What is DECATS?

We never want finances to prevent someone from coming to DECATS. The affordable cost of an innovative program like DECATS is made possible by a leading grant from DeBusk Foundation, and need-based tuition assistance is available for families that qualify.

Applications may be submitted via your myStatus portal after signing up for a guaranteed space in the program (or after admission from the waitlist to a guaranteed space). Applications for tuition assistance must be made each year; there is no automatic renewal or guarantee that the same award will be made in consecutive years.

Dr. Sue Bryant Francis Scholarship

In 2015, DeBusk Foundation announced a new scholarship program named in honor of Dr. Sue Francis, who for many years served on the foundation’s board of directors. Dr. Francis was active with the foundation from 1989 until 2013, and upon her retirement from an impressive career serving in education as a school teacher, administrator and public speaker, the foundation chose to honor her tireless service and tremendous contribution with a scholarship program for participants in DECATS programs. This scholarship is above and beyond DeBusk Foundation’s grant that provides the leading operational funding for our program.

There is no special application process: all need-based tuition assistance applicants are automatically considered.

Patricia McNutt Presidential Scholarship

Each summer, DeBusk Foundation — which provides the leading funding to make DECATS possible — awards two Scholars in our program with the Patricia McNutt Scholarship, named for the foundation’s former president of the board of directors in honor of her many years of tireless service. Her work at the helm of the board was instrumental in making DECATS happen each year across the state, and the foundation and programs would not be what they are today without her incredible contributions. This scholarship is above and beyond DeBusk Foundation’s grant that provides the leading operational funding for our program.

There is no special application process: all need-based tuition assistance applicants are automatically considered.

To gain the most benefit from the program, and because there is likewise very high demand to attend, you may only sign up if you are committed to attending the entire three-week program.

By virtue of signing up, you commit to full attendance and understand that you may not plan to attend any other summer activities that would result in absence from any portion of DECATS, including, but not limited to:

• Sports programs / camps / meets
• Scouting trips
• Other summer camps
• Fine arts programs / performances
• Routine medical appointments / non-emergency surgery
• Family travel / vacations

These are by no means exhaustive but serve as solid examples.

In the event you discover you cannot attend the entire program, notify us immediately so that the space may be made available to another applicant.

Absences for illness or family emergency (e.g. death) that occurs during the program may be excused. Unapproved absences not due to illness or emergency may result in not being permitted to complete the current summer session without refund and could result in forfeiture of any and all remaining years of eligibility.

DeBusk Enrichment Center of Texas shall reserve full and exclusive right to the interpretation, application and execution of these policies.

Non-Refundable Payments

• A non-refundable $100 deposit is due from all participants at the time of signing up to reserve your space, which will be applied to the tuition balance. This deposit is non-refundable under any and all circumstances.

• Tuition Assistance does not apply toward the deposit payment or any other fees, like merchandise purchases and extended day fees.

• Deposits may not be applied toward deposits, tuition or other payments due of other participants.

• Remaining tuition and fees (if any) are due by April 30. Participants who do not submit payment in full by April 30 will forfeit their spaces to those on the waitlist beginning May 1. The deposit is also forfeited.

• Extended day fees and merchandise fees are non-refundable. You cannot cancel these services or purchases once made. Supervision is hired and merchandise ordered based upon sign-ups received for these areas.

In the policies that follow, these non-refundable payments described above are wholly excluded except where specified.

Elective Withdrawals Before and During to DECATS

Elective withdrawal by the participant generally covers those circumstances of withdrawal any time before or during the program by preferential choice. This policy shall remain in effect for the entirety of the program and shall not be related to the number of days attended or remaining in the session.

• Before DECATS, through April 30: eligible for full tuition refund, less the non-refundable deposit

• Before DECATS, after April 30: not eligible for any tuition refund

• During DECATS, at anytime: not eligible for any refund

Non-Elective Withdrawals During DECATS

Non-elective withdrawal generally covers those circumstances of withdraw from the program due to illness, injury or administrative cause.

• Participants required to quarantine, self-isolate or otherwise discontinue the program due to injury, illness or exposure to a disease like COVID-19 from within the program may be eligible for a partial tuition refund. This amount shall be pro-rated based on the total days attended up to the point of withdrawal from the program and may not exceed $400. This policy shall remain in effect for and applied to the first two weeks (10 weekdays) of the program. No participant is eligible for any tuition refund after the second week of the program (after weekday 10), even if injury, illness or exposure takes place from within the program.

• Participants required to quarantine, self-isolate or otherwise discontinue the program due to injury, illness or exposure to a disease like COVID-19 from outside the program will not be eligible for any tuition refund. This policy shall remain in effect for the entirety of the program and shall not be related to the number of days attended or remaining in the session.

• Participants asked to discontinue the program for disciplinary and / or safety reasons will not be eligible for any tuition refund. This policy shall remain in effect for the entirety of the program and shall not be related to the number of days attended or remaining in the session.

Program-wide Cancellation by DECATS Leadership

Cancellation generally covers those extremely rare circumstances that DECATS executive leadership must discontinue the program for all participants.

• Before DECATS: all participants eligible for full refund of all deposits, tuition and fees

• During DECATS, through the first two weeks (10 weekdays): all current attendees at the time of cancellation eligible for a partial tuition refund. This amount shall be pro-rated based on the total days of the program conducted up to the point of cancellation and may not exceed $400. Participants with elective and non-elective withdrawal that occur prior to the date of cancellation are not eligible for any tuition refund under this circumstance.

• During DECATS, after the first two weeks (after weekday 10): all participants not eligible for any tuition refund