Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Program
EFS Applications Closed for 2026-27 School Year
What is EFS?
During the Tennessee General Assembly's extraordinary legislative session in January 2025, the Tennessee General Assembly passed Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3501 et al., and Governor Bill Lee signed the landmark legislation on February 12, 2025, to establish Tennessee’s universal school choice program into law. The Tennessee EFS Program is also guided by State Board of Education Rule 0520-01-24.
EFS Key Dates
- October 1, 2026: Family Office Hours (1-2 p.m. CT)
- October 15, 2026: Projected Quarter 2 Funding Event (20% disbursement)
- October 19, 2026: Projected Marketplace Launch (for students with no pending tuition)
- December 10, 2026: Family Office Hours (10-11 a.m. CT)
- January 14, 2027: Family Office Hours (1-2 p.m. CT)
- January 15, 2027: Projected Quarter 3 Funding Event (20% disbursement)
Please see the full 2026-27 EFS Calendar of Events.
Contact Information
Email: EFS.Questions@tn.gov
Phone: For questions related to all available school choice programs, please call (615) 741-5158 and select the prompts for Office of Programs and School Choice.
What are Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarships?
Education Freedom Scholarships allow students who are residents of Tennessee and entitled to attend a public school in grades K-12 to use state funds toward education expenses, while enrolled in grades K-12 at registered Category I, II, or III non-public schools located in Tennessee, prioritizing tuition and fees.
The scholarship amount for the 2026-27 school year is $7,530.