Policies and Procedures
Registration:  A non-refundable fee of $25 per student is required yearly at time of registration.
 

Payment of Fees:  You do not have a long term contract with the Ballard Academy. Tuition must be paid by automatic bank account debit or automatic credit card payment.  Upon registration, students pay a once per year $25 registration fee, their first month of tuition, and a one month deposit on monthly classes, which is applied to June tuition (or their last month of classes in the case of early withdrawal). These fees are non refundable. Tuition will be debited from your bank account or credit card on the 1st day of each month from September-May (or from July-May for private music students who wish to take lessons in the summer as well as the school year). Once again, tuition for June is payed at the time of registration.  Your first month of tuition and your deposit are non-refundable.  Credit card or bank debit payments are not accepted for in-person payment on a monthly basis.  Payment must be made by pre-authorized automatic monthly payment.   All charges will appear on your bank statement or credit card statement as being from The Ballard Academy of Music & Dance.  

Summer lessons/programs are paid in 1 payment up front by bank debit of credit card. Music students who choose to enroll in year-round lessons can pay monthly with a June deposit according to the fees policy listed above. There are no refunds for summer lessons/programs.

Non Sufficient Funds Payments: There will be a non sufficient funds fee of $20 automatically charged in addition to the original payment for any non sufficient transaction.

Withdrawal and Refunds:  You do not have a long term contract with the Ballard Academy. To withdraw from lessons/classes, fill out a withdraw form with the front desk within the last 5 business days of the month (even if the first is on a school holiday), to avoid being automatically charged on the first of the next month. Your 1 month up-front deposit on lessons will then pay for your final month of classes. Once again, the one month deposit on classes is non refundable. Withdrawal must be done in person and will not be accepted over the phone.  Withdrawal must be done at the school office and not with the teacher. No withdrawals will be accepted after May 1.  To withdraw from classes a parent or adult student must:
     Inform school administration in person, and
     Complete and sign a withdrawal form provided by the school office.
The Ballard Academy of Music and Dance reserves the right to terminate lessons to any students without notice.  In such a case a refund for unused lessons will be given.   Group classes / camps must meet their minimum enrollment to continue on the schedule. If they do not, a refund for cancelled classes will be given.
Extreme Weather or Unexpected Interruption of Classes:  If the school must cancel classes due to extreme weather or events beyond our control such as power outages, the missed lessons will be added on to the end of the teaching year.  No refunds for lessons missed due these reasons will be given.
Substitutions:  The school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regularly scheduled teacher is ill or otherwise unable to teach classes.  If a teacher is ill and the school cannot arrange a substitute any missed classes will be made up.
Dance Costume Fees:  Costume fees for the year-end recital will be charged to your auto-debit or auto-credit card charge January 1.  No costume fees will be refunded after this date even if a student withdraws from the school.  Fees are as follows: 3-4 year old classes, $49; 5-9 year old classes, $59; 9 years and older, $69.  Advanced classes, $89.  Fees cover tights and costumes only. 
Dance Dress Code:  Required dancewear and dance shoes must be worn to all classes.  Failure to wear required dancewear to class could result in students being asked to sit out the class.  Repeated failure to wear required dancewear could result in termination of lessons.  Students are not permitted to wear jeans, long skirts or shoes worn on the street or outdoors, to any dance class.  For safety reasons dancers are not permitted to wear jewelry.  Long hair must be tied back.
Missed Private Music Lessons and Make-up Lessons:  Absolutely no make-up lessons will be given for missed lessons.  If a student misses a lesson, they have the option of attending a group theory lab at no extra charge. See calendar of events for lab dates and times. Students must sign up for the class at least one week in advance of attending. No refunds are given for missed lessons. There are no make-up lessons for group music classes or dance classes.
Dance Class Attendance and Lateness: The school reserves the right to have students who come late to class, sit out the class.  Repeated lateness may result in termination of lessons.  A minimum attendance level will be required.  If a student misses more than 4 classes without written notices, the school reserves the right to terminate lessons.  Students missing more than 4 classes after January will not be allowed to participate in the year-end dance recital, festivals or competitions.
Parent’s Responsibility to be Aware of Dates and Events:  It is the responsibility of the parent or adult student to be aware of all school activities, such as viewing days, recitals, extra classes, and dates the school is open or closed.  The school will post all such notices on the “What’s New” board or the bulletin board as well as sending notices home with the students.  It is the parent’s responsibility to regularly check these boards to ensure they are informed.  It is the responsibility of the parents or adult students to inform the school of any address or telephone number change.
Care of Students:  The school is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students.  Parents with students under the age of 5 are to remain in the school during classes.  Students are not to be left at the school for excessive time before or after class.
Injuries:  Parents, legal guardians of minor students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on school property resulting from normal dance activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during or after class time.
Photo Release:  The school is hereby granted permission to take photographs of the students to use in brochures, web sites, posters, advertisements and other promotional materials the school creates.