Enrollment Process
A simple, supportive process that welcomes families into our community.
Enrollment is a two-way process — you’re exploring if Philly ALC is right for your family, and we’re learning how to best support your child.
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Here is a typical path for new families
Contact Us
Fill out the interest form on our home page with your name, contact info, and program interest. We will reach out to you to schedule an information session.
Family Debrief
We reflect together: how did your child feel, what did you notice, and what did facilitators observe?
Family Info Session
Meet with a facilitator (on Zoom or in person) to learn about our philosophy and share your family’s story.
Enrollment
If it’s a match, we will send you a registration link and you’ll complete a tuition agreement and a simple set of enrollment paperwork.
Trial Day(s)
Your child joins us for one or two days in the program you’re considering.
Orientation
We select a start date, invite you to an orientation, connect with our community, and begin your journey.
Trust Based Tuition
We believe finances should not be the barrier to self-directed education. Philly ALC uses a trust based share-what-you-can tuition model. Families contribute what they are able, and together we make this community thrive.
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We invite you to think of tuition not as a fee for services, but as a shared investment in a community of learning.
How to Decide What to Contribute
When choosing your contribution, we encourage families to reflect on a few guiding questions:
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Your Basics: After covering housing, food, transportation, and healthcare, what can you sustainably contribute each month?
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Your Participation: How many children are you enrolling, and how many days per week?
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Your Resources: Does your family have access to higher income, savings, or generational wealth? Or are you stretching thin to make this possible?
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Your Balance: If money is tight, can you contribute more time or skills to support the community? If time is limited, can you give more financially to support others?
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Your Values: Does your contribution reflect both your family’s reality and your commitment to equity in our community?
Time Contributions Matter Too
Money isn’t the only way to contribute. Families also give through:
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Volunteering with programming (Roots play days, project support, snack prep)
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Helping with admin, outreach, or fundraising
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Sharing skills and resources with the community
We treat financial and time contributions with equal respect — both are essential to our thriving.
A Guiding Question
“Does the amount we’re giving feel like a stretch, but still sustainable? Are we contributing in a way that keeps our family stable and supports equity for others?”
Final Note
We trust families to decide what they can contribute. Your choice should feel fair, sustainable, and aligned with your values. Every contribution — whether money, time, or both — is valued here. Together, we make Philly ALC possible.