time has been established, payment arrangements will be made with the Registrar.  Private Lesson students are strongly encouraged to utilize automated payment, available through our Direct Billing program. Students enrolled in Zoom lessons are required to be enrolled in Direct Billing. 

Attendance

The Armstrong Community Music School is proud of our faculty.  When you establish a lesson time, please remember that you have reserved the time of a highly trained professional, and should make every effort to attend your lessons.  Your musical progress and enjoyment increase with regular instruction and a firm commitment to a home practice routine.

· Once you have established a standing lesson time, you are responsible for payment whether you are able to attend the lesson or not.

· Prior notification of an absence does not exempt the student from payment.

· In the event of a teacher’s absence, the lesson will be made up at a mutually convenient time or you will not be charged for the missed lesson.

· As a courtesy to the instructor, please notify your teacher as far in advance as possible of any absence.  If you cannot contact your teacher, please call the Registrar at (512) 474-2331.

· All in-person lessons must occur on ACMS premises. Zoom lessons or a hybrid of online and in-person lessons are available for maximum scheduling flexibility. 

Tardies

· Because of our faculty's tight lesson schedules, students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their full lesson time. Faculty will wait for a student for one third of their lesson time (10 minutes for 30 minute lessons, 15 minutes for 45 minute lessons and 20 minutes for 1 hour lessons); students are asked to do the same.

· Missed lesson time due to faculty tardiness will be made up at a mutually convenient time.  If a missed lesson can not be made up, then that portion of the student’s tuition may be refunded or applied to a future lesson

Long-term Absences

· Prior notification of 3 or more consecutive absences will constitute a temporary leave of absence, and the student will not be charged for lessons missed.  This allows for some flexibility during the summer and holiday season.  However, teachers are not required to hold a student’s spot in their schedule after a temporary leave.

Weather Cancellations

· If severe inclement weather or other emergency requires the school to close, we will notify you via our website (www.ACMSAustin.org) as well as through updating our voicemail message.

Summer Private Lesson Policies

· For students who will only be gone for a short and specific period of time (i.e. a two week vacation in July):

• Teachers can give the option of making up the missed weeks at any point during the summer.
• Any student gone for three consecutive weeks, with advance notice, is considered to be “on a leave of absence”.  In that instance, no charge will be applied to their account and no makeup is offered by the teacher. 
• Student retains priority scheduling for Fall. 

· For students who will be attending sporadically through the summer months:

• Students need to schedule at least six lessons from June 1 through August 31. 
• Students will only be responsible for attending these six lessons. 
• Student retains priority scheduling for Fall.

· For students who choose to take the entire summer off:

• Students forfeit the right to have priority scheduling in the fall. 
• Students who wish to take the summer off but want to assure their priority in their teacher’s Fall schedule will need to pay for six lessons. 

Fees & Payments

Tuition and Fees

· Registration fee:  $35 per family; one-time only (nonrefundable)

· Private Lesson: $42.50 per 30 minutes; $63.75 per 45 minutes; and $85 per hour.

Payments

· ACMS strongly encourages utilizing our Direct Billing system for payments. Students enrolled in Zoom are required to be enrolled in Direct Billing.  At the end of each month,  ACMS will total your individual or family charges for Private Lessons and bill that sum directly to the credit card number you provide when choosing this payment method.  Payments occur between the 1st & 3rd of the month.  You will have received more information in your Welcome to ACMS email. 

· We accept cash, check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). 

· Please make checks payable to Armstrong Community Music School or ACMS, Inc.  All returned checks are subject to a fee of $25.00.

· All accounts are periodically audited by ACMS staff.  Any discrepancies will be resolved as soon as they arise.

· Accounts with large outstanding balances may result in a suspension of lessons until payment has been made.

Refunds, Cancellations & Withdrawals

Refunds

· Notice of withdrawal must be made in writing to the ACMS Registrar.  ([email protected])  However, students should confirm by telephone that the email was received.

· Lapsed attendance from lessons does not excuse a student from an obligation to pay.  The Director of Finance and Administration will determine tuition refunds, if applicable, after consultation with the instructor.

· If notice of withdrawal is received at least 7 days before the next scheduled lesson, all tuition already paid will be refunded for that lesson.

Private Lesson Cancellation

· Students who discontinue lessons will have their balances pro-rated.  The student is then responsible for any balance due.

Placement for Private Lessons

· ACMS staff will assign prospective students to instructors based on the age, skill, and experience of the student.

· Assignments are based on teacher availability, student's learning style and interests.

· Private lessons are arranged by the instructor directly with the student.

Instruments and Sheet Music

· Students are responsible for obtaining their own instruments and sheet music.  ACMS staff or faculty can provide students with names of reputable dealers in the Austin area.

Students with Special Needs

Our facility is fully accessible and all programs are open to students with special needs.  Students are responsible for their own medications; school personnel will not administer medications to students. If specific accommodations are required, please email [email protected] to be referred to a staff member for further discussion.

Safety and Security

· Students under 12 years old may not be upstairs without a teacher or caregiver.

· Students under 12 may not be left alone in the lobby.  In the event of a  traffic delay in picking up a student, the faculty will notify the registrars of a child waiting.  But children should not be dropped off early and unaccompanied for lessons or classes.