State News Foundation logo

Tennessee’s New School Choice Program Scholarship Application Opens May 15

by | Apr 25, 2025

Families will be able to submit an eligible student application for Tennessee’s new Education Freedom Scholarship Program for the upcoming school year next month, the Tennessee Department of Education announced.

On May 15,  at noon Central Time, the scholarship application will open for families seeking to take advantage of the 20,000 scholarships made available for the 2025-2026 school year.

The 20,000 scholarships, which will allow recipients to use state funds for private K–12 education expenses, were established by the Tennessee Education Freedom Act, which was passed earlier this year by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee.

Each scholarship, worth approximately $7,295, will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with 10,000 designated for students whose household income does not exceed 300 percent of the federal free or reduced-price lunch guidelines and the other 10,000 available to all eligible students, regardless of income.

Students who qualify for the scholarships must be residents of Tennessee, be entitled to attend a public school in grades K–12, and be lawfully present in the United States.​

As of Thursday, 211 private schools across 36 counties have indicated they intend to participate in the program by accepting Education Freedom Scholarship funds.

“A quality education has the power to change the trajectory of a child’s life, and for the first time, families across Tennessee have the opportunity to choose the best school for their child,” Lee said in a statement.

“I’m grateful that the vast majority of eligible schools intend to participate in Education Freedom Scholarships, and I have full confidence in the Department of Education’s ability to implement the program,” he added.

For complete eligibility requirements and to view the documents needed to complete the application for students seeking to take advantage of the Education Freedom Scholarship Program, visit https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/efs/EFS_ApplicationChecklist.pdf.

– – –

Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.

 

 

 

   
This article may be republished only in its entirety and only with proper attribution to State News Foundation.

Written By Kaitlin Housler

Journalist
Read more by Kaitlin Housler

Related Posts

Commentary: Nashville Officials Concerned More About Rights of Violent, Dangerous Criminals Than Law-Abiding Citizens

May 17, 2025

Jassim Jafaf Al-Raash is an illegal alien from Iraq. He first appeared on Nashville area court dockets starting in 2003 with his arrest following a Prostitution Sting. Since then, his record shows a host of escalating entanglements with the law: Disorderly Conduct in 2004, a Misdemeanor False Imprisonment charge in 2006, a Theft charge in 2009, a Misdemeanor Criminal Trespassing charge in 2008 and Driving Under the Influence twice. He is listed as a registered sex offender in Tennessee databases.

read more