T.R.I.P. Program Information

•  What does T.R.I.P. stand for?           
• Tuition Reduction Incentive Program

2.  How does TRIP reduce my tuition?

The TRIP program will purchase bulk quantities of gift certificates from various merchants.  The certificates are sold to participating families at face value with a rebate being passed on to individual accounts in the form of a tuition credit.  The families of the school will receive 75% of the rebate while the remaining 25% will be retained to cover the costs of the program. 

• How much could I actually save on my tuition with TRIP?

Example:

                                                                      Monthly                %                    Savings

Food:                    Giant Eagle                      $   500                    4.5%                 $  22.50

Gas:                      Speedway                        $   200                    4.5%                 $    9.00

Dinners:                Applebee’s                      $     25                     9.5%                $    2.50

                              Max & Erma’s                  $     40                 14.5%                  $    5.60

Entertainment:     Blockbuster                      $     38                 15.0%                  $    5.70

Clothes:                Lillian Vernon                   $   100                 21.0%                  $  21.00

                              Payless Shoes                 $     60                 13.0%                  $    7.80

Household:          Home Depot                     $   100                    3.0%                 $    3.00

                              Kohl’s                                $   100                    4.5%                 $    4.50

                              AT&T                                 $     38                 20.0%                  $    7.60

TOTALS                                                          $1,201                                              $  89.20

ANNUAL SAVINGS:                                                                      $735.90 

  ($89.20 x 75% x 11)                                                        

•  How do I start?
• Complete a registration form and turn in to the TRIP box in the school office. The school office also has a supply of extra registration forms and order forms on hand.
• Complete an order form to order your certificates. Enclose a check for the exact amount made out to (SCHOOL NAME) TRIP. Your order form must be turned in to the TRIP Box by your school’s cut off time.
• Pick up your certificates at school the next week according to your school’s TRIP schedule.
• Call all your family and friends and see if they would be willing to use TRIP certificates for their purchases to further increase your savings potential! TRIP certificates usually do not expire and can be used by friends and family out of state at the appropriate vendors.

•  How do I use the certificates?

The certificates are cash and cannot be replaced, so be careful! If your certificates are lost or stolen, it is not possible to reissue them. The participating school and the TRIP program managers will not be held responsible for lost or misplaced certificates. Many merchants will not give back change, so purchase smaller denominations. Debit cards are available from some merchants and are convenient because you can use them until all the change is used up.  JC Penney and Kohl’s are the only stores that will allow you to pay off your credit card bill with their certificates, please do not attempt to pay off any other credit card bills with TRIP certificates.

• How will I actually receive my tuition credit money?

 Your school  will credit your tuition bill for your earnings and reduce your tuition bill by the amount of your TRIP earnings on your Winter and Spring tuition statements.

• Registrants may direct their tuition credits to their own personal account, the account of another family, or to the Student Assistance Fund.  Participants may receive additional credit by placing orders for relatives, friends, or co-workers. Grandparents may register in the program but they must designate one family to receive the credit for an entire year.

• Credit may only be used toward your tuition fee.  If your student leaves the school for any reason, your tuition credit dollars may be credited to your outstanding tuition balance, to another family’s tuition account, or to the Student Assistance Fund.  Written notice of where funds should be credited must be received within 60 days of the child leaving school or the funds will be transferred to the Student Assistance Fund.

• Anyone writing a non-sufficient fund check will incur a fee of $20.00.  The fee will have to be paid or deducted from your TRIP earnings before the next order is submitted.

• A disclaimer of responsibility must be signed on the registration form if you think there will ever be a time during the year that you would like your certificates released to your child.   If you sign the disclaimer you will still have the option on your weekly order form of picking them up yourself. You may have certificates sent home with another student if that disclaimer is signed and you may have another adult pick them up for you.  If you agree with a friend or relative that you will accept the responsibility of having certificates sent home from school with their student, you must both sign the disclaimer form.  Whenever certificates are released, they must be signed for by a student, yourself, or another adult.  Please be aware of the risk involved in sending certificates by mail or home with students.  Neither the participating school nor TRIP, will accept responsibility for lost, stolen, or misplaced certificates.