Families

Families play a vital role in a student’s education and a student’s first teacher. The department is focused on transparency and providing on-demand access to actionable data and resources for Tennessee parents, families, and stakeholders to continue partnering in this essential work.

We are committed to engaging with parents and families by providing access to data from our strategic initiatives to drive positive outcomes and data-driven decisions at each level of our state’s K-12 public education system. Tennessee will continue accelerating positive learning outcomes and providing access to the best resources, instruction, and supports for all students and educators.

Family Resources

Latest News for Families

News

Tennessee Advances Participation in the Federal Education Tax Credit Program

Wednesday, October 07, 2026 | 10:30am

Nashville –The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) is excited to take the first step in implementing the federal education tax credit program and to expand opportunities for students across all educational settings. The preliminary interest form for the federal education tax credit is now open to interested Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). Tennessee is one of 30 states that have made an advanced election to participate thus far.

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News

TDOE Celebrates Education Freedom Scholarship Program Expansion

Thursday, May 07, 2026 | 02:00pm

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education celebrated the expansion of the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program and announced remarkable results from the second year of implementation. Tennessee’s first-ever universal school choice program once again drew tremendous interest from families across the state, with a 99% renewal rate after the program’s inaugural year. In the 2026-27 school year, Governor Bill Lee and the General Assembly are empowering more Tennessee parents to choose the school that best fits their child’s needs by expanding the program by 15,000 seats. The Governor signed the legislation into law today, May 7, 2026.

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News

TDOE Begins Releasing EFS Scholarship Eligibility Decisions

Friday, February 20, 2026 | 05:45pm

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) began delivering decisions to families regarding their eligibility for the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program in the 2026-27 school year.

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