Education Assistance Plan - Policy

Education Assistance Plan - Policy available free to download, customize and print for your church, nonprofit organization, personal use...

The Church Assistance Plan or Policy for Education below is a great tool if your church has tuition assistance for education. It creates a tool to provide educational benefits to your employees in your church.

An Education Program or Plan for Assistance is also a great tool for your managers to support academic activities that directly relate to the church's identified knowledge, skills and behaviors which support the mission, vision and values of the church.

This Education Assistance Plan - Policy includes:

• Plan - [Church Name] has established an Educational Assistance Plan (the Plan) to provide educational benefits under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code to all employees of [Church Name]. This document sets forth the Plan.
• Employment Status -Employees qualify for the Plan and earn the benefits if they are a current employee. Employees may take courses of instruction during active employment or during an approved leave of absence.
• Plan Benefits -[Church Name} will reimburse the employee no more than $ _________ a year for qualified and council approved educational programs. Should lawmakers enact any changes, this Plan automatically adopts the changes on its effective date. Under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code, the employee receives the reimbursements under this Plan as tax-free fringe benefits.
• Plan Termination -[Church Name] reserves the right to change or terminate the Plan without prior notice. If [Church Name] does end the Plan, [Church Name] will reimburse all courses in process prior to termination, but it will not reimburse any classes that begin after Plan termination and notification.
• Funding -[Church Name] will pay educational benefits out of its general assets. [Church Name] does not maintain a special fund to cover the benefits. Further, [Church Name] does not require participants to make contributions as a condition of receiving benefits.
• Prohibited Choices -This Plan prohibits [Church Name] from offering eligible employees a choice between educational assistance and any other compensation.   
• Covered Educational Expenses -This Plan reimburses costs for tuition, fees, and books for approved educational classes.
• Expenses Not Covered -The plan prohibits reimbursements of meals, lodging, transportation, tools, and supplies. Further, the Plan does not reimburse costs for any education that involves sports, games, or hobbies. Employees who plan to take advantage of the Educational Assistance Plan shall notify [Church Name] in writing of such plan; course of study, and expected reimbursement amounts and dates as soon as the information is available but no later than 30 days after the educational activity begins.
• Reimbursements - [Church Name] will not reimburse any amounts already reimbursed by any financial assistance, scholarship, or any other financial benefit derived from public or private programs. [Church Name] shall make direct payments to the school, upon council approval or reimburse the participant within 45 days of proper submission of the supporting documents. Upon completion of the courses, the participant must provide proof of attendance and original receipts for all items for which he or she seeks reimbursement. If participant cannot give supporting documentation upon completion of the courses, the participant must repay to the church any funds that were paid by the church within 45 days. [Church Name] has explained this Plan to me, an eligible employee, and I have read this Plan document and understand the plan.
• Employee and Employer Date(s) and Signature(s)
  

Education Assistance Plan - Policy (Sample)

Return to Church Policy Manual from Education Assistance Plan - Policy.