Established in 2000, ACE Scholarships aims to empower lower-income parents by enabling them to choose the most suitable K-12 schools for their children. Frustrated with the limitations of the public school system and unsuccessful attempts at legislative reform, the founders sought to bridge the educational gap for economically disadvantaged students.
According to Jon Lineberger, President of Texas at ACE Scholarships, the organization observed that lower-income students often lagged behind their peers and wanted to provide them with the tools for success. Lineberger said that the average annual household income for a Texas family that receives an ACE Scholarship is around $39,000 a year and that the organization has provided financial aid to more than 66,000 students, totaling nearly $170 million, enabling them to graduate high school and pursue higher education.
"This is the philosophy behind ACE Scholarships, a nonprofit organization that raises money from generous donors and then awards financial scholarships to students from lower-income families so they can attend the school of their choice," Lineberger told Lone Star Standard. "ACE Scholarships has quickly become an educational success story."
Lineberger went on to describe a "Zip Code Crisis," a situation in which a student's access to quality education is determined by their geographic location. The issue particularly affects lower-income families, limiting their opportunities and reinforcing the idea that a child's future is determined by their address rather than their potential, while also hindering their access to diverse educational options and impeding their personal development.
"For far too many students in America, their zip code determines the quality of education they will receive," Lineberger said. "This crisis also restricts students from exploring alternative educational models that could better address their unique needs. It stifles diversity and limits exposure to different teaching methods, curricula, and learning environments, ultimately impeding students’ personal growth and development."
On the topic of school choice, ACE released a 3-year vision video that promotes choice for students. In the video, Lakeda Johnson, an ACE parent, describes how she didn't want her child to be "stuck in an environment where there is no hope, no structure." ACE's 3-year vision involves more scholarships, expanding nationwide and working with public policy leaders to pass "meaningful legislation" to promote school choice.
"The mission of ACE Scholarships is 'to provide children of lower-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12, and to advocate for expanded school choice,'" Lineberger said. "School choice expands freedom and is effective in breaking the cycle of poverty and changing the trajectory of a student’s life."
According to Lineberger, the demand for private K-12 education in Texas is increasing, as indicated by a 74% rise in ACE Scholarship applications over the past year. In response, ACE plans to add additional staff in Texas to accommodate this growing demand and support the school choice movement.
Lineberger said that educational freedom can positively impact children in the long run by providing diverse educational options, particularly for those from lower-income families who might otherwise be limited to underperforming schools. By offering alternatives tailored to individual learning needs, school choice can contribute to improved academic outcomes and personal development, as evidenced by the 100% graduation rate among ACE Scholars in their senior year and the positive behavioral changes observed among recipients, such as increased family engagement, higher graduation rates, community involvement, college enrollment rates, lower incarceration rates, and the resulting enhancement of workforce readiness and earning potential.
"When it comes to education, everyone should have options, but the sad truth is that not everyone does," Lineberger said. "Children from lower-income families are more likely to be trapped in failing schools with nowhere else to go, but ACE Scholarships is working to change that."
According to Lineberger, the biggest obstacle for Texas families seeking quality education for their children is the financial barrier. He said that the organization experienced a 74% increase in applications from Texas families but was unable to extend scholarships to more than 2,600 eligible students due to insufficient funds. He said that implementing an Educational Savings Account (ESA) program for Texas residents is a potential solution to improve access to private K-12 education for families.
According to ACE Scholarship's website, the organization expanded into Texas in 2017. An interactive map shows the schools ACE works with to help low-income students receive the quality education they deserve.
