ACE Scholarships Supporting School Choice

Mariah Wakefield, a Denver resident, sought a school that could nurture her adoptive daughter Jasiya’s unique talents. Denver Public Schools did not offer the support Jasiya needed. Wakefield became Jasiya’s guardian after the child lost her mother at age four.

Wakefield encountered various challenges, including personal instability and household changes. Her primary concern was Jasiya’s education and future. Assistance arrived when ACE Scholarships, a Scholarship Granting Organization, supported Jasiya’s enrollment in a suitable school.

Wakefield now aims to raise awareness about ACE, especially as the organization promotes President Donald Trump’s school choice initiative. This initiative focuses on the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), allowing taxpayers to receive up to $1,700 in federal tax credits for contributions to nonprofit SGOs.

Over half of U.S. states have joined the EFTC program. Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis, despite some opposition, embraced the initiative for its funding benefits in education. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also faces calls to discuss enrollment options as demand for alternative education rises.

The emergence of school choice has sparked debate. Some Democrats argue it pulls funds from public schools, but the rising interest in alternative education post-pandemic has sparked re-evaluation. Organizations like ACE advocate for allowing parents to choose schools outside their local areas. Since its beginning, ACE has issued scholarships worth over $395 million to lower-income families in 13 states.

ACE has launched a campaign called “Make It Possible” to raise awareness about the EFTC and educate taxpayers on using tax credits for expanding K–12 education access. The campaign seeks to explain the initiative and expand school choice support in states often opposed by teacher unions.

Denver is a key area for ACE’s advertising, alongside cities like Washington, D.C., New York, and Philadelphia. For Wakefield, school choice was crucial for Jasiya’s educational success.

“We accessed an opportunity that altered our lives,” Wakefield shared with Fox News Digital. She believes every parent should know about these opportunities to change their child’s educational prospects.

Today, Jasiya excels at Kent Denver School. According to Kristy Badger, chief marketing officer at ACE, the EFTC opens educational opportunities to students whose options were once limited by financial constraints.

Reporter Joshua Q. Nelson, who covers education and public policy for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report. Tips can be sent to [email protected].