ACE Scholarships Help Denver Student Excel with School Choice

Mariah Wakefield, a Denver resident, faced limited educational options for her adoptive daughter, Jasiya, who needed a school that matched her unique talents. “The school system wasn’t a terrible choice, but she needed more to succeed,” Wakefield told Fox News Digital. Jasiya had previously been enrolled in Denver Public Schools.

Wakefield became Jasiya’s legal guardian after the girl’s mother passed away in 2013, when Jasiya was just four years old. Despite the challenges and changes in their household, Wakefield prioritized Jasiya’s education and future.

An organization called ACE Scholarships stepped in at a crucial time to help enroll Jasiya in a school where she could thrive. ACE Scholarships, a national Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO), is now focused on raising awareness about school choice. The organization supports President Donald Trump’s Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) initiative, allowing taxpayers to receive federal tax credits for donations to nonprofit SGOs.

The EFTC program enables individual donors to receive up to a $1,700 tax credit for contributions, doubled to $3,400 for married couples filing jointly. Participating state governors must opt into the program for families and educational organizations to benefit.

More than half of U.S. states have joined the initiative. Colorado Governor Jared Polis, the first Democratic governor to support participation, cited the program’s vital funding for tutoring, after-school programs, and summer activities. Despite some opposition, notable leaders are reassessing the value of school choice due to the growing demand for diverse educational options post-pandemic.

Organizations like ACE Scholarships advocate for allowing parents to select schools outside their neighborhood or opt out of public schools. ACE Scholarships, established 26 years ago, has issued over 121,000 scholarships worth more than $395 million across 13 states.

In response to limited school options, ACE launched “Make It Possible,” a multimillion-dollar campaign to increase awareness of the EFTC. This campaign also seeks to educate taxpayers on how directed tax credits can widen access to K–12 education. The initiative emphasizes informing families and addressing common questions about the new federal program.

Wakefield noted that school choice allowed her daughter to unlock her potential. She shared, “We took the opportunity, and I feel everyone should have the chance for a different outcome for their child.” Now, Jasiya is thriving at Kent Denver School.

Kristy Badger, the chief marketing officer at ACE Scholarships, stated, “Financial circumstances often dictate educational opportunities. But now, EFTC will open doors for countless students across America.”

ACE aims to garner support for school choice in Democratic-led states, where teachers unions typically resist public funding for private education. The campaign focuses on cities like Denver, Washington, D.C., New York, and others.

Joshua Q. Nelson reports on cultural trends, education, and public policy for Fox News Digital since 2019. He holds a degree from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Public Policy Certificate.