Day School Tuition Fund

Is this scholarship available to all day school families?

• In this pilot program, awards are available for two categories of families: (1) first-time day school families transferring a student with no prior day school/yeshiva history, and (2) families in which at least one parent works full time at a Jewish communal organization (see school, grade level, employment, and income requirements immediately below).

Which grade level does my child need to be in to qualify for this program?

• For the Jewish Communal Professional track, students must be entering grades K – 12.
  
  
• For first-time day school families, with no prior day school/yeshiva history, students must be entering grades 6 – 12 and transferring from public or secular private schools to an eligible Jewish day school. 

Is there an income eligibility requirement for this program?

• To be eligible for this scholarship, your household must earn $350,000 or less annually. A review of finances will be part of the application process.
  
  
• Eligibility will be reviewed each year. For households whose income increases, eligibility will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Which schools are eligible for this scholarship program?

• Schools eligible for the scholarship program are located in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester, and take part in UJA’s Fund for Jewish Education (FJE). See list of schools below.

I work at a Jewish communal organization. Is my child eligible for this scholarship?

• Eligible organizations are part of UJA’s network of core partner agencies and organizations. See list of organizations below.

Do I still need to apply directly to my school(s) of choice?

• Yes, you must apply to your school of choice. Application to UJA’s scholarship program does not replace any application necessary for admission or renewed enrollment at a school.
  
  
• This scholarship process may not align perfectly with your school's admissions process. Applications are reviewed in monthly intervals. You will be notified of your status at the close of that review period. 
  
  
• In parallel, you must complete your school’s application and enrollment process in full before a scholarship is awarded. Funds will be sent directly to schools once enrollment at an eligible school (and, if relevant, employment at an eligible community-based organization) has been verified. Please see below to understand how awards are calculated.
  
  
• Families applying for this scholarship must let their intended school(s) know they are applying for this scholarship award. 

I work at a Jewish communal organization. Is my child eligible for this scholarship?

• Organizations that are part of UJA’s network of core partner agencies and organizations are eligible. Please review the lists of eligible schools and organizations to understand which Jewish communal organizations are eligible under this scholarship program.

Is there a required length of professional service to qualify for this scholarship?

• You must have been working at one of the eligible organizations for at least three years. The application will require a letter of verification from an executive member of your organization’s staff.
  
  
• Eligible employees must work at least 30 hours per week at their organization.

If I work at one of the eligible schools, or at a synagogue, is my family eligible for this scholarship?

• In this pilot, only staff who work at one of the listed Jewish communal organizations are eligible.

Do I still need to apply directly to my school(s) of choice?

• Application to this scholarship program does not replace any application necessary for admission or renewed enrollment at a school.
  
  
• This scholarship process may not align perfectly with your school's admissions process. You will be notified of your family's scholarship award at the completion of the DSTF process.
  
  
• In parallel, you must complete your school’s application and enrollment process in full before a scholarship is awarded. Funds will be sent directly to schools once enrollment at an eligible school (and, if relevant, employment at an eligible community-based organization) has been verified.

Will this scholarship only apply for one school year?

• If you are awarded this scholarship, you will receive the scholarship for three years, assuming your family continues to meet program eligibility requirements. For families accepted to Cohort 1, the scholarship will apply to tuition beginning in the 2026 – 2027 school year. For families accepted to Cohort 2, the scholarship will apply to tuition beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

How much is each scholarship worth?

• UJA will cover no more than 50%* of what your family is billed, after school-based tuition assistance. This program is designed to be a three-way partnership between your family, your school, and UJA-Federation of New York.
  
  
• Jewish communal professionals with children enrolled in day school:
  • Maximum of $15,000 per child
  • Up to 50% of the family’s total day school tuition bill
  • Cap of $30,000 per family
    
    
• Families transferring their students from public or secular private schools into Jewish day schools:
  • Maximum of $18,000 per child entering grades 6 – 8
  • Maximum of $20,000 per child entering grades 9 – 12
  • Up to 50% of the family’s total day school tuition bill
  • Cap of $40,000 per family

It’s early in the year and I’m not sure if I’m ready to make the decision about transferring my child. Should I apply?

• Yes, UJA is here to ease this decision-making process. The application for transfer students will remain open through late Spring 2027. Please consult your potential school’s application timelines as they may differ from UJA’s deadlines.

When will the application process open?

• The application for the 2027 – 2028 school year will open in November 2026. Please check back here for more details and the link to apply. 

How will my application be assessed?

• Applications will be reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis, with discretion by UJA leadership for equitable distribution among regions, schools, and organizations.

When will I receive the scholarship funds?

• The scholarship funds will be sent directly to your child’s school and will be applied to your tuition bill. Scholarship funds will be released when UJA has received verification of enrollment (and, if relevant, employment at an eligible community-based organization).

If I receive this scholarship, can I still receive financial aid from my school?

• Yes, you can still receive a financial aid package from your school. When you apply for tuition assistance at your school, UJA requires that you disclose your scholarship from the DSTF to the school’s scholarship committee. Please be in touch with your school’s financial aid team for specific questions.

If you were conditionally accepted to receive funding for academic year 2026 - 2027, you can still access the portal here.