After years of watching middle-income families struggle to afford Christian education, Concordia believes a new partnership with Legacy Deo’s SGO could change the conversation.
For years, Marianne Rader has had some of the hardest conversations a Christian school leader can face.
The discussion usually begins the same way. A family loves Concordia High School. Their child is a great fit. They want a Christ-centered education. But after reviewing the numbers, they reach the same heartbreaking conclusion: they simply can't make it work.
Not because they don't value Christian education or because they don't qualify for some financial assistance, but because they fall into a financial gap—earning too much for traditional aid while still being unable to afford tuition, especially if they have multiple children.
As Concordia High School prepares to partner with Legacy Deo’s Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) under the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) program, Rader believes many of those conversations may finally reach a different ending.
“This new opportunity opens doors for many more families,” Rader said.
Helping More Families Afford Christian Education
Concordia High School currently serves about 80 students and expects enrollment to grow to approximately 90 next year. Historically, about one-third of its students have received some form of financial assistance.
The school budgets approximately $150,000 annually for need-based financial aid, supplemented by scholarships from churches and private organizations. Even with those resources, many families still fall into what Rader describes as the “middle-income gap.”
“The unique thing about the EFTC is that there's a much higher income cap for families who qualify,” she explained. “We have families who earn good incomes, but with multiple children, private school is still out of reach. This new program reaches families who previously didn't quite qualify for assistance.”
A Tax Credit That Costs Donors Nothing
While the Education Freedom Tax Credit creates new opportunities for families to access Christian education, Rader believes it may be just as transformative for donors.
Unlike a traditional charitable deduction, qualifying donors can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit—up to the annual limit established by law—for gifts made to participating Scholarship Granting Organizations such as Legacy Deo.
“People are really excited about it,” Rader said. “It's an opportunity to support Christian education without increasing what they ultimately pay in taxes. If someone owes taxes, making a qualifying donation to Legacy Deo reduces their federal tax liability dollar for dollar,” she said.
In its simplest terms, the money families would have owed to the government can now provide Christian education for students. Just as importantly, donors may designate the school they wish to support, helping strengthen ministries they already know and love.
Why Concordia Is Partnering with Legacy Deo
When it came time to select an SGO partner, the decision was straightforward. For Rader, it was built on years of trust. “Patrick Carlove, Legacy Deo’s CEO, actually started our school,” she said. “He's the one who hired me. I've known him for years, so there's a huge level of trust.”
Beyond that personal connection, Legacy Deo’s SGO simply provided the best options to meet Concordia’s needs. “We looked at what other organizations were offering, and Legacy Deo’s SGO could match or exceed them,” Rader said. “More importantly, their mission closely aligns with ours.”
Through the new partnership, families will complete scholarship applications through the Legacy Deo SGO, which will administer scholarship awards according to the program's guidelines.
Building Awareness Across the Community
Like many Christian schools, Concordia recognizes that understanding the new program will take time. This fall, school leaders plan to meet with area pastors to introduce the Education Freedom Tax Credit and explain how churches can help inform their congregations.
“We want our pastors to understand the opportunity so they can help their congregations understand it, too,” Rader said. “The more people know about it, the more families and schools can benefit.”
With donations expected to begin January 1, 2027, and scholarship funding becoming readily available for the 2027-28 school year, Concordia sees this program as a long-term opportunity to strengthen Christian education.
“This is a permanent program,” she said. “That gives schools and families confidence to plan for the future.”
Looking Ahead
After 21 years at Concordia—as a science teacher, assistant principal, principal, academic leader, and now Head of School—Rader has witnessed countless examples of how Christian education shapes lives.
She believes the partnership with the Legacy Deo SGO represents another important step toward making that education accessible to more families.
“Our mission has always been to help students grow academically and spiritually,” she said. “If this program allows more families to choose Christian education, that's something worth celebrating.”