TAP into your child’s future!

The Tuition Accessibility Partnership Fund (TAP Fund) is an alternative tuition model for families with an annual adjusted gross income (AGI) between $200,000 and $350,000 who have enrolled or are interested in enrolling their children in one of five eligible K-8 co-educational Jewish day schools in the Chicagoland area.

The TAP Fund reduces financial barriers to Jewish day school enrollment by capping tuition at 12% of a family’s AGI. Regardless of the number of children a family has in a qualifying Jewish day school, families will pay no more than 12% of their AGI.

The TAP Fund is structured as a four-year pilot, starting in the 2024-2025 school year, with funding guaranteed through the 2030-2031 school year. All families who qualify for the TAP Fund at any point during the pilot are guaranteed access to a full four years of TAP Fund funding as long as their AGI stays in the qualifying range.

Financial aid is a process that takes many factors into account including but not limited to income levels and special family circumstances. Financial aid does not have a limited household income range. The TAP Fund is based only on household income and limited to only people who have a household income within the designated range.

The TAP Fund does not replace financial aid support from schools and, in some cases, families may be eligible for both the TAP Fund and school financial aid programs.

TAP Fund funds are paid to schools, not directly to families. Eligible families will not pay more than 12% of their AGI in tuition to eligible schools.

Five K-8 co-educational Jewish day schools qualify for the TAP Fund. This includes:

• Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School
• Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
• Chicago Jewish Day School
• Hillel Torah
• Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago

Applications open on November 1, 2023 and will remain open until the start of the school year.

The first deadline for TAP Fund applications for both new and returning students is December 31, 2023. After this date, applications will be rolling. Families should apply at the time that works best for them. Determinations will be made based on eligibility and not on a first-come first-served basis.

You can apply for TAP Fund funding prior to when you determine which school you are attending. TAP Fund funding applies to all eligible schools and is not impacted by which of the five schools you choose. You will have the opportunity to check a box for which school(s) you are applying to in the TAP Fund application.

We recognize that families change schools for a variety of reasons. Should your child(ren) switch schools mid-year or mid-semester, please contact the school for further information about the application process.

Yes. You will need to submit a new application each year that you apply for TAP Fund funding. Applications are relatively straightforward and should take about 10 minutes to complete. The new or updated information that you provide determines eligibility and the amount of tuition you will pay each year.

Families who apply by the first deadline of December 31, 2023 will receive determination letters by February 1, 2024. After that, applications will be reviewed and determination letters sent approximately every six weeks to accommodate the rolling cycle.

TAP Fund funding is dependent on a family’s annual adjusted gross income (AGI). The application process will require a copy of page one of your 1040 form from the most recent tax year. If you and your spouse file tax returns separately, you will both need to provide a copy of page one of your 1040 forms. AGI can be found on line 11 of this form.

If both parents are financially responsible for the student’s education, they each need to submit their own application. The information you provide will not be shared with the other parent. Each guardian is evaluated individually based on their income and the portion of tuition they are responsible for. We recognize there can be unusual situations and, if necessary, the TAP Fund will discuss your family’s unique needs.

TAP Fund funding is available for families whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $200,000 and $350,000. Your AGI can be found on line 11 of the 1040 IRS form.

The TAP Fund caps tuition at 12% of a family’s adjusted gross income (AGI) regardless of the number of children attending qualifying Jewish day schools. Whether you have one, two, or more children at qualifying schools, you will not pay more than 12% of your AGI in tuition to those schools.

TAP Fund funding is available for children enrolled in one of five qualifying K-8 co-educational Jewish day schools. While your high school student will not be eligible for TAP Fund funding, any child(ren) still enrolled in a qualifying K-8 school will be eligible.

TAP Fund funding is available for children enrolled in kindergarten through 8th grade.

Please reach out to us for more information about how to apply with this special circumstance.

TAP Fund funding is available for families whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $200,000 and $350,000. You may be eligible for financial aid directly from your school of choice. Please contact the school for more information about financial aid.

Yes. We may ask you to provide additional information about your situation as part of the application process.

Yes. Families who are currently enrolled in one of the qualifying Jewish day schools may be able to receive reduced tuition.

TAP Fund funding is available for children enrolled in a qualifying K-8 co-educational Jewish day school. While your independent school student will not be eligible for the TAP Fund, any child(ren) still enrolled in an eligible K-8 school will be eligible.

School staff and faculty can apply for TAP Fund funds in addition to any tuition remission offered from their school of employment.

AGI is defined by the IRS as your total income minus any eligible adjustments. The definition and examples of items included in gross income and potential adjustments can be found on the IRS website. You will find AGI on line 11 of your 1040 tax return.

Families who need additional tuition reductions may apply for financial aid through their schools. Financial aid can be used in addition to TAP Fund funding and is provided through the schools. Please contact your school of choice for more information about financial aid options.

If you wish to revise your application, or if circumstances have changed since you submitted your application, please notify the admissions office at your school and they can assist you in making edits to your application.

In the application, you will have an opportunity to share changes to your financial situation since you last filed taxes. The TAP Fund will take these changes into account when reviewing your eligibility.

It depends. TAP Fund funds are calculated as a percent of a family’s adjusted gross income (AGI). Financial aid is dependent on a number of additional factors. Every school assesses need and available funding to families differently.

No. Eligibility for TAP Fund funding is determined by a family’s AGI.

Your eligibility calculation is not affected by assets and liabilities such as your home’s value or mortgage.

Families who need additional support beyond the TAP Fund may apply for financial aid through their schools or for scholarships from other entities.

The TAP Fund is committed to keeping the tuition percentage cap in place for four years (2024-5, 2025-6, 2026-7, 2027-8). Any change in tuition will be a result of changes in a family’s adjusted gross income (AGI), not the percentage cap.

Each school has fees in addition to tuition. Some fees are not covered through the TAP Fund. To learn more, please contact your school(s) of choice directly.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Each application is viewed only by a designated review committee and by the system administrators. While we will share some identifying information with school business offices for administrative purposes, your tax information will not be shared with schools. IRS tax forms are stored in a secure database with encryption protections.

Questions about the TAP Fund should be directed to the tuition office at your school of choice.