Catholic Education Foundation - Financial Aid

- New Student Enrollment Initiative
  
  Your student can be eligible for an annual tuition award of up to $5,000!
  
  A student from a household with a total income at or below the following levels is eligible to apply for a Shea Tuition Award (STA) from the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF).
- FORMS AND FAQs
  
  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  
  FORMS:
  
  CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM
  
  FY2026 TA Income Eligibility - English (Cycle 3)
  
  FY2026 TA Income Eligibility - Spanish (Cycle 3)
  
  How to Apply for Tuition Assistance from CEF - English
  
  Como AppleCare Para Una Boca Escolar de CEF
  
  Como Aplicar para Una Beca Escolar de CEF Entregando la Solicitud a su Escuela
  
  How to Apply for Tuition Assistance from CEF BY SCHOOL MAIL
  
  How to Apply For Tuition Assistance - On Site Processing
  Cycle 3: 2025-2026 Application for Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
  
  Ciclo 3: 2025-2026
  Solicitud para Becas Escolares (TAP)
  
  Note: St. Maria Goretti School is located in the San Pedro Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
- FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
  
  Schedule Your Appointment
  
  1. Follow the above link to begin your application..
  
  2. Read then Click “Next” on the Welcome Screen
  
  3. Choose the name of St. Maria Goretti Elementary School where your students will be attending (address showing is the appointment location) and Click “Next”
  4. Choose a Time to meet with CEF Representatives and Click “Next”
  5. Enter in your information to reserve your appointment (Make sure to enter your Cell Phone and Email in order to get text and email reminders) and Click “Save”
  6. Please print or save the confirmation page for your records. Host Site address is where you will be meeting with CEF Representatives.
  
  Although we highly encourage all applicants to apply through the On-Site Process, any parent(s)/guardian(s) that cannot make it to the event can turn in their applications to Mr. Reyes (with a copy of their acceptable proof of income) and they will be mailed to the CEF office to go through the Mail-In Process (with the corresponding Principal Recommendation attached).
  
  Pre-populated applications (for renewals) and blank applications will be made available by the end of next week. Please be sure to include the appropriate 2^nd and 3^rd page for applications from different programs.
  
  Reminder: TAP applicants may be new or renewing, but applicants to all other programs (NEI: STA, O4E, SOS) must be renewals to be eligible to apply on-site for FY26.
- Where and how do I apply?
  
  You pick up your TAP application pack at a participating Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
  You complete your form and return it to the Catholic school you child will attend.
  You submit the 2021 or 2022 tax returns and w-2 form(s)
  When can I apply for TAP Funding? (Can I apply at any time? Do you have emergency tuition assistance?)
  
  You must apply during one of the three tuition cycles
  CEF does not accept applications outside of the three tuition cycles
  
  What are the three tuition cycles?
  
  Cycle 1 is for 8th grade students applying for high school tuition assistance (Early Fall)
  Cycle 2 is for students currently attending high school (Winter)
  Cycle 3 is for elementary students (Early Spring)
  
  What are other forms of proof of income may I use to submit along with my child's tuition award application?
  
  Formal letter of disbursement for Unemployment, Disability and/or Social Security
  Formal letter of disbursement for AFDC, Food Stamps and/or WIC
  Court order of alimony and/or child support
- How many applications may I submit?
  
  If you have more than one child attending a Catholic school, you may submit and application for each child for grades pre-K through 12th
  
  How do I know if my child received a tuition award?
  
  CEF will notify your school of the status of your application
  CEF will mail out awarded and waitlisted letters to the parents/guardians
  
  Can I receive an application directly from CEF?
  
  No. Applications for tuition awards are only available through participating Catholic schools. Please visit your school and pick up a tuition award application packet.
  
  Can I mail my applications directly to CEF?
  
  No. All applications and proof of income are reviewed and a formal written recommendation made by the principal or pastor before submitting to CEF.
  
  How does CEF receive my applications?
  
  After all the applications are reviewed by the principal or pastor and a formal recommendation is attached to each application, the school then mails all the applications at one time to the CEF office.
  
  The following proof of income is accepted by CEF:
  
  The 2021 or 2022 Federal Tax Return (1040)
  If you received child support and/or alimony, you must provide legal proof of distribution
  If you are unemployed or on disability, you must provide a formal letter stating your benefit distribution for 2022.
  If you work for cash, you must provide proof with a formal letter from your employer and/or a sworn Statement signed and sealed by a Public Notary verifying your income.

Catholic Education Foundation - Financial Aid

FORMS:

Como Aplicar para Una Beca Escolar de CEF Entregando la Solicitud a su Escuela

1. Follow the above link to begin your application..

2. Read then Click “Next” on the Welcome Screen

3. Choose the name of St. Maria Goretti Elementary School where your students will be attending (address showing is the appointment location) and Click “Next”

4. Choose a Time to meet with CEF Representatives and Click “Next”

5. Enter in your information to reserve your appointment (Make sure to enter your Cell Phone and Email in order to get text and email reminders) and Click “Save”

6. Please print or save the confirmation page for your records. Host Site address is where you will be meeting with CEF Representatives.

Where and how do I apply?

You pick up your TAP application pack at a participating Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

You complete your form and return it to the Catholic school you child will attend.

You submit the 2021 or 2022 tax returns and w-2 form(s)

When can I apply for TAP Funding? (Can I apply at any time? Do you have emergency tuition assistance?)

You must apply during one of the three tuition cycles

CEF does not accept applications outside of the three tuition cycles

What are the three tuition cycles?

Cycle 1 is for 8th grade students applying for high school tuition assistance (Early Fall)

Cycle 2 is for students currently attending high school (Winter)

Cycle 3 is for elementary students (Early Spring)

What are other forms of proof of income may I use to submit along with my child's tuition award application?

Formal letter of disbursement for Unemployment, Disability and/or Social Security

Formal letter of disbursement for AFDC, Food Stamps and/or WIC

Court order of alimony and/or child support

How many applications may I submit?

If you have more than one child attending a Catholic school, you may submit and application for each child for grades pre-K through 12th

How do I know if my child received a tuition award?

CEF will notify your school of the status of your application

CEF will mail out awarded and waitlisted letters to the parents/guardians

Can I receive an application directly from CEF?

No. Applications for tuition awards are only available through participating Catholic schools. Please visit your school and pick up a tuition award application packet.

Can I mail my applications directly to CEF?

No. All applications and proof of income are reviewed and a formal written recommendation made by the principal or pastor before submitting to CEF.

How does CEF receive my applications?

After all the applications are reviewed by the principal or pastor and a formal recommendation is attached to each application, the school then mails all the applications at one time to the CEF office.

The following proof of income is accepted by CEF:

The 2021 or 2022 Federal Tax Return (1040)

If you received child support and/or alimony, you must provide legal proof of distribution

If you are unemployed or on disability, you must provide a formal letter stating your benefit distribution for 2022.

If you work for cash, you must provide proof with a formal letter from your employer and/or a sworn Statement signed and sealed by a Public Notary verifying your income.