News and Updates
EN | 中
Tzu Chi Academy
Northern New Jersey
Welcome!
2026-2027 School Year Registration
Returning students begin on 04/19/2026
New students begin on 05/03/2026
Schedule a School Tour
2026-2027 Enrollment
School Details
First Day of School
- First Day of School: The first day of the 2026-2027 school year is Sunday, September 13, 2026.
School Hours
- Sundays, 9:30 – 11:55 AM (Chinese instruction)
Curriculum:
- Core Program: Chinese Language Instruction and Humanities Classes integrating Character Education
- Textbook: Mei Zhou Huayu and Let’s Learn Chinese.
Enrichment Class
- 12:10-1:00 pm. Enrichment classes are electives and registered separately.
Class size
- Maximum of 20 students per class. A minimum of 5 students is required to open a class. The school reserves the right to cancel or merge classes due to low enrollment or other considerations.
Placement Guidelines
- Ages 4 – 5: Pre-K.
- Ages 5 – 6, with prior Chinese learning experience: K Zhu or CSL K
- All new students age 6 or above are required to participate in an interview or placement assessment for class replacement before registration. Please contact the school at [email protected] before completing the online registration.
Requirements
Age
- Students must be at least 4 years old and under 18 years old.
- Beginning Chinese learners must turn 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026.
Uniform Policy
- In school, students are required to wear the official school uniform top and navy khaki pants and use a Tzu Chi backpack.
- Uniform tops are available in summer short-sleeve and winter long-sleeve styles.
- Navy khaki pants should be purchased independently from retail stores.
- New students must purchase uniforms and backpacks before the first day of school.
- Returning students may purchase uniforms on the first day of school.
- Payment method: cash or check only
Notes for Parents
- Each parent is required to complete two volunteer service duties per academic year. Volunteer roles include, but are not limited to: classroom assistance, cafeteria supervision, and front desk administrative support.
- Parents are warmly encouraged to participate in school-wide events: New Parent Orientation, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Halloween Activities, Chinese New Year Celebration, Triple Celebration in May, End-of-Year Celebration, etc.
Tuition; Registration Fee & Registration Period
Tuition (per annum, not tax deductible)
- $630
Registration fee
- $30 (not refundable)
- Early bird discount is $30 per child if payment is received on and before 6/30/2026.
- There is also a $40 discount for the 3rd child.
Registration Period
- Returning students begin 04/19/2026
- New students begin 05/03/2026
Refund Policy
- Please complete the Withholding /Tuition Refund Request Form and submit it via email to: [email protected]. The date and time the email is received by this mailbox will be considered official.
- Refund processing typically takes 3 to 4 weeks.
- Withdrawal before the first day of school: The $20 registration fee is non-refundable; 100% of the tuition paid will be refunded.
- Withdrawal from the 1st day of school through Week 4 (inclusive): The $30 registration fee is non-refundable; 25% of the tuition paid will be deducted, and the remaining balance will be refunded.
- Withdrawal after Week 4 through Week 7 (inclusive): The registration fee is non-refundable; 50% of the tuition paid will be deducted, and the remaining balance will be refunded.
- After Week 7: No refund of the registration fee or tuition will be issued.
Note: Refund amounts are calculated based on the actual tuition paid by the family.
Additional Notes:
- Students who are dismissed by the school are not eligible for tuition refunds.
Welcome adult learnings from all background to our engaging, fun, and practical 12 week Mandarin and culture learning program.
Who We Are
At Tzu Chi Academy, our quality educational curriculum encompasses not only Chinese language studies, but humanistic culture, bringing the importance of compassion into the classroom. Weaving these two objectives together, Tzu Chi Academy cultivates love and respect for all people. Through this solid foundation in language skills and character building, students nurture integrity, self-esteem, and care for their community.
Our Goal
Upholding the comprehensive educational philosophy of Tzu Chi’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, our goal is to cultivate students’ sense of compassion and giving, teaching them to apply their Chinese language, culture, and humanities studies daily, and building a solid foundation for their future.
Our Principles
We are a nonprofit educational institution that upholds the Tzu Chi spirit and philosophy by offering a positive and motivational learning environment.
In addition to teaching Chinese language skills, such as speaking, reading, writing, and typing, our humanities classes, cultural classes, and Jing Si Aphorism lessons, promote character education.
The school’s motto, “Kindness, compassion, joy, and unselfish giving,” inspires awareness, responsibility, helpfulness, community-mindedness, and care for the Earth.
Two distinct language curriculums are offered by the Academy. The Heritage (or Traditional) Curriculum teaches the zhuyin (bopomofo) phonetic system and traditional Chinese characters. The pinyin phonetic system is introduced in the third grade. This curriculum is suitable for children who live in an environment where Mandarin Chinese is the dominant language. The CSL (Chinese as a Second Language) (or Immersion) Curriculum teaches the pinyin phonetic system and traditional Chinese characters. This curriculum is suitable for children who live in an environment where Mandarin Chinese is NOT the dominant language. It is structured on the total language learning approach incorporating content-based instruction and is designed for an interactive and engaging learning environment where students will be functionally proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese with a strong appreciation for cultural diversity.
The academic year starts in September and ends in June. Schools are open on Sundays as specified in the school calendar. School hours are as follows:
- Session 1: 09:30 – 10:15 am
- Session 2: 10:25 – 11:10 am
- Session 3: 11:20 – 11:50 am
- Session 4: 12:10 – 01:00 pm (enrichment classes)
Our Goal
Upholding the comprehensive educational philosophy of Tzu Chi’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, our goal is to cultivate students’ sense of compassion and giving, teaching them to apply their Chinese language, culture, and humanities studies daily, and building a solid foundation for their future.
Our Principles
We are a nonprofit educational institution that upholds the Tzu Chi spirit and philosophy by offering a positive and motivational learning environment.
In addition to teaching Chinese language skills, such as speaking, reading, writing, and typing, our humanities classes, cultural classes, and Jing Si Aphorism lessons, promote character education.
The school’s motto, “Kindness, compassion, joy, and unselfish giving,” inspires awareness, responsibility, helpfulness, community-mindedness, and care for the Earth.
Two distinct language curriculums are offered by the Academy. The Heritage (or Traditional) Curriculum teaches the zhuyin (bopomofo) phonetic system and traditional Chinese characters. The pinyin phonetic system is introduced in the third grade. This curriculum is suitable for children who live in an environment where Mandarin Chinese is the dominant language. The CSL (Chinese as a Second Language) (or Immersion) Curriculum teaches the pinyin phonetic system and traditional Chinese characters. This curriculum is suitable for children who live in an environment where Mandarin Chinese is NOT the dominant language. It is structured on the total language learning approach incorporating content-based instruction and is designed for an interactive and engaging learning environment where students will be functionally proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese with a strong appreciation for cultural diversity.
The academic year starts in September and ends in June. Schools are open on Sundays as specified in the school calendar. School hours are as follows:
- Session 1: 09:30 – 10:15 am
- Session 2: 10:25 – 11:10 am
- Session 3: 11:20 – 11:50 am
- Session 4: 12:10 – 01:00 pm (enrichment classes)
Gallery
Lunar New Year Event
Mar 1, 2026
Halloween Event
Oct 26, 2025
Teacher's Day
Sept 28, 2025
School-wide Parent Meeting
Sept 14, 2025
First Day of School
Sept 7, 2025
Year End Ceremony
June 8, 2025
Graduation Ceremony
June 1, 2025
Concert
May 11, 2025
News
A Welcoming Place for Every Child
Tzu Chi Academy, Northern New Jersey
Phone:973-857-8666
Email: [email protected]
School Location (Sunday):
150 Commerce Road
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
Hours: 9:30 AM–1:00 PM Sundays
EN | 中
Tzu Chi Academy was first established in Los Angeles in 1994 under Tzu Chi USA education department with a unique focus on teaching students Chinese language and culture and the practice of joyous giving by showing sincere compassion. Learn more
©2024 Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions