Lanterns Global Policies
Enrollment Financial Agreement
*Signed upon enrollment in Enrollsy*
Families in Our Programs
Families in our programs, we are so grateful for you! Thank you for being part of El Jardín, Tides, Terrain, and Farm to Table. It is our great honor to serve your family.
When your family enrolls in one of our programs, you are reserving a space in a small, intentionally limited class that has been carefully priced to cover the cost of operating the program and paying our teachers and staff.
At the time of your enrollment, Lanterns Global immediately begins making financial commitments, including hiring and paying teachers for the entire semester, securing educational locations, purchasing curriculum and supplies, supporting the administrative systems necessary to operate our programs successfully, while preparing for the semester.
Timely tuition payments allow us to responsibly operate our programs while keeping tuition fair for all families. The following policy establishes the financial expectations for enrollment and helps ensure the long-term health of our programs.
Semester Enrollment
Enrollment at Lanterns Global is for the entire semester. Families choosing a monthly payment plan are selecting a payment schedule only. Monthly payments do not constitute month-to-month enrollment.
By enrolling, your family reserves a place for the entire semester and remains financially responsible for the full semester tuition outlined in the Enrollment Agreement, regardless of whether tuition is paid:
In one semester payment
Through an approved monthly payment plan
Using Charter School educational funds
Refund Policy
Enrollment reserves a place for your student for the entire semester. Because Lanterns Global makes financial commitments before classes begin, tuition is not refundable on a class-by-class basis. Missed classes, illnesses, vacations, schedule conflicts, or other absences do not qualify for tuition refunds or credits.
Withdrawal Before Classes Begin
Families who withdraw before attending any classes may receive a refund of all tuition paid minus a $100 non-refundable withdrawal fee per student, per program. The $100 retained is a non-refundable withdrawal fee accounting for enrollment expenses, materials, and program costs.
Withdrawal During Weeks 1–4
Families who withdraw and notify us of withdrawal before the end of Week 4 may receive a refund equal to 50% of the remaining tuition value, after deducting:
the $100 withdrawal fee; and
the drop-in value of all classes already attended.
We calculate this value by taking the full tuition amount, subtracting the $100 withdrawal fee as well as the drop-in rate for each class attended, and then we can refund you half of that remaining tuition amount.
Week 5 and Beyond
No tuition refunds will be issued beginning Week 5 of the semester and onward.
The final day to withdraw and receive any tuition refund is the Friday of Week 4. (Starting the Saturday after Week 4 begins to count as Week 5, where refunds are no longer given.)
When we commit to provide this program to local families, we also commit to paying our teachers and staff for the full term, maintaining rental and administrative relationships, and building a healthy program culture for everyone. Thank you for your understanding.
Monthly Tuition Payment Schedule
Unless otherwise approved in writing, tuition payments are due on or before the following dates:
August 1
September 1
October 1
November 1
December 1
Payments are due on or before the 1st day of each month.
Beginning on the 6th day of the month, any unpaid tuition installment becomes delinquent and is subject to the policies outlined below.
Charter School Funding
Many Lanterns Global families choose to use Charter School educational funds, and we are grateful to partner with Charter Schools throughout California.
However, Charter School funding is only a payment method. The parent or legal guardian remains fully responsible for all tuition owed under the Enrollment Agreement.
Parents are responsible for submitting all required Charter School funding requests, Purchase Orders, certificates, and other required paperwork on time.
If Charter School funds are delayed, denied, reduced, exhausted, or otherwise unavailable, including late funding requests, insufficient funds, denied Purchase Orders, Charter School policy changes, or enrollment in additional programs that exhaust available funds, the remaining tuition balance immediately becomes the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
Outstanding balances resulting from Charter School funding issues are subject to the same Late Fees, Administrative Finance Charges, Attendance Holds, and Collection procedures outlined in this agreement.
Lanterns Global cannot absorb unpaid tuition resulting from Charter School funding issues. Families remain financially responsible for all tuition owed under their Enrollment Agreement.
Late Fee
Beginning on the 6th day of the month, any unpaid monthly tuition installment will incur a one-time Late Fee equal to 5% of the overdue monthly payment.
A Late Fee is assessed once for each missed monthly tuition installment.
Example
Monthly Tuition Payment: $350
Payment Due: August 1
Payment Received: August 8
Late Fee (5%): $17.50
Total Amount Due: $367.50
Administrative Finance Charge
Any balance remaining unpaid for more than thirty (30) days after its original due date will incur an Administrative Finance Charge of 5% per month until paid in full.
This Administrative Finance Charge is intended to recover a portion of the additional administrative costs incurred in managing delinquent accounts, including payment tracking, account reconciliation, parent communications, Charter School coordination, payment processing, and collection efforts. It is not intended as a penalty, but as reimbursement for the additional administrative resources required to manage overdue accounts.
Partial payments will be applied in the following order:
Returned Payment Fees
Late Fees
Administrative Finance Charges
Oldest outstanding tuition balance
Payments returned due to insufficient funds (NSF), stop-payment requests, declined electronic payments, or other banking issues may be subject to a $35 Returned Payment Fee, in addition to any applicable Late Fees and Administrative Finance Charges.
Communication
Families experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact Lanterns Global before a payment becomes overdue whenever possible.
We are sometimes able to work with families who communicate proactively (but this is not guaranteed). However, once an account becomes delinquent, Late Fees and Administrative Finance Charges generally cannot be waived unless a written payment arrangement has been approved by Lanterns Global.
Attendance Hold & Future Enrollment
Accounts that remain unpaid for more than thirty (30) days after their original due date may be placed on an Attendance Hold until:
The outstanding balance has been paid in full; or
An approved and signed written payment arrangement has been established with Lanterns Global.
An Attendance Hold does not cancel a family's Enrollment Agreement or eliminate the family's financial responsibility for the semester tuition.
Families with outstanding balances, repeated late payments, or delinquent accounts may be ineligible to enroll in future Lanterns Global programs until all financial obligations have been satisfied.
Collections
Our sincere hope is always to resolve outstanding balances directly with families.
If reasonable efforts to resolve a delinquent account are unsuccessful, Lanterns Global reserves the right to refer the account to a third-party collection agency or legal counsel.
Referral to collections does not release a family from their financial responsibility under the Enrollment Agreement.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, families may also be responsible for reasonable collection costs, attorney's fees, court costs, and other related expenses incurred in collecting outstanding balances.
Our Commitment to Families
Our desire is never to administer Late Fees, Administrative Finance Charges, Returned Payment Fees, or Collection Costs.
These policies exist to protect the long-term health of our programs, ensure fairness to all families, and allow Lanterns Global to continue providing exceptional educational experiences for children throughout our communities.
Thank you for your partnership and for entrusting your family to Lanterns Global.
Drop-In / Trial Day Policy
Students are welcome to attend a trial class at the program’s drop-in rate, which varies by program.
Drop-in enrollment does not guarantee a future spot. If a class fills with full-time enrolled students, drop-in students may lose their spot; we will notify you and offer an alternative class or refund for any future drop-in dates.
Drop-in rates are intentionally higher than the prorated per-class tuition. It is most cost-effective to enroll for the full session.
Weather, Disaster, or Program Closure
If a class must be canceled due to weather, natural events (such as fire, flood, or unsafe conditions, etc.), or program closure, Lanterns Global will:
Offer a make-up class during our scheduled make-up week(s), or
Prorate the missed day and issue a credit toward a future Lanterns program.