Key details (enacted 2025)
- No fixed per-child amount. Federal law sets none — each scholarship organization decides its own award sizes out of what it raises
- Applies to K–12 private schools, including Jewish day schools
- Eligibility: household income at or below 300% of the area median gross income; participating organizations may add their own rules
- The $1,700 figure is the donor's tax credit, not a family's scholarship — a common point of confusion
- Your state must opt in. The governor certifies a list of scholarship organizations to the U.S. Treasury by 1 January each year, starting 2027
- First family scholarships: 2027–28 school year. Nothing pays out for 2026–27
What Is the ECCA?
The Educational Choice for Children Act is federal law, enacted in 2025, creating a scholarship tax credit program. Individuals and businesses who donate to approved scholarship organizations receive a federal tax credit. Those scholarship funds are then distributed to eligible families to pay for private school tuition, fees, and related expenses. The mechanism starts on 1 January 2027, which is why no family receives money before the 2027–28 school year.
Unlike a direct voucher, the ECCA works through a network of Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) — nonprofits that receive donations and issue scholarships to qualifying families.
Which Jewish Day Schools Would Qualify?
To be eligible as a participating school under ECCA, a school generally needs to:
- Be a legally operating private school
- Meet state compulsory education requirements
- Adhere to non-discrimination policies as defined in the legislation
The vast majority of Jewish day schools — Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, community day schools — are expected to qualify. Schools accredited through state-recognized bodies are in the strongest position.
If your school isn't sure: Contact your state's Department of Education or your Federation's education arm. Most Jewish school networks (Prizmah, Torah Umesorah, JEI) are actively tracking ECCA implementation and will communicate eligibility criteria as rulemaking proceeds.
How Much Could You Receive?
The ECCA scholarship amount depends on:
- Family income — lower-income families generally receive priority access and higher awards
- Your state's SGO network — scholarship amounts vary by the SGO you apply through
- Number of qualifying children — each eligible child can receive a separate scholarship
- Available funding — SGOs issue scholarships until funds are exhausted for the year
A family with two school-age children in Jewish day school could potentially receive $10,000/year in combined scholarship support. At a school charging $20,000–$30,000/year in tuition, that's a meaningful reduction — and stacks on top of school-based financial aid and existing state programs.
How to Prepare Now (Before Applications Open)
You don't have to wait until 2027 to get ready.
1. Confirm your school is eligible
Ask your school's admissions or finance office whether they're tracking ECCA eligibility requirements. Schools that proactively prepare will be first in line when the program launches.
2. Gather your financial documentation
ECCA applications will likely require recent tax returns (1–2 years), proof of income, and number of dependents. Keeping these organized now saves scrambling later.
3. Identify your state's Scholarship Granting Organizations
SGOs are the nonprofits that actually disburse the scholarships. Some operate nationally; others are state-specific. Jewish Federations in several states are already positioning to serve as SGOs. Check with your local Federation.
4. Sign up for updates
FindJewishSchools.org will publish guidance the moment ECCA applications open — including a scholarship finder tool that matches your income, location, and school to every available program.
ECCA and Existing Jewish School Scholarship Programs
The ECCA doesn't replace existing scholarship programs — it stacks on top of them. Jewish families may already be eligible for:
- School-based financial aid — most Jewish day schools have robust aid programs; apply every year even if you were denied before
- Federation scholarships — Jewish Federations in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other major metros operate scholarship funds
- State voucher and ESA programs — Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and a growing number of states already have school choice programs that cover Jewish day schools
- CAPE and similar programs — denominational networks operate their own scholarship pools
Our scholarship finder aggregates these into a single tool — enter your income, state, and number of children, and see every dollar available to your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will ECCA applications open?
ECCA was signed into law in 2025, but it is not open yet. The donor tax credits that fund it begin on 1 January 2027, so the first scholarships are expected to reach families for the 2027-28 school year — and only in states whose governor opts the state in. Applications will go through participating scholarship granting organizations in your state, not the federal government.
Does ECCA apply to preschool or nursery programs?
ECCA is a K–12 program. Some states' existing school choice programs do cover preschool — Oklahoma and Wyoming fund pre-K, and Arizona and Florida do for children with qualifying disabilities. Check what your own state offers in the meantime.
Can I use ECCA at a yeshiva or Beis Yaakov school?
Yes — ECCA applies to qualifying private schools, including yeshivos and Beis Yaakov schools, provided the school meets basic state compliance requirements. Which specific schools participate will be determined by the scholarship granting organizations operating in your state.
What if I already receive Federation or school-based financial aid?
ECCA is designed to complement, not replace, existing aid. You can receive ECCA and other scholarship sources simultaneously, subject to each program's rules.
Is ECCA the same as a federal voucher?
No. ECCA uses a tax credit mechanism through SGOs rather than direct government payment to schools. This distinction matters legally and politically — it's the structure that has survived constitutional scrutiny in similar state programs.
How much will ECCA actually pay per child?
Federal law does not set a per-child amount. Each scholarship granting organization decides its own award sizes out of the donations it raises, so amounts will vary by state and by organization. The $1,700 figure often quoted in coverage is the tax credit a DONOR receives, not a family's scholarship.