Studio Policies

Tuition is due on the 1st of each month, processed via Opus1.io and Cardpointe 10 days before the billing date. Late fee is $40 for payments 3 or more days past due; 1%/month after 30 days.

The first month of tuition is prorated; tuition is never prorated for tardiness or missed classes and is non-refundable. Tuition does not include retail items such as books, instruments, or costumes. Specialty workshops and summer camps are charged in full at enrollment. The number of classes in a month equals the number of that weekday in the month minus any PopRock holidays.

PopRock bills on autopay: recurring credit, debit, or ACH drafts are processed 10 days before the start of the next month and continue until a withdrawal form is filed. Invoices are issued on the 13th of each month; account holders are responsible for reviewing them and withdrawing from any disputed program by the 15th. A returned or NSF payment incurs a $40 fee. Tuition rates increase from time to time and are announced on monthly invoices.

PopRock Academy's no-refund policy: tuition is non-refundable; recital fees have absolutely no refund for any reason; competition team fees are non-refundable for any reason.

Lessons are month to month. Withdrawal requires a completed PopRock Withdrawal Form (one per student) submitted to the front desk — hard copy or digital — by the 15th of the month before the last month; no other method is accepted. A form submitted after the 15th means full tuition is due for the following month.

Withdrawal covers all PopRock programs, including recitals and performances past the last lesson. The last month is not prorated, and students are responsible for their full last month's tuition whether or not they attend. There are no exceptions for moving, relocating, or illness.

Students must complete all make-up classes before their last day; unused credits are forfeited, and spots in lessons or classes are not held. Progress in the PopRock Star Achieve Program resets on withdrawal. Returning students re-register as new students, with a new registration fee.

PopRock Academy operates year-round and does not close for summer. Accounts cannot be paused; students remain responsible for tuition until they submit a withdrawal form.

PopRock Academy policies may be amended in the future. By continuing lessons at PopRock Academy, you agree to abide by future updates to our policies and procedures.

Group-class changes have no fixed timing rule — a student may change as long as the new class has space — but changes close to a performance can jeopardize participation. Switching to another session within the same program is not recommended within 2 months of a performance, filming, or recording, since the other class may run a different routine; if the routine is the same, a switch is possible up to 1 month before. Switching programs entirely should ideally happen after a full semester (about 4 months) for full participation and more performance opportunities; a parent who insists on a full-program switch less than 3 months before a recital, performance, filming, or recording must accept limited participation with no partial refund of tuition or recital fees. Any change within 3 months of a show requires a signed Transfer Acknowledgment.

Permanent schedule changes for private lessons are requested between the 1st and 15th of the month and take effect for the upcoming term (roughly a one-month minimum lead time). The original time slot is released once the change is made.

Private lessons cannot be rescheduled for any reason; students use a make-up option instead. Group classes may be changed per the Group Class schedule-change policy and the group make-up credit system. The one exception, across all classes, is when PopRock cannot provide a class at its scheduled time, in which case PopRock provides a refund or a reschedule. All make-up credits must be used before the last day of class upon withdrawal.

All group classes start and end at the scheduled time, and there is no make-up for time missed due to tardiness. For any group class (acting or dance alike), a student who arrives more than 5 minutes late may be required to observe the class only rather than participate. PopRock reserves this right primarily for safety reasons, but not limited to safety, depending on what the class is doing.

All private lessons start and end at the scheduled time, and there is no make-up for time missed due to tardiness. Students must notify the front office if they will be more than 5 minutes late.

Group class make-up: students receive a make-up credit for each class missed. Credits may be used only for a designated group make-up class of the same pricing tier that is age- and level-appropriate, and must be used within 3 months of the missed date (and before the last day of class upon withdrawal). If an exchange is required, no refund is given for a lower-priced make-up class, and students must pay the price difference (or stack multiple credits) for a higher-priced one. There is no rescheduling or credit for a missed make-up class. Credits may be transferred to an immediate family member.

Private lesson make-up varies by discipline. Missed private music lessons are non-refundable, but students have unlimited make-up through one weekly music ensemble class (inquire for the schedule). For a missed private acting or solo dance lesson, students may attend any 2 group classes. Private group dance lessons are made up per the group-class make-up policy. For missed lessons with directors, students may attend any 2 group classes or use the unlimited make-up option.

There is no make-up available for performance programs, specialty workshops, or camps.

Enrolled students ages 5–17 (except Accent Reduction & Diction Practicum) are enrolled in the annual recital, and the annual performance fee applies whether or not the student ultimately performs; however, no student is ever physically forced to step on stage to perform. On filming days students must reserve the full day within a provided 3-hour window and remain in the waiting area — any student not present when called is cut to keep production on schedule — with one parent accompanying. The tech rehearsal is the only dress rehearsal and is mandatory; missing it may move a student to the back or reduce their lines. The Red Carpet is a formal event open to all enrolled students; during performances students sit in assigned seats and stay for the full duration. Guest tickets are required, and recital fees do not transfer between programs.

PopRock records group classes for make-up purposes and uses photographs and video of classes, lessons, and performances for teaching and promotion across its website, PopRock TV, Twitch, YouTube, and social channels, as well as picture days and student features. All students must sign an image and recording waiver to participate; questions are handled by the front office.

Only parents or legal guardians of children under 5 may sit in on private lessons. No observers are allowed in any other private lesson or any group class. All classrooms are equipped with CCTV and monitored.

PopRock Academy does not provide before- or after-care. Parents of children under 8 must remain in the school lobby during class. Students should not be left at the school for extended periods before or after their lessons.

Children must wait inside the Academy for their parents to pick them up. PopRock Academy assumes no responsibility for children who leave unaccompanied.

PopRock expects a positive learning attitude and mutual respect among students, staff, and faculty. Not permitted anywhere on premises: weapons or firearms, drugs (prescription medication with a doctor's note excepted), smoking, pets (allergy and vocal-health protection; excessive scent may be refused), swearing, bullying, or physical violence of any kind; sharing explicit-content music with minors; running in classrooms; food or drink in classrooms (only water in a secured bottle). Recording a lesson or class requires instructor approval. No dirty street shoes on the dance floor, and clothing must be classroom-appropriate. Come to class fully prepared with assigned material; disruptive students may be removed with no refund. For extended discussion, book office time in 15-minute increments at regular rates. Raise any concern about an instructor privately through the office rather than confronting the instructor directly, to protect the teaching environment. Policies apply equally to every student — we do not make individual exceptions.

Students are responsible for the physical property at PopRock Academy. If a student damages Academy or affiliate property, the student — or the parent or legal guardian of a student under 18 — is fully responsible for the cost of the damage.

Parents, legal guardians of minors, students, and adult students waive the right to legal action against PopRock Academy Inc., its staff, and affiliates for injury sustained on school property resulting from normal lesson or class activity, or any other activity conducted by students or their siblings before, during, or after lesson or class time, including hearing loss or hearing damage. Students agree to hold PopRock Academy Inc. harmless of claims, losses, or expenses resulting from the acts of non-PopRock staff and faculty.

PopRock Academy Inc. is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), or sexual orientation. Students may not request or refuse instructors based on any protected class.

PopRock Academy offers classes, lessons, and workshops only. We are a training facility: everything we offer is for training purposes. No guarantee or implication of work, representation, or booking is made. The presence of industry professionals is strictly educational; it does not guarantee or imply employment.

PopRock Academy reserves the right to refuse service to anyone and to terminate a student's enrollment at any time. Breaches of PopRock's conduct expectations may result in temporary or permanent termination of service.