Hi Parents!

We know our children best and we’d give anything to give them the best. But too often, we aren’t in charge. If you’ve felt on the outside of your child’s educational journey, you’re not alone. And we’re joining together to change that.

What are my current education options?

The Education Freedom Scholarship Program

Education Freedom Scholarships empower Tennessee parents to choose their child’s educational setting by allowing them to direct state funds toward education expenses, starting with tuition and/or fees at qualifying Tennessee private schools.

Applications are now closed.

Allowable Expenses

  1. Before any other use, you must pay tuition and fees at a qualifying private school.
  2. After you have paid tuition and fees, you may use remaining funds towards the following educational expenses:
    1. Textbooks, Curricula, Instructional Materials, and Uniforms
    2. Tutoring Services
    3. Transportation Costs
    4. Technology and Devices
    5. Summer Academic and Specialized Afterschool Programs
    6. College and Career Prep
    7. Educational Therapy Services

*Please find details on further requirements for eligible expenses in the handbook here.

Compare my options

Compare Scholarship Options

Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS)
EligibilityLow-income (200% x Free Lunch) AND must reside in the Hamilton County (Chattanooga), Shelby County (Memphis), or Metro Nashville public schools systems.K-12 student with an IEP and diagnosis of autism, deaf-blindness, hearing impairment (including deafness), intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, visual impairment (including blindness), or multiple disabilities.Universal; Any K-12 student
PreferenceNoneNoneFirst 10,000 scholarships reserved for low-income families or students with a diagnosis
Enrollment Cap15,000None20,000
Average Amount$9,329$6,957$7,295
Covers Private School Tuition
Covers non-tuition education expensesOnly after tuition and fees are paid
Covers education therapiesOnly after tuition and fees are paid
Covers transportationOnly after tuition and fees are paid
Covers post-secondary educationFees for early postsecondary opportunity courses and examinations required for college admissionOnly after tuition and fees are paid

FAQs

Find the official FAQs for the Education Freedom Scholarship from the Tennessee Department of Education here. To read the final rules, as set by the state board of education, click here.

Any K-12 student in Tennessee who is a resident of the state, lawfully present in the U.S., and entitled to attend public school! There are 20,000 scholarships available for the 2025/2026 school year. The first 10,000 are reserved for students 1) with family incomes below 300% of the federal free-and-reduced-lunch guidelines, 2) who are already eligible for one of our state’s other school choice programs, OR 3) who have been diagnosed with at least one state-recognized disability. The remaining 10,000 scholarships are open to any family, regardless of income. The number of available scholarships will be increased yearly, depending on demand the previous year and subject to legislative funding.

$7,295 for the 2025/2026 school year! The amount is tied to the state funding formula (TISA), so it is subject to change each year. 

The Department of Education is in charge of administering applications and awards. Scholarships are currently being awarded in the order of applicant completion. Applicants should keep an eye out for emails from notifications@theolearning.com for updates!

Private school tuition and fees must be paid first. If funds remain, additional allowable expenses include tutoring services, transportation fees, technology, summer academic programs and afterschool academic programs (excludes non-academic child care, day care, and afterschool programs), exam fees, college entrance tests (ACT/SAT), dual enrollment/early college courses, industry certification exams, and educational therapy services.

The applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 school year. Stay tuned for when they will open again!

They are open now! Apply HERE!

Learn more about the application checklist here (on page 2)!

The program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Education. Funds are managed by the State Treasurer, and the State Board of Education provides oversight of the program.

Absolutely! If you don’t use all your child’s funds during the year, unused funds stay in your account and can be used for future educational expenses as long as you remain eligible, participate in the program, and reapply each year. It’s a great incentive to manage those resources wisely!

You will receive priority when applying as the first 10,000 scholarships are reserved for students who are low-income, eligible for existing TN school choice programs, or have special needs. But your scholarship amount will still be the flat rate of $7,295. However, a student with a disability may be eligible for the Individualized Education Account Program and receive a scholarship that is individually based. Learn more here. 

Currently, home education is not an allowable expense under the Education Freedom Scholarship program. But children educated at home need these resources just as much! So here at Tennessee Together for Every Student, we’ll be advocating to ensure home education is an allowable expense for those homeschooling families who want to participate.

Looking for resources to help you get started? Here are a few items that the Tennessee Department of Education has put out to help you get ready:

Looking for resources to help you get started? Here are a few items that the Tennessee Department of Education has put out to help you get ready:

Get Support

Wondering how to navigate your options? Struggling to decide which route is best for your family? We’re here to help! Send us a message with your question or problem, and we’ll do our best to get you the support and empowerment you need!

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Stories

Zach, Knox County

As a fifth-grade student at Brickey McCloud Elementary in Knox County, I remember the moment that forever changed how I viewed education. My science teacher, while explaining the unique biology of polar bears, mentioned how the black skin beneath their white fur helps them absorb the sun’s warmth in the Arctic cold. But it wasn’t just the science fact that caught my attention—it was what she said next: “The polar bear is a testament to God’s design.” 

Drew, Nashville

In 2010, my wife and I chose to make Nashville our home. In 2012, we had our son, and in 2014 we had our daughter. 

When our kids became old enough to start kindergarten, thankfully, we were zoned for a well-established public elementary school, so that’s where we placed them.  Little did we know that around his 1st grade year, our son would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

Megan, Anderson County

Megan and her husband Pete, lifelong Tennesseans, faced a tough decision when it came time to enroll their oldest child in school: stick with their zoned public school or find a better fit. Both products of Tennessee’s public education system, they brought different experiences to the table but shared the same goal: a quality education rooted in values they believed in. Homeschooling wasn’t an option with full-time jobs, and the private school landscape near them was financially out of reach.

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