ACE Scholarships Launches National Campaign to Boost Education Tax Credit Awareness
A Denver mother's success with school choice fuels a nationwide effort to inform taxpayers about the Education Freedom Tax Credit.
ACE Scholarships has initiated a nationwide campaign, titled "Make It Possible," aimed at increasing public knowledge of the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC). The initiative seeks to educate taxpayers on how directed tax credits can broaden access to K-12 education options.
Mariah Wakefield, a Denver resident, shared her experience of utilizing ACE Scholarships to find a suitable educational environment for her daughter, Jasiya. Wakefield's advocacy stems from her own success in navigating educational challenges, and she now aims to ensure other parents are aware of the available federal tax credit.
The EFTC program, established under President Donald Trump's school choice initiative, allows individual taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for cash contributions made to qualified non-profit Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). Married couples filing jointly can receive up to $3,400, while individuals can receive up to $1,700. For local families and educational organizations to participate, state governors must formally opt into the program.
More than half of U.S. states have already joined the initiative. Colorado Governor Jared Polis was the first Democratic governor to sign on, stating he would not pass up the opportunity for crucial funding for tutoring, after-school programs, and summer enrichment. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also faced attention from school choice advocates regarding enrollment options.
ACE Scholarships, an organization that has been providing privately raised scholarships to lower-income families for 26 years, has delivered over 121,000 scholarships valued at more than $395 million across 13 states. The "Make It Possible" campaign is part of a broader, yearlong effort by ACE to provide educational resources that address common questions and clarify misconceptions about the EFTC.
The campaign is focusing on key markets including Denver, Washington D.C., New York, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Kansas City, Orlando, and Philadelphia. ACE aims to expand support for school choice, particularly in Democratic-led states where teachers' unions have historically opposed policies diverting public funds to private education.
Wakefield's daughter, Jasiya, formerly attended Denver Public Schools before receiving assistance from ACE Scholarships to enroll in Kent Denver School, where she is now thriving. Wakefield emphasized the importance of informing all parents about school choice opportunities. "So for them to be able to choose a different place to go to is probably the highlight of being able to expand their child's potential... and get them to where they should really be," she stated.
Kristy Badger, Chief Marketing Officer at ACE Scholarships, highlighted that financial circumstances often dictate educational opportunities. "Every child has unique talents, interests, and learning needs that shape how they thrive. Now, the EFTC will bring together what’s possible for countless students in America," Badger said.