Delaware Private Scholarship Programs
Delaware does not provide public funding for private education. The state constitution prohibits using public money for private or religious school tuition. Although private-school choice has entered policy discussions, no programs have passed into law.
Constitutional Constraint: Delaware’s state constitution prohibits using public funds for private or religious school tuition, preventing the establishment of state-funded vouchers, ESAs, or tax-credit scholarship programs.
Available Private Scholarship Options:
ACE Scholarships – Cornerstone Education Scholarship (Delaware/Maryland/Virginia Region)
Program Type: Private K–12 scholarship (not a state ESA or voucher)
What It Supports: Partial tuition scholarships families can use toward approved partner private schools in the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia region
Who It Serves: Lower-income families; eligibility based solely on family income using federal poverty guidelines
Funding Amount: Standard award amounts are typically $3,000, $4,000, or $5,000 per year, and may not exceed 75% of private school tuition
Application Timing: Typically opens the first Monday in February and closes on Tax Day in April
School- and Philanthropy-Based K–12 Scholarships
Program Type: Private K–12 scholarships and tuition assistance
What They Support: Need-based or merit-based tuition discounts and scholarships offered directly by private schools or community foundations
Who They Serve: Students whose families demonstrate financial need or meet donor-set criteria
Funding Amount: Varies by fund and school; awards are typically partial and designed to close the gap between family resources and tuition
Sources: Delaware Community Foundation, individual private schools’ financial aid programs, and regional scholarship funds
Important Context: Unlike states with ESAs, Delaware families cannot direct state K–12 funding to private schools. Instead, they must combine personal resources, need-based aid from schools, and private scholarships such as ACE Scholarships where available. Private school tuition in Delaware must be funded entirely through private means—family payments, school-based financial aid, and private scholarships.
Federal Tax Credit Scholarship (Future): At the federal level, a Federal Tax Credits for Scholarships (FTCS) program provides tax credits to individuals and businesses that donate to approved scholarship-granting organizations. This is overseen by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, not the State of Delaware. Families should check with participating SGOs for availability in Delaware.