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Privately Financed Scholarships
Parents in a growing number of cities and states have access to privately financed programs that support school choice by offering students partial scholarships.
For specific programs and schools, go to:
National Private Scholarship Programs
State & Regional Private Scholarship Programs
Private Schools and Related Support Services
Background on Privately Financed Scholarships
A wide range of local and national programs and foundations provide preschool - 12th grade students with scholarships to attend private schools. An estimated 60,000 students in more than 80 cities used private scholarship programs in the 2000-01 school year.
Demand for such scholarships far outstrips supply: parents submitted more than 1.25 million applications for the 40,000 scholarships awarded by the Children's Scholarship Fund in April 1999.
Privately Financed Scholarships in Action
Most private scholarship programs serve students from low-income families, but eligibility criteria vary widely. Some programs require that families qualify for the federal free- or reduced-price lunch program and live in the district or community that the program serves. Others, particularly those admitting students to selective day and boarding schools, provide scholarships to children whose parents have low- to middle-incomes. Scholarship amounts can range from $1,000 to $2,500, and parents often are required to supplement scholarships with personal funds or voluntary service at the private school. In addition, many private schools independently offer financial aid and tuition/fee grants to low- to middle-income families.
Parents who are interested in a particular private school should contact the school directly and talk with parents of children who already attend the school to learn more about the school's curriculum, student/family services, overall academic program and financial aid opportunities. Application deadlines for private schools vary, but admission periods generally take place between late October and the end of February for the following academic year.
To learn more about private scholarship granting organizations and search for schools and private education opportunities, contact the following organizations, or visit their websites:
National Private Scholarship Programs:
A Better Chance, Inc.: Through a range of programs, A Better Chance works with students of color—from the sixth grade through college—to help them access expanded educational and career opportunities. A Better Chance provides assistance and guidance to schools, students, and families; provides direct academic and career development assistance; and generates opportunities and support for these students in the corporate and public sectors. For more information, contact Michael Anderson, Senior Program Officer at 617-421-0950 (outside Boston area: 800-562-7865) or [email protected].
Children First America: This organization promotes parental school choice in grades K-12 by providing tuition grants and scholarships to low-income families, by serving as a clearinghouse of information on privately funded voucher program information, and by providing support services and matching grant moneys to help develop these programs. The website posts a map linking to Children First America Affiliate programs across the country. For more information about a scholarship program in your area, contact Fritz Steiger, President, at 510-273-6957 or [email protected].
Children's Scholarship Fund: This organization aims to maximize educational opportunities at all income levels by offering tuition assistance for needy families and promoting a diverse and competitive educational environment. The website contains a program directory of over 70 private scholarship programs nationwide. For more information about a scholarship program in your area, contact Joanne Monaco, Communications Director, at 212-515-7138.
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State & Regional Private Scholarship Programs:
Black Student Fund: (Greater Washington, D.C. area only) Since 1964, the Black Student Fund has provided financial assistance and support services to Washington metropolitan area African-American students, grades pre-kindergarten to 12, and their families. The Fund serves as an advocate for all black children and strives to assure that black students and their families have equal access to every educational opportunity. For more information, contact Gwen Thompson, Director, at 202-387-1414 or [email protected].
FloridaChild: This non-profit organization offers grants to families for education needs in public or private schools or in a homeschool setting. This link provides a detailed explanation of each type of grant and an application form. For more information, call 800-805-4485.
Prep for Prep: (Serves Northeast United States Only) As a strategy for developing leaders from minority groups, Prep for Prep identifies talented students from minority group backgrounds; prepares them for placement in independent schools; offers a range of leadership development opportunities; and provides a sense of community, peer support and critical post-placement services. Over 1,000 students are currently in its two programs (Prep for Prep and PREP 9). For more information, contact Prep for Prep at 212-579-1390 or [email protected].
Toussaint Institute Fund: The Toussaint Institute Fund, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community-based organization educating parents concerning the pros and cons of emerging trends in educational reform in the greater New York area. Toussaint's initiatives include an annual Education Expo, Education Clearinghouse, Early Intervention Scholarship Program, publications on emerging trends in education reform, and charter school seminars. For more information, contact Dr. Gail Foster, President, at 212-865-5057 or [email protected].
Washington Scholarship Fund: This non-profit organization is dedicated to helping low-income families whose children reside in the District of Columbia pursue a quality education at Washington, D.C. area private schools. Currently, more than 1,300 children receive tuition assistance from WSF to attend 118 different private schools. For more information, contact Daniel La Bry, Executive Director, at 202-293-5560 or [email protected].
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Search for Private Schools and Related Support Services:
Association of Christian Schools International: ACSI provides a variety of services to Christian schools throughout the United States and abroad. The association currently has 16 regional offices in North America and around the globe. Current membership includes 5,000 schools from 115 countries with an enrollment of 1,030,000 students, making ACSI the second largest member organization of Christian schools in the world; second only to the Catholic church. Programs and services are designed to assist Christian schools at every grade level including early education and higher education. For more information or to inquire about their new "Urban Schools Network", call 800-367-0798 (or 719-528-6906 in Colorado Springs, CO.) To search their member directory for Christian schools nationwide, visit the "Directory" location on their website.
Council for American Private Education: CAPE is dedicated to fostering communication and cooperation within the private school community and with the public sector to improve the quality of education for all of the nation's children. This website includes facts about private schools and a "School Locator" feature for parents and students interested in identifying private education opportunities. For more information, contact CAPE at 301-916-8460 or [email protected].
EPIC: EPIC (Empowering Parents for Informed Choices) is an interactive website providing information about public, private, and religious K-12 schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A unique group of collaborators led by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Urban Initiatives and Research and PAVE (Partners Advancing Values in Education) has developed a comprehensive database to provide parents with information about the K-12 educational opportunities in the city
National Association of Independent Schools: NAIS represents over 1,100 independent schools and associations in the United States and abroad. Their website includes a "school search" feature. Parents are encouraged to contact schools directly to request information about admissions and financial aid. There are presently four historically Black boarding schools in the United States, Piney Woods in Mississippi; Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, NY; Laurinburg Institute in Laurinburg, NC; and Pine Forge Academy in Pine Forge, PA. For more information, contact Gene Batiste, Director of Diversity and Multicultural Programs at 212-973-9700 or [email protected].
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Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO)
1710 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Floor 12, Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202-429-2236 Fax: 202-429-2237