Policies and Terms

Tuition:

For lessons, tuition is charged by the school year of 34 lessons (or, for new students starting mid-year, for the prorated number of lessons remaining in the school year); a nonrefundable registration fee is charged once per school year, due with the student’s first tuition payment of the school year. Students ages 16 and up may be eligible to purchase a “flex pass” for lessons, subject to teacher and administrative approval; contact registration@thespcm.org or your instructor for details. For classes, camps, and workshops, tuition is charged according to the details provided in each program’s registration materials on the school website and/or in the Pike13 registration portal.

Other Fees:

A $20 late fee may be added to invoices which remain unpaid two weeks (14 days) after the due date. A $20 fee may be charged to cover the cost of a returned check, failed ACH payment, or other “insufficient funds” payment failure. All card payments are assessed a nonrefundable card processing fee of 3%. No additional fees are charged for cash, check, or ACH payments.

Payment Methods:

Tuition and fees may be paid by check, cash, card, or ACH. Checks and cash can be mailed to the school or delivered to the office or the drop-box in the front reception area. Card payments can be made online, by phone, or in person at the office during administration hours, and incur a 3% card processing fee. Contact registration@thespcm.org to set up automatic payments via ACH. If a payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, ACH payments may be processed on the next business day. If there are any adjustments required for your bill, please contact registration@thespcm.org as soon as possible.

Payment Dates:

Lesson tuition may be paid:
1. For the school year in full (payment due on the first day of the school year);
2. In semester installments (payments due on the first day of the school year and January 15);
3. In monthly installments (payments due on the first day of the school year, and the 15th of each month September-May).

All students are required to have a valid payment method on file. If tuition is not paid by the due date, we will bring your account current using the payment method on file.

Flex passes are available in 5- and 10-lessons, and full payment is due by the date of the first visit.

Registration and Enrollment:

New students may register at any time; prorated tuition based on start date will be calculated and charged on the student’s first payment date. Once enrolled, students do not need to re-register from semester to semester or year to year; students are enrolled until we receive written notice of discontinuation. Please see “Withdrawals” below.

Calendar:

The school calendar is available on the school website. Specific lesson dates within the school year are determined in collaboration between the student and their teacher.

Location of Lessons:

It is the school’s intention that all lessons take place on-site where we provide lesson space, administrative support, parking, and liability insurance. If you and your teacher agree to hold lesson(s) off-site, tuition is still paid to the school, and you agree to release the school and teacher of all liability.

Virtual Lessons:

Teachers may choose to offer virtual/online lessons as a regular option to their students, and/or virtual/online lessons may substitute for in-person, on-site lessons in the case of bad weather, illness, or another mutually agreed upon reason. Consult your teacher for details on their plan for online, in-person, or hybrid lessons. Plans may be subject to change.

Minnesota Data Privacy Act:

In accordance with the Minnesota Data Privacy Act, personal information requested by the school is never shared with the public. Information is only given to the staff and faculty who need it in order to perform their duties.

Make-Up Policies and Weather:

Teacher cancellations: If your teacher must cancel a lesson for any reason, including bad weather or illness, they will notify you, and you will be entitled to a make-up lesson. If your teacher is teaching at the school on a given day, your lessons/classes are held, even in bad weather.

Student cancellations: If a student and/or their parent/guardian cancels a lesson with prior notice of at least 24 hours, they may receive up to one (1) make-up lesson per year. Student “no shows” or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will not be made up, and the lesson will be forfeited. As a courtesy, please notify your teacher if you will be late or absent.

Make-up lessons: You agree to be communicative and to operate in good faith when scheduling make-up lessons with your teacher. Please contact your teacher if you have any questions regarding their make-up day(s) or ways in which they offer make-up lessons.

Communication:

The school communicates with students and/or their parents/guardians via email. It is the student’s and/or their parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that they are able to receive school emails. If emails go to your spam folder or are otherwise blocked or filtered, please “mark not spam” or otherwise ensure that you are able to receive school communication. Additional methods of communication may include: posted signage at the school, school website, school voicemail message, and school social media accounts.

Withdrawals and Transfers:

An enrolled private lesson student who wishes to discontinue lessons must notify registration@thespcm.org* in writing. Withdrawals require a minimum of thirty (30) calendar days written notice. The student will owe tuition for all scheduled lessons through their withdrawal date. Card processing fees, class/camp deposits, flex pass tuition, and registration fees are nonrefundable.

A student may change teachers with thirty (30) calendar days written notice to registration@thespcm.org*;  or a teacher may ask that a student be placed with another teacher. In such cases, all tuition payments are transferable to tuition with the student’s new teacher.

*Please note that notifying your teacher is not sufficient to process your withdrawal or transfer; you must provide written notice to registration@thespcm.org. As a courtesy, we ask that you also notify your teacher of your intent to withdraw or transfer.

Care of our School and the Community:

Food and beverages other than water are not allowed in our studios; the cafe area where we provide tables and chairs, and the adjacent kitchenette, are available for meals or snacks. Students and families agree to behave in a respectful manner in all areas of the school, and when attending school events and activities held at other locations, including but not limited to: Following posted rules and regulations; maintaining a clean and welcoming environment by keeping their belongings neat and discarding all garbage/compost/recycling in designated locations; keeping the volume of conversations and activities in waiting areas low enough to avoid disruption to lessons, classes, or performances in progress; and notifying Administrative Director Patty McPherson, patricia@thespcm.org, of any maintenance or housekeeping issues.

Notice of Non-Harassment:

The school is a welcoming and caring community. Faculty, staff, students, and parents/guardians agree to treat all people with respect. Harassment or offensive behavior will not be tolerated, and may result in a student’s or family’s dismissal from the school.

Photography, Videography, and Audio Recordings:

The school uses photography, videography, and audio recordings to document activities and promote opportunities. Participation in an activity serves as your consent to the capture and use of such photographs, video, and audio recordings, and your release of your rights to your and/or your child’s image, unless you indicate otherwise in our opt-out form. Names and identifying information of students are not included with published photographs unless express written permission is sought and granted. Opt-out: https://forms.gle/8XyzSoo5nEQ5m9hb7

Student Contract:

By signing this policy document and paying tuition, the student and/or their parent/guardian agree(s) to the terms outlined on the policy document. The school will notify students and/or their parent(s)/guardian(s) promptly of any updates to school policies.