TEACH INITIATIVE
Dedicated to helping students afford an independent school education. Rocky Hill Country Day School and St. Michael’s Country Day School are partners in this effort. With your support, we will be able to help students in Rhode Island.
TEACH INITIATIVE
Dedicated to helping students afford an independent school education. Rocky Hill Country Day School and St. Michael’s Country Day School are partners in this effort. With your support, we will be able to help students in Rhode Island.

THE TEACH INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP
The Education Access for Children (TEACH) Initiative is the scholarship granting organization created for the purposes of distributing tax credit contributions to income-eligible students enrolled in independent schools. TEACH Initiative helps families who otherwise would not be able to afford an independent education. You can take advantage of the RI tax credit program to lower your tax liability and help students!
Scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) are state approved non profit organizations that use contributions from businesses receiving RI Scholarship tax credits to support economically challenged students to attend independent schools.
WHO WE ARE
TEACH Initiative is a partnership between
St. Michael’s Country Day School and
Rocky Hill Country Day School.
WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE
Any LLC, LLP, S corporation or C corporation is eligible to apply for this program. The program allows your eligible organization with a projected corporate tax liability to receive a tax credit in exchange for making a comparable contribution to an SGO. You can receive either a 75% or 90% tax credit depending if you choose the one or two year commitment.
WHO WE SUPPORT
TEACH Initiative, whose sole purpose is to grant scholarships to income-eligible students attending our schools whose families demonstrate need. All contributions made to TEACH Initiative will support tuition assistance for our students.

TAX CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE
The Rhode Island Scholarship Tax Credit Program provides full or partial tax credits to businesses, and sometimes individuals, who donate to scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations, which are usually non-profits, then award scholarships to low-income students to attend Rhode Island private or parochial schools. Businesses designate their contribution to a specific scholarship-granting organization (SGO). Currently 18 states, including Rhode Island, have scholarship tax credit programs.
Additionally, in December 2019, the Department of Treasury issued guidance that contributions to state tax scholarship programs such as TEACH Initiative can also take federal tax deductions. We suggest you consult your tax advisor for more information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
TEACH Initiative is a partnership between St. Michael’s Country Day School and Rocky Hill Country Day School.
Applications must be submitted to the RI Division of Taxation on but not before July 1.
The largest tax credit available is $100,000.
The aggregate RI tax credit available is $1.5 million.
Student families must demonstrate that their household income is below 250% of the federal poverty level in accordance with federal guidelines and must reside in Rhode Island.
Applications are now available. TEACH Initiative will assist your business in completing the application and will deliver your application to the RI Division of Taxation.
HOW TAX CREDITS ARE AWARDED
Every year, on July 1st, eligible businesses can apply for a Rhode Island Corporate Income scholarship tax credit for the upcoming fiscal year. An application can be made for either a one or two year commitment. The one-year commitment is rewarded with a 75% corporate tax credit, and the two-year commitment with a generous 90% tax credit!
If the amount of tax credits requested exceeds the allocation, a lottery will be held to create an application order. Tax credits are awarded according to the lottery order until all tax credits allocated have been exhausted. If an applicant cannot use the full amount of the tax credit awarded, the remaining amount goes to the next available applicant. It is not uncommon for applicants to receive notification of a tax credit allocation later in the year. If selected, you will be notified by the Division of Taxation with the award and amount. You will then be directed to send an equivalent donation to the SGO of your choice.
HOW TO APPLY
- Contact the TEACH Initiative SGO
- Complete the application and return to TEACH Initiative
- TEACH Initiative will deliver all applications to the RI Division of Taxation
APPLICATION INFORMATION
To begin the application process please fill out the form below or contact either Martha Cunningham or Ted Ferry before June 25th.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
To begin the application process either fill out the form with your information or contact David Burlingame or Ted Ferry.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ROCKY HILL COUNTRY DAY
David Burlingame
Business Manager
dburlingame@rockyhill.org
401-884-9070 x222
ST. MICHAEL’S COUNTRY DAY
Ted Ferry
Business Manager
tferrry@smcds.org
401-849-5970 x304