My employee tuition assistance program paid for my 2016 classes in 2017. Now they are taking out $1000 of imputed income from my check every two weeks. Can I deduct?

Normally I would have been taxed on the amount over $5,250 for 2016 (2750) and another 2750 for 2017 but instead I am getting taxed on the amount over $5,250 of 16,000 total which is $10,750.  They are taking more than half of my check for the next 8 checks.  Do I get any of this back at the end of the year?