ACE in Schools funding supports:

• re-engagement of learners in education, and
• provision of foundation skills development and pathways into other learning opportunities that meet community needs (including further education or the workplace).

Eligibility

For details of school eligibility, programme eligibility and learner eligibility please see the funding conditions for the relevant year.

ACE in Schools programmes must also prioritise learners with the highest need and those who have been traditionally underserved, such as Māori, Pacific peoples, and learners with disabilities.

Any funding requests for ACE provision must demonstrate how it meets one of the programme priorities listed above, and how it addresses community learning needs.

ACE funding is not for provision broadly classed as hobby courses (eg, arts, crafts and music; personal fitness and recreation, gardening; and home maintenance).

Changes to programme eligibility from 2025

ACE must be delivered face-to-face (for example, not delivered online or via distance learning), unless you have received our prior written approval for another form of delivery due to exceptional circumstances. 

For information on applying for an exemption to deliver ACE programme, see Exemptions and exceptional circumstances.

School responsibilities

Schools are required to work with local iwi, local organisations, peak bodies, local industry, local employers, and communities, including other ACE providers and schools, to identify and meet community learning needs.

Each school must ensure that its funded ACE programme will:

• address the needs of target learner groups (including the priority learner groups set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy),
• target ACE provision in foundation skills to learners who have low or no formal qualifications, and
• target ACE provision in English Language Teaching (ELT) (formerly known as Specialised English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)) to learners with English language needs.

To view all requirements please see the ACE in Schools funding conditions for the relevant year.