Policies
The following policies are in effect for the Texas Fine Arts Academy. Membership
constitutes agreement to abide by these policies and all other agreed-upon terms.
Membership/Registration
There are two types of memberships: General and Apprentice. General memberships
are those adult members who wish to support the mission of the organization; have
voting rights and may serve on any TxFaa committee. Apprentice members are student
members; may serve on committees if 14 or older; do not have voting rights.
All registrants must contact the office and bring payment for membership fee and
first month’s tuition. Placement in lessons or class is secure only when registration
forms are complete and initial payment is received.
Mid-Semester class registrations
are generally not permitted as instructors request lesson plans to be uninterrupted.
Therefore, late registration must occur before deadlines or by assessment only.
TxFaa does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnic origin or religion.
Once a membership agreement is signed, that member is agreeing to a minimum of one
semester financially.
Membership fees are renewed every August during Fall Semester registrations.
Youth members are automatically enrolled in the Patch Program (a merit program).
It is recommended that all prospective members thoroughly read the Membership Agreement
and TxFaa policies when registering!
Tuition
Students register for a semester at a time, with a monthly payment option, if member
is unable to pay for the semester.
Home School rates are only available in the Home School Program. However,
the HS classes are available for ISD students during the Summer Semester at the
regular rate!
Tuition payments are payable to TxFaa for all instruction; due on the last
lesson of the month for the next month’s classes/lessons, if paying
by the month. Payments received after the 5th must include a
$10 late fee. TxFaa accepts payment for tuition by cash, check, money
order or credit card. Please use the depository provided at the front desk for timely
payments. Tuition payment coupons are provided in all member packets at the time
of registration.
Attendance/Practice
All Apprentice (student) members are required to attend classes/lessons weekly and
practice on a daily basis, not only as a means to improve skill
levels, but as a courtesy to the instructor. This will promote steady learning progress
and encourage healthy practice habits. TxFaa reserves the right to dismiss any student
due to lack of participation/interest, frequent absence/tardiness, lack of cooperation,
behavior issues or delinquency in payment of tuition.
Make-Up Policy
Private lesson
students are permitted ONE (1) make up lesson per month for an illness or emergency.
A 24 hour notice is required for an absence that is foreseen. If a student/parent
fails to provide 24 hour notice OR the absence is not excused OR it is a second
+ absence, the student forfeits those lessons. Students must call their instructor
first for absences! Please refer to the Membership packet that was
provided at registration for instructor contact information. If this policy is not
honored, you will forfeit your missed lesson. Absences from
classes CANNOT be made up.
Absence from a class or lesson due to instructor absence will be
scheduled a make-up lesson by the instructor unless a substitute
is provided by the instructor. Absence from a scheduled make-up
lesson will be forfeited by the student/parent.
Withdrawal/Cancellations
Withdrawal from any TxFaa class/lesson before a semester ends may be permitted for
extenuating circumstances, with approval by the Board of Directors, by submitting
a Tuition Waiver Request, in order to obtain any waivers of unpaid
tuition for the remaining semester. A tuition waiver does not mean free tuition.
If a class does not receive the minimum number of student registrations, the class
will be cancelled and the member/student will be provided with options of another
class OR tuition/fees will be refunded.
Supplies
As a convenience to our members only; books, tuners, instruments, art and dance
supplies and equipment may be available in the “Academy Store” if in stock. Otherwise,
students are required to purchase these items separately and bring them to class
each week.
R.E.P.’s
Most students/members will perform in a Recital (Music), Exhibition (Art) or Performance
(Dance & Theatre) that is conducted by their instructor at the end of each Semester.
Since these R.E.P.’s are considered a “lesson in performance” (or for Art students,
a lesson in “exhibition”) you will forfeit this lesson if you miss your performance
time. New students may be waived from this requirement, under instructor’s discretion.
Members/parents are asked to attend these R.E.P.’s to encourage and uplift their
children. This is a chance to congratulate them on their progress. The minimal recital
fee of $10 is due at the beginning of each semester or at the time of registration.
This (non-optional) fee covers the cost of the performance patch each student receives
as well as minimal refreshments and decorations. Parents are asked to supplement
the refreshment table at each event. Pictures and flowers may be
offered separately
as a means of fund raising for the organization.
Patch Program
All registered members are automatic recipients of this merit program. Upon joining,
members will receive a book/art/supply bag with the Academy logo and department
patch. During the course of the semester, student members will earn patches for
book level progress, practicing, performances, exhibitions and more! (The Recital
fee covers the cost of the Recital Patch). All patches are sold to members separately
as students earn them.
General
Parents and students with siblings must respect the space/building provided for
these services by picking up personal belongings, monitoring their child’s behavior
while waiting and cleaning up after all visits to the TxFaa. For the safety of our
members, unruly or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Parent’s who drop
their children off for lessons more than 15 minutes early (as well as with siblings
that do not have classes) will be in jeopardy of losing their membership as TxFaa
is not a child care facility.
Please be considerate of your individual instructor’s wishes regarding their teaching
format as well as arriving on time for classes/lessons. Their education and expertise
in this regard deserves your attention, which you in turn will receive as a student.
Instructors are generally contracted on a one year basis.
The Board of Directors reserves the right to change any instructor, program, policy,
requirement or regulation as needed.