The NJ Teachers Public School Tutoring Fund turns a new federal tax credit into high-impact tutoring for public school students, delivered by New Jersey teachers in your own community. Your contribution helps students succeed while costing you nothing out of pocket, thanks to a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit that offsets your federal income tax liability.
Every New Jersey public school student who needs extra help should get it, from a teacher who knows their community.
NJ Teachers Public School Tutoring Fund is a partnership of the New Jersey Policy Institute (NJPI) and ACE Scholarships. We fund high-impact tutoring for public school students, delivered by New Jersey teachers who are paid for the work. Every awarded scholarship goes to tutoring for New Jersey public school students.
The New Jersey Policy Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization that brings together policymakers, business leaders, educators and community groups to develop practical solutions for New Jersey families. Expanding educational opportunity for every New Jersey student is at the heart of its work.
ACE Scholarships has been putting donor dollars to work for students for more than 25 years. Since its founding in 2000, ACE has awarded more than 135,000 scholarships totaling nearly $445 million. ACE manages every gift, receipt and scholarship award for the fund, so donors know their money is handled with care and full accountability.
We envision a day when every donor can give through a portal for their own community: their hometown, their school district, the school down the street. A neighbor’s tax credit becomes tutoring for the kids next door, taught by the teachers who already know them.
Each community portal would show residents the difference their giving makes. Town by town, New Jersey neighbors would come together so that every public school student who needs extra help gets it.
A new federal tax credit could send more than $5 billion a year to New Jersey students, at no extra cost to the taxpayers who direct it.
On New Jersey’s 2025 state tests, only 41% of students met expectations in math and 53% in English language arts. Reading scores are still below where they were before the pandemic. On the 2024 national NAEP test, 62% of New Jersey fourth graders scored below proficient in reading.
High-impact tutoring means small groups, frequent sessions and regular progress checks. It is one of the most effective ways to help students who have fallen behind catch up.
Starting January 1, 2027, the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit lets taxpayers redirect up to $1,700 of the federal taxes they already owe (or $3,400 for married couples) to approved scholarship organizations, like ACE Scholarships. If every eligible New Jersey taxpayer took part, that would be more than $5 billion a year for New Jersey students.
New Jersey has thousands of teachers, active and retired, who know our kids. The fund pays them to tutor students in their own communities.
Commit today. Click “Commit Now” and make your commitment through ACE Scholarships’ secure portal. New Jersey won’t appear as an option until the State opts in, so choose “I would like my contribution to be split equally to all eligible states per capita.” Because you’re committing through this fund, your contribution will go to New Jersey students once New Jersey opts in.
Your gift supports New Jersey students. Your gift pays for tutoring for eligible public school students in New Jersey communities.
Give in 2027. Once the credit takes effect on January 1, 2027 and New Jersey opts in, we’ll remind you to complete your gift.
Claim your credit. ACE sends you a receipt, and you claim the credit on your federal tax return.
Your gift pays for tutoring for eligible New Jersey public school students, delivered by New Jersey teachers. Details on how families and teachers can take part will be shared as the program gets underway.
For most donors, a gift of up to $1,700 ($3,400 for married couples filing jointly) costs nothing in the end. It is money you would otherwise pay in federal income tax.
A dollar-for-dollar credit. A deduction only lowers your taxable income. A credit lowers your tax bill itself, dollar for dollar. Give $1,700 and your federal income tax drops by $1,700.
Say you owe $5,000 in federal income tax this year.
You pay the same $5,000 either way. The only difference is where $1,700 of it goes: to tutoring for New Jersey students instead of to the IRS. You make the gift during the year, and the credit lowers your tax bill when you file. Married couples filing jointly can direct up to $3,400 the same way.
Every gift pays for real tutoring hours in a real New Jersey community. A single $1,700 gift can fund about 25 hours of tutoring.
*Gifts benefit New Jersey students only if New Jersey opts in to the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program. If the State does not opt in, donors can still claim the credit, but contributions will fund scholarships for students in participating states.
Any U.S. taxpayer. The credit applies to gifts to approved scholarship organizations in any participating state, so donors outside New Jersey can give too.
Any amount. The credit covers up to $1,700 per person, or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly. Amounts above that are a regular charitable gift.
That’s where we’re headed. Our vision is for donors to give through portals for their own towns and school districts. We’ll share more as community portals come online.
No. Federal rules don’t allow donors to steer a scholarship to their own child or a specific student.
The credit begins January 1, 2027, and New Jersey must opt in for New Jersey students to benefit. Committing now means tutoring can start for New Jersey students as soon as it does. We’ll remind you when it’s time to give.
The portal only lists states that have opted in, and New Jersey hasn’t yet. Choose “I would like my contribution to be split equally to all eligible states per capita.” Commitments made through this fund will go to New Jersey students once New Jersey opts in.
Public school students from families under the income limit set by federal law (300% of area median income). Treasury expects most families to qualify.
New Jersey teachers, current or retired, who know New Jersey students and communities.
No. Every dollar is private giving, credited against federal tax. It doesn’t touch district budgets, property taxes or any State program.
The New Jersey Policy Institute leads the campaign. ACE Scholarships, an approved scholarship organization, handles donations and receipts and administers the scholarships.
