For many families in our community, scholarship funding is what makes education at a Jewish day school possible. Across the region, our Jewish day schools are providing close to $25M in tuition assistance. Now, a new nationwide initiative has the potential to reshape how families access scholarship funds and afford that education.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, set to take effect in 2027, creates a new opportunity to increase scholarship funding through a new donation mechanism. Through the program, eligible taxpayers can contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and receive a federal tax credit, generating new funding for scholarships. In turn, this helps schools reach and sustain more students over time—strengthening their long-term stability.

Expanding Access for Families

At its core, this effort is about expanding access—for families, for students, and for the future of Jewish education in our region.

“This opportunity has the potential to expand access to Jewish education, helping more families afford the education they want for their children while supporting the long-term strength of our school,” said Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, Ed.D., Head of School at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

Preparing as a Community

While the opportunity is still ahead, the work to prepare is already underway.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is leading a coordinated regional effort to set up local SGOs for our community, ensuring they’re built thoughtfully with the right structure and oversight needed to serve our community well.

By bringing together Jewish day schools and key partners for this process, Federation is helping to build the infrastructure, systems, and shared approach needed to implement the program effectively and responsibly.

“Regional coordination makes this easier for our community to understand,” said Rabbi Dr. Hillel Broder, Head of School at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy. “Not everyone in our community has children in day school, but many care deeply about Jewish education. A coordinated approach helps make this opportunity easier to navigate.”

Building Thoughtfully, Together

Leaders across the region strongly believe in the importance of approaching this work collaboratively and thoughtfully.

“As the only Jewish day school in Northern Virginia, having a shared approach matters,” said Jodi Hirsch Rein, Incoming Head of School at Gesher Jewish Day School. “Preparing together allows us to navigate this opportunity thoughtfully and in alignment with our values.”

“At Milton, we see this as part of a broader commitment to access and excellence,” said Deborah Skolnick Einhorn, Head of School at Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School. “This opportunity has the potential to open more doors for students, and both the public/private school partnership and regional collaboration help ensure we can do so in a way that is both responsible and sustainable.”

Federation is ensuring that this opportunity is not only accessible but clear, coordinated, and built to last.

“Our role is to build the shared infrastructure that allows schools to participate effectively and transparently,” said Joel Frankel, Federation’s Senior Director of Community Capacity. “By coordinating governance and compliance across institutions, we can help ensure clarity and accountability, creating more opportunities for students and families across Greater Washington to benefit from Jewish day school education.”

Looking Ahead

In the months ahead, Federation and partner schools will continue working together to thoughtfully build and implement the program, so that families can understand how it works and can access its benefits as soon as the tax credit becomes available.

Photo credit: Gesher Jewish Day School