Text that reads "Changing education changes everything"
Text that reads "Changing education changes everything"

What if you could solve all of America’s problems by focusing on just one?

The economy, healthcare, crime, human services, national security—these are just a few of the things keeping Americans up at night. It’s no wonder we’re losing sleep; each issue is scary enough on its own, so the thought of solving them all simultaneously… well, where would we even start? The answer might surprise you.

A recent survey of K-12 parents found that EDUCATION ranks 6th on the list of our most pressing concerns. But ACE Scholarships recognizes it should be our country’s top priority, and here’s why. Education is embedded in the roots of every single problem we’re up against. And it’s the proven solution to moving forward with hope for a brighter future. Because changing education changes everything.

School desks sitting in an empty classroom
The image is a black‑and‑white portrait framed from the chest upward against a softly blurred outdoor or architectural background. A single person is centered and faces forward. The individual wears formal graduation attire, including a patterned stole draped over both shoulders and multiple braided cords hanging from the neck. Star‑shaped earrings and a delicate necklace with small evenly spaced accents are visible. Long hair falls smoothly over the shoulders. Clothing beneath the stole appears to include a textured or lace‑like top. The lighting is even and diffused, creating clear contrast and fine detail without harsh shadows.
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The image is a black‑and‑white studio portrait of a single person framed from the shoulders upward against a smooth, neutral background. The subject is positioned at a slight angle, with the body turned partially to one side while the face is oriented toward the camera. Hair is styled in soft, voluminous waves that frame the face and extend to the shoulders. The person wears a sleeveless or high‑neck fitted top with a subtle ribbed texture, leaving the shoulders exposed. One long, geometric dangling earring is visible on the ear facing the camera. The lighting is soft and directional, creating gentle highlights on the face and hair while maintaining smooth tonal contrast across the image. The corners of the image appear slightly cropped, indicating it has been prepared for design or layout use.
The image is a black‑and‑white portrait of a single person centered in the frame, shown from the chest upward against a plain, light‑colored wall. The subject faces directly toward the camera and wears a structured blazer layered over a light button‑down shirt with the top button open. Rectangular eyeglasses with dark frames are worn. Hair is styled upward with volume on top, creating a clean, defined silhouette. The mouth is slightly open, with teeth visible. Lighting is even and frontal, producing clear detail in facial features and clothing without strong shadows. The corners of the image appear slightly clipped, suggesting the portrait was cropped or prepared for layout use.
The image is a black‑and‑white studio portrait framed from the shoulders up against a softly blended gray background. A single person is centered and faces forward. The individual wears a dark suit jacket over a button‑up dress shirt with a neatly positioned striped tie. Hair is short and styled upward with a smooth, textured appearance. The lighting is even and frontal, creating clear contrast between facial features and the background while minimizing harsh shadows. The image has slightly cropped corners, suggesting it was cut out from a rectangular photograph for design or layout use
The image is a black‑and‑white portrait of a single person framed from the chest upward, facing directly toward the camera. The background consists of softly blurred trees or foliage, suggesting an outdoor setting with natural surroundings. The subject wears a dark, ribbed long‑sleeved top with a short buttoned placket at the neckline. Medium‑length hair is parted near the center and falls evenly to the shoulders. Small hoop earrings are visible on both sides. Lighting is soft and even, highlighting facial features while maintaining gentle contrast with the background. The corners of the image appear slightly angled or cropped, indicating preparation for design or layout use.
The image is a black‑and‑white portrait framed from the shoulders up, showing a single person positioned slightly angled toward the camera while facing forward. The background is softly blurred, with subtle circular light shapes visible on the left side, suggesting an indoor setting with ambient lighting. Hair falls past the shoulders in loose waves, framing the face evenly. The person wears a dark top with a smooth, minimal neckline. Lighting is soft and directional, highlighting facial contours while maintaining gentle contrast across the image. The corners of the photograph appear slightly angled or clipped, indicating the image may have been cropped or prepared for layout or design use.
The image shows a black‑and‑white studio portrait of a single person centered in the frame, presented from the chest upward. The subject faces forward against a plain, lightly textured wall. Clothing includes a light‑colored suit jacket layered over a dark dress shirt and a diagonally striped tie. Round eyeglasses with thin frames are worn, and hair is neatly styled with volume on top. Lighting is even and soft, producing gentle contrast without harsh shadows. The image corners appear slightly clipped, indicating the portrait may have been cropped or cut out for design or layout use.

Educational freedom for all.

ACE’s alumni are proof. What we’re doing is working… and our nation needs more of it.

Read more Scholar stories

Educational freedom for all.

ACE’s alumni are proof. What we’re doing is working… and our nation needs more of it.

Read more Scholar stories

ACE isn’t just an “organization.” It’s a passion to provide access to the best education for every kid in America. Yes, we have a headquarters, and there are people who gather to work there. But what we are goes way beyond our office or org chart. We’re supporting litigation like the case that drove school choice forward and delivered the biggest legal win in education since Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. We’re inspiring big-hearted, forward-thinking donors who make supporting the future a priority.

We’re backing the sharpest policy minds, creating more ways to fund access to quality education, and we’re innovating so states can distribute more scholarships than ever before. More than anything, we’re the link that brings students, parents, schools, philanthropists, business leaders, and legislators together to manifest a shared, singular goal: Educational Freedom for All.

The image shows a silhouette of a young reader standing indoors beside a tall wall of bookshelves filled with neatly arranged books. The person is positioned in profile, holding an open book at chest height and looking down toward the pages. Warm, golden light streams in from the left side, softly illuminating the edges of the figure and the spines of the books. The shelves extend into the background, creating depth, while the strong contrast between light and shadow gives the scene a calm, focused, and contemplative atmosphere.

Vision

Blank

That every child in America has equal access to a quality education.

Mission

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To advance K-12 educational freedom, with a focus on securing financial support for families so they may access the quality education of their choice.

Our Four Pillars

The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent checkerboard background. The pencil body is bright yellow and displays bold black uppercase text reading “SCHOLARSHIPS,” with a white pencil tip and orange point on the right end.
The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent checkerboard background. The pencil body is bright yellow with bold black uppercase text reading “POLICY.” The right end narrows into a white pencil tip with an orange point, continuing the consistent pencil‑themed graphic style.
The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent checkerboard background. The pencil body is bright yellow with bold black uppercase text reading “TECHNOLOGY.” The right end narrows into a white pencil tip with an orange point, clearly emphasizing the pencil motif.
The image shows a long, horizontal pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent background. The bright yellow pencil body features bold black uppercase text reading “EDUCATION FREEDOM TAX CREDIT,” with a white pencil tip and orange point on the right end.

For 26 years, ACE Scholarships has been a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and providing educational freedom. Our vision has remained consistent, but our mission has grown as we embrace opportunities to exponentially expand our impact by supporting nationwide educational freedom.

In addition to delivering privately funded scholarships, managing state tax credit programs, and advocating for school choice policies, ACE will also generate revenue through its proprietary technology and the upcoming federal tax credit for scholarships, beginning January 2027.

Scholarships Delivered

Scholarships Delivered

Over the past 25 years, ACE families have chosen the best ACE partner schools for their children.

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Over the past 26 years, ACE families have chosen the best ACE partner schools for their children.

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and counting!

The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent checkerboard background. The pencil body is bright yellow with bold black uppercase text reading “1. SCHOLARSHIPS.” The right end narrows into a white pencil tip with an orange point, clearly emphasizing the pencil design and numbered label.

All in on results.

ACE wants every child to have access to a great education. For lower-income families, that’s often not possible without financial support. That’s why partial scholarships are the first of ACE’s three-pronged approach to promoting educational freedom. From the beginning, ACE financially partnered with vetted schools and scholar families, because stewardship is strengthened when everyone has skin in the game.

That doesn’t just sound good. It is good, because it works. And we’ve got the numbers to prove it. Nationwide, ACE scholars outperform students of virtually all income levels. Their high school graduation rates are vastly superior to their peers. Nearly all of our graduates go on to college or enter the trades or military. All are equipped to pursue their dreams, accelerate social mobility, secure good paying jobs and thrive. We’ve poured ourselves into this for 26 years, and the returns have been priceless.

For the first time in 26 years, ACE recently increased the average scholarship amount across all states to $3,500 (to address rising costs of tuition).

The image shows a three‑circle Venn diagram on a transparent background. The circles are labeled “ACE,” “Family,” and “School.” All three overlap at the center, which is highlighted in yellow and contains a simple icon of a person wearing a graduation cap, symbolizing shared responsibility in education.

The ACE Model

High School Graduation Rates

Our partner schools have some of the highest graduation rates in the country. And nearly all of our graduates go on to college or enter the trades or military.

The Hidden Cost

Dropouts in the U.S. in 2023 cost society $19.8 billion!

*State Department of Education for the 12 states ACE operated in 2024. ACE Partner Schools with analyses done by QREM.

The Hidden Cost

Dropouts in the U.S. in 2023 cost society $19.8 billion!

The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent checkerboard background. The pencil body is bright yellow with bold black uppercase text reading “2. POLICY.” The right end tapers into a white pencil tip with an orange point, clearly continuing the pencil‑themed graphic style.

All rise!

Sometimes, standing up for something means getting up again… and again… and again. That’s the reality for ACE’s policy team, who fight for educational freedom in state capitals and courtrooms across the country— paving the way for hundreds of thousands of students to access the education they deserve and creating opportunity where there was stagnation.

The ACE policy team is proud to:

  • Support the passage of school choice laws
  • Protect and expand existing programs
  • Operate tax credit programs
  • Be a cooperative coalition partner to help pass and implement the federal tax credit for scholarships initiative

ACE worked alongside the
U.S. Department of Education and the White House on the inclusion of private schools
under federal COVID-19
relief legislation.

In 2020, our amicus briefs contributed to the defeat of the Blaine Amendments, the single biggest legal victory for School Choice.

In 2024-25, ACE
leadership, parents, and
students all played an active
and visible role in Texas’ historic passage of SB2—the largest state school choice program in history
(initially $1 billion)!

Proof ACE Works

The Alexander Family

Greta Alexander’s family exemplifies the triumphant impact of an ACE scholarship, and the tragic consequences of not having one. Due to her limited finances, her son Terrence had to go to a poorly performing school, where he was introduced to drugs that eventually took his life. Her daughter, Miracle, on the other hand, received an ACE scholarship and is an honor roll student, multi-sport athlete on her way to becoming a nurse. In a twist of even more good news, thanks to ACE, Terrence’s daughter, Ahkira is now getting the opportunity her late father never did. The Alexanders are now giving back by engaging in speaking opportunities, interviews and podcasts to help other families experience the hope of educational freedom.

Greta and Miracle
speaking at the ACE
2025 Annual Luncheon

ACE worked
alongside the U.S.
Department of Education
and the White House on the
inclusion of private schools under
federal COVID-19
relief legislation.

In 2020, our
amicus briefs contributed
to the defeat of the Blaine
Amendments, the single
biggest legal victory
for School Choice.

In 2024-25, ACE
leadership, parents, and
students all played an active
and visible role in Texas’ historic
passage of SB2—the largest
state school choice program
in history (initially
$1 billion)!

Hear the Alexander Family’s incredible story.

The image shows a group of nine people gathered outdoors in front of a large white building with tall columns, shuttered windows, and decorative architectural details. The group is arranged in two rows, with several people standing and one person seated at the center front. Clothing ranges from casual to formal, including suits, button‑down shirts, dresses, and a wide‑brimmed hat on one individual. One person in the front wears a light blue shirt with visible text reading “NEW YORK CITY VIBES” and the number “29.” Another person in the front is seated and wears a blue suit. The background includes green bushes, grass, and parts of the building façade. Bright natural daylight illuminates the scene evenly, casting soft shadows. The composition resembles a posed group photograph taken at a formal or public location.

The Alexanders with Governor Greg Abbott at the signing of Texas’ school choice bill

The image shows three people standing behind a wooden podium in an indoor setting, facing forward. A microphone on a stand is positioned at the center of the podium, angled slightly toward the middle person. The podium has a light wood front panel with a horizontal metallic accent strip. Behind the group is a set of tall, dark wooden double doors with rectangular recessed panels. The two individuals on the left and center wear dark short‑sleeved tops with small light‑colored emblems on the chest, while the individual on the right wears a light‑colored long‑sleeved top. All three are framed from about the waist upward. The lighting is even and bright, emphasizing faces, clothing, and the podium while keeping the background clearly visible.
The image shows a group of nine people gathered outdoors in front of a large white building with tall columns, shuttered windows, and decorative architectural details. The group is arranged in two rows, with several people standing and one person seated at the center front. Clothing ranges from casual to formal, including suits, button‑down shirts, dresses, and a wide‑brimmed hat on one individual. One person in the front wears a light blue shirt with visible text reading “NEW YORK CITY VIBES” and the number “29.” Another person in the front is seated and wears a blue suit. The background includes green bushes, grass, and parts of the building façade. Bright natural daylight illuminates the scene evenly, casting soft shadows. The composition resembles a posed group photograph taken at a formal or public location.
The image shows three people standing behind a wooden podium in an indoor setting, facing forward. A microphone on a stand is positioned at the center of the podium, angled slightly toward the middle person. The podium has a light wood front panel with a horizontal metallic accent strip. Behind the group is a set of tall, dark wooden double doors with rectangular recessed panels. The two individuals on the left and center wear dark short‑sleeved tops with small light‑colored emblems on the chest, while the individual on the right wears a light‑colored long‑sleeved top. All three are framed from about the waist upward. The lighting is even and bright, emphasizing faces, clothing, and the podium while keeping the background clearly visible.
The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent checkerboard background. The pencil body is bright yellow with bold black uppercase text reading “3. TECHNOLOGY.” The right end tapers into a white pencil tip with an orange point, clearly continuing the pencil‑themed graphic style.

Scholarship Software Made Simple

After more than two and a half decades of delivering scholarships, ACE has become an innovator of technology solutions that make the entire process seamless. We’ve built a robust platform that serves as a streamlined one-stop shop for families, schools, and service providers. This world-class technology ensures that ACE, schools, governments, and other Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) can implement federal tax credits at scale, administer ESAs, (including account management, approved vendor onboarding, and spending guardrails), and maximize efficiency for processing student scholarships.

The image shows a large, hand‑drawn yellow arrow on a transparent checkerboard background. The arrow stretches horizontally from left to right, with a long, thick shaft and a pointed arrowhead on the right end. Its edges are rough and uneven, with a chalk‑ or paint‑like texture made of layered strokes. The informal, sketched style suggests movement or direction rather than precision, making the arrow suitable as a visual guide or emphasis element in a graphic or animation.

In the ACE Platform:

  • Parents can apply, be awarded and funded, and pay educational expenses
  • Donors can financially support more ACE scholars
  • Vendors and schools can promote their learning resources/spaces and submit tuition invoices
  • Scholarships Granting Organizations (SGOs) can partner with ACE to manage their operations more effectively
$0
$0

and we’re just getting started

Over the last 26 years we’ve delivered more than one-third of a billion dollars in scholarships and with the Education Freedom Tax Credit (coming in 2027), the sky is the limit for the impact we can have on families.

MILLION

Delivered in Scholarships and ESAs

Million

Delivered in Scholarships and ESAs

The image shows a long, horizontal giant pencil‑shaped banner on a transparent background. The pencil body is bright yellow with bold black uppercase text reading “4. EDUCATION FREEDOM TAX CREDIT.” The right end forms a white pencil tip with an orange point, emphasizing the pencil design.

Transformational Opportunities for
Students

Beginning in 2027, the new federal tax credit for scholarships has the capacity to bring educational freedom to families across America in a truly unprecedented manner by offering a dollar-for-dollar tax credit (up to $1,700) for individuals who donate to qualifying nonprofit Scholarship Granting Organizations (like ACE Scholarships). This is a monumental opportunity because every child deserves access to an excellent education, regardless of their zip code. This new federal tax credit has the power to make that happen.

Learn more and see if you qualify

Once in a Lifetime
Opportunity!

Just 1% participation of
47 million potential donors*
= $799 million for
scholarships each year!

*ACE estimate based on ERN ECCA Calculations, Oct. 2025

*Gallup, 2024 Confidence in Education History
Sheras, P.L. and Bradshaw, C.P. (2016). Fostering Policies That Enhance Positive School Environment. Theory into Practice, 55(2), 129-135.

Parents are Losing Faith in the Education System.

Americans’ confidence in public schools have declined substantially over the past 35 years. Down from 49% in 1988 to 26% in 2023.

*Gallup, 2024 Confidence in Education History
Sheras, P.L. and Bradshaw, C.P. (2016). Fostering Policies That Enhance Positive School Environment. Theory into Practice, 55(2), 129-135.

Progress isn't partisan.

There’s a reason why more people than ever are ready to embrace equal opportunity in education. Our communities love their kids. And kids across the country are winning. ACE schools demonstrate a 48% jump in reading proficiency and 44% jump in math proficiency. And the benefit is dramatic.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), since school choice was adopted in Indiana, their state ranking for lower-income student performance rose from 22nd in the nation to 3rd. In Florida, from 33rd to 1st. In the end, this is about
impact not ideology. And while we’re certainly moving forward, there are still too many students who’ve been left behind. But not for long. America is coming together around educational freedom. Turns out love likes to work both sides of the aisle.

4th Grade Reading Proficiency

32%

Public Schools

The image shows a large, hand‑drawn yellow arrow on a transparent checkerboard background. The arrow stretches horizontally from left to right, with a long, thick shaft and a pointed arrowhead on the right end. Its edges are rough and uneven, with a chalk‑ or paint‑like texture made of layered strokes. The informal, sketched style suggests movement or direction rather than precision, making the arrow suitable as a visual guide or emphasis element in a graphic or animation.

67%

ACE Schools

FRL 8th Grade Math Proficiency

14%

Public Schools

The image shows a large, hand‑drawn yellow arrow on a transparent checkerboard background. The arrow stretches horizontally from left to right, with a long, thick shaft and a pointed arrowhead on the right end. Its edges are rough and uneven, with a chalk‑ or paint‑like texture made of layered strokes. The informal, sketched style suggests movement or direction rather than precision, making the arrow suitable as a visual guide or emphasis element in a graphic or animation.

58%

ACE Schools

* National Assessment of Educational Progress at the National Center for Education Statistics (2024) and State Department of Education for the 12 states ACE operated in 2024. ACE Partner Schools with analyses done by QREM.

FRL = Free and Reduced Lunch

26 Years of Impact

ACE is currently in 13 states
and counting

* Tax Credit States

If you’re projecting to have a state tax
liability in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, or Montana, you may be able to redirect those funds into a partial or complete tax credit by giving to ACE instead! Reach out to your
state development officer for details. It’s
a powerful way to transform tax
dollars into life-changing
opportunities.

26 Years of Impact

ACE is currently in 13 states
and counting

* Tax Credit States

If you’re projecting to have a state tax liability in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, or Montana, you may be able to redirect those funds into a partial or complete tax credit by giving to ACE instead! Reach out to your state development officer for details. It’s a powerful way
to transform tax dollars into
life-changing
opportunities.

Create a Lasting Legacy Through Smarter Support

The image shows a large, hand‑drawn yellow arrow on a transparent checkerboard background. The arrow stretches horizontally from left to right, with a long, thick shaft and a pointed arrowhead on the right end. Its edges are rough and uneven, with a chalk‑ or paint‑like texture made of layered strokes. The informal, sketched style suggests movement or direction rather than precision, making the arrow suitable as a visual guide or emphasis element in a graphic or animation.

Planned Giving

ACE can introduce you to a variety of strategic ways to give that offer valuable tax benefits and the opportunity to help generations of lower-income students.

From bequests and donor advised funds to charitable remainder trusts and gifts of appreciated assets, the possibilities are exciting and can extend the impact of your generosity for years to come. Contact Kari Hebble at [email protected] to explore your options.

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The image shows a bold typographic statement on a gray‑and‑white checkerboard background indicating transparency. Large, dark gray serif text is arranged across four lines and reads: “Changing education changes everything.” The design is simple, text‑focused, and visually emphasizes the message without additional graphics.

When every kid has access to the best education, it sets a pretty incredible cascade in motion.

Kids who grew up in poverty lift themselves out, often bringing many around them along for the ride. Crime drops, because those who had no other way to survive are now busy skyrocketing to success. And, as the success of American student scales, it supercharges the economy, sending productivity and innovation through the roof. It’s all connected, and it leads without fail to a safer, stronger, more vibrant America. But the most important thing to remember is that it all starts with education. If we take care of that, everything else takes care of itself.

Smiling student in graduation cap giving thumbs up
The image shows a horizontal logo on a gray-and-white checkerboard background that indicates transparency. On the left is a large yellow pencil with a pointed tip facing upward. To the right of the pencil, very light gray text spells “ACE” in large capital letters. Beneath it, the word “scholarships” appears in smaller, faint lowercase letters, subtly blending into the background.

Join us!

Donate now

By supporting ACE, you’re pulling a powerful lever that puts kids across America in a position to succeed, whether it’s through scholarships, policy advocacy, or technology.

Given the exponential impact that education can have on the most pressing problems of our nation, there’s no better place to invest your dollars. By supporting our endowment and participating in planned giving, you can ensure the future of America burns brightly for generations to come!