To ensure a positive, productive, and enjoyable experience for all participants, it is important that all students and parents/guardians adhere to the rules of behavior for students and privacy guidelines for parents.

PAFA staff are trained to model and enforce age-appropriate behavior guidelines and reflective communication. We encourage self-control, self-direction, responsibility, and cooperation. We will do our best to provide behavioral support to any participant demonstrating a need or disrupting a class. Open communication between guardians and PAFA staff is considered key in terms of effective discipline.

Participants must always be respectful and courteous to other participants and staff during programs' sessions. Inappropriate, offensive, or threatening comments and misrepresentation of identity will not be tolerated.

If the student’s behavior is extremely disruptive and/or harmful to themselves or others, the student may be removed from the program for the remainder of the day. Parent/Guardian of children younger than 18 will be contacted to arrange the pickup of their child. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts reserves the right to ask a disruptive student to withdraw from the program.

By registering for Your and Family class or event, you agree to abide by the policies and regulations detailed here. Failure to comply with these policies and procedures may result in a dismissal with forfeiture of tuition and fees.

At PAFA Youth and Family Programs we support all creative expression both artistic and personal. Children will be referred to by whatever name and pronouns they chose to put on their name tag whether that be Dragon or Alex.

Visit Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at PAFA to learn about PAFA's institutional vision.

• Self-Dismissal: students 12-14 years old may leave PAFA on their own ONLY if marked for SELF - DISMISSAL at the registration.
• Students 11 and younger may leave ONLY with parents/legal guardians and people authorized by parents/legal guardian. 
• Every person (including parents) picking up a student(s) must present their Photo ID every time. 
• Only those listed in the pick authorization section of the registration form may pick up students(s). 
  •  Please note that PAFA staff cannot withhold a child from a biological or custodial parent without legal documentation (i.e., court orders, custody papers, etc.) that must be submitted with Camper Information Form. 

All changes or additions to the dismissal (such as changing to self-dismiss or adding pickup authorization must be provided by emailing museumeducation@pafa.org. If the change must be last minute please email, but also call the main contact number provided at the beginning of the program.

Program images help us to tell the story of our organization and our mission. We appreciate your cooperation and consent in allowing us to photograph you or your child for use in various promotional materials without any personal identifiers. You have our assurance that these images will be used only for official purposes and with the respect and consideration to which you are entitled.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts reserves the right to reproduce without notification any photographs of students or artwork produced by students while attending Youth and Family Programs at PAFA. This reproduction will be for non-commercial purposes only, and may include print publications, institutional websites, e-communications, multimedia presentations, and documents about PAFA for admission, recruitment, fundraising, or institutional informational purposes.

If you have any questions regarding our Photo & Video Images Policy, please contact us at museumeducation@pafa.org

Course Storm Registration Portal

Registration to PAFA classes happens through the CourseStorm Portal.    
Note that your registration confirmation and other communication may come from the following email: Museum Education at PAFA <notifications@coursestorm.com> (Please check your spam folder)

Your Course Storm Account allows you to update your and your child’s personal information, change password, remove or change a stored credit card, and see what classes you have registered for. (Save your log in information, you can also recover it via email).

FOR PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS GO TO  PRE-COLLEGE INFORMATION, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND POLICIES 

Tuition Payment

CourseStorm processes credit card or debit card payments through a secure system. PAFA staff have no access to your credit card information. If you need to arrange payment by check - please contact the office. 

• For programs with tuition less than $400 - Full payment is due at the time of registration. 
• For programs with tuition above $400 - Payment plans are available. A deposit of $100 is due at the time of registration. 

PAFA cannot prorate courses for late registration, withdrawals or missed classes, unless noted otherwise.

Registration Changes

• In case of schedule conflict or other reasons, participants may request a transfer to an alternate available program. 
• All requests must be submitted in writing by email at least 3 business days before the program starts. (Ex: you can request to switch a week of camp. You will have to submit your request no later than Wednesday of the week before the desired camp week)
• All transfers are subject to space availability and other restrictions. 
• Payment of additional tuition must be made at time of transfer if a balance is due; there is no transfer fee.  
• No further refunds are available for a subsequent withdrawal from the transferred class.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy:

Processing Fees (10% of the payment to the program) are incurred for withdrawals at any time after registration (including the same day). The charge covers fees incurred to the YFP program by registration and credit card processing.   
Withdrawals due to mistaken registration, noncompliance, and other reasons will result in fees according to the same schedule below.    

No Fee cancelation options:    
Option A: Cancel and Donate. Converted your paid tuition to a tax-deductible donation to PAFA.    
Option B: Cancel with Credit. 100% of the amount paid to the program will be retained as a credit for a different Youth and Family Program with an equivalent price range (within the same or the following fiscal year). No processing fees.

Refunds: Refunds will be applied to your card provided at the registration. You may also be issued a check refund. Please allow 6-8 weeks for checks to arrive by mail. 

Deadlines for Full refund. 10% processing fee will be charged.

• Studio Classes, workshops, and other programs: At least 21 days before program start day.
• Summer Art Camp – before March 31

Deadlines for Partial Refund: 75% of the tuition paid to the program will be refunded. 

• Studio Classes, workshops, and other programs: 7 days before the program start day. 
• Summer Art Camp – before May 15

NO REFUNDS OR TUITION CREDIT WILL BE GRANTED IF REQUESTED LESS THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE PROGRAM'S START DAY! -

Summer Art Camp – No refunds after May 15

Exceptions: 

• Tuition credits or consideration for a full or prorated refund (minus 10% processing fee) will be given if:
• Participant wishes to withdraw from a program with a waiting list and another participant is willing to take their seat.
• Participant become ill and are unable to attend either in person or virtually. A doctor’s certification may be required.
• Participant experience the sudden death, illness or injury of a parent or guardian (a doctor’s certification may be requested).

Important note

• All refunds must be requested in writing.
• No Refunds will be granted for failure to provide required documentation (if any).
• No Refunds will be granted for scheduling conflicts or no-shows.
• No Refunds will be granted to participants who leave or do not attend programs by their own choice.

COURSE CANCELLATIONS   
In the event that a program is under-enrolled or canceled by PAFA, you will be notified by phone and/ or email and may choose to transfer into another program or receive a tuition credit or refund. Early registration helps prevent programs' cancellation!

These policies are subject to change as PAFA responds to guidance from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

If a program is canceled due to the new COVID-19 or other major health restrictions limiting in-person gatherings before the start day, the whole program may transition to virtual instruction.

All participants and staff members are required to notify PAFA if they have come in contact with a person with COVID-19 or if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

If a participant shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the participant should stay home pending the results of a COVID-19 test. Families are responsible for obtaining a COVID-19 test for the participant.

A participant who tests negative for COVID-19 will be able to resume in-person programming after being symptom and fever free for 24-hours, without fever reducing medication.

A participant who tests positive will be able to return to after 5 days of isolation and their symptoms have resolved. If symptom-free after 5 days of isolation, students may return to class but must wear a high-quality (N95 or KN95) mask for an additional five days.

Staff showing symptoms will be isolated from the general population and have the same requirements as participants for return.

Individuals may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.

Masking will be optional for students and staff except when determined necessary by Philadelphia Department of Public Health to mitigate a classroom-wide or museum-wide outbreak.

Virtual Programs Privacy Guidelines

To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for participants and teachers during distance learning, all parents/guardians are asked to follow the following privacy guidelines.

During a virtual program students will participate in online and digital engagement strategies with faculty, staff and contracted speakers and artists affiliated with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA).

During the program students will have access to digital software essential to their educational experience, including but limited to Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, Canvas, and Google Suite programs.

Students 18 and older and parent/guardian of the students younger than 18, take full responsibility for the student’s use of PAFA software, equipment, and digital resources, whether in a classroom or online, and hereby release PAFA from any liability incurred by student’s online interactions.

Login credentials and meeting IDs must not be shared. Sharing login information violates other participants and teachers’ rights to confidentiality and could allow participation by unauthorized persons and/or lead to disruptive behaviors that detract from a productive and positive program environment.

Zoom sessions may be recorded and maybe used for educational purposes and made available for students participating in the program. They will be available for viewing only without an option for download. Students joining these zoom sessions automatically consent to such recordings.

Virtual Communication and Conduct

Virtual sessions are designed for students. To prevent disruptions to the class environment, parents/guardians should not actively participate in the sessions, although parents/guardians may assist their student with technology and/or remain nearby.

Do not video record, audio record, photograph, live stream, or transmit in any other way any part of a virtual session, including not posting on any social media platform.

Any confidential or personally identifiable information related to students participating during programs virtual sessions should not be collected, discussed, or shared.

Parents/guardians should not engage with participants during virtual sessions. If you need to speak with your child during a check-in session, first mute your child’s microphone. If a parent/guardian has a question, please email the Museum education office.