Rocco Abbatemarco, 42, a middle school teacher from New York City, recently moved to Portland, Maine, where he landed a teaching spot at a youth correctional facility. His new job required that he be certified in special education. To do so, Abbatemarco is taking accredited online courses, studying in the evening and on weekends.

With two young children and a stay-at-home wife, he is finding that tuition payments are adding a strain to the family budget. But Abbatemarco is hoping at least one of the three available federal government tax breaks will help ease the pain come April 15 next year. ‘‘I just finished my taxes, and wished I had started my courses last year,’’ he said. ‘‘I could use the break.’’