TDOE Shares New Parent Resources Ahead of May 15 Education Freedom Scholarship Application Launch

Tennessee Families Invited to View Step-By-Step Guide, Make a Plan to Apply

Nashville, TN— Today, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) released the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program Application Step-By-Step Guide to continue supporting interested families as they prepare for the application launch this Thursday, May 15. Families are invited to apply here beginning Thursday at noon CT/1 p.m. ET.

“For the first time, families in all 95 Tennessee counties will have the opportunity to enroll their child in the school that best fits their needs, regardless of income or ZIP code,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. “I’m grateful to the schools that have registered to participate in the Education Freedom Scholarship Program and look forward to delivering excellent educational choices for students.” 

The step-by-step guide provides screenshots and directions to assist families as they complete the scholarship application in the state’s online portal.  The application portal requests families to respond to brief questions and upload supporting documentation to demonstrate eligibility for the program.   

To facilitate a seamless program launch, TDOE has prepared for high traffic volumes with ample load testing and a virtual queuing tool to manage high volumes of users. Families will be placed in the virtual queue when accessing the application portal, ensuring families maintain their place in line, as long as they do not close or exit the application window. 

Families are encouraged to utilize the Application Checklist, EFS Family Handbook, and updated Frequently Asked Questions resources as they gather and prepare required documentation in order to submit a complete application on May 15. Completed applications will be reviewed in the order received by the department. All EFS resources can be found on the EFS webpage. 

Interested Tennessee families are also encouraged to sign up for regular email updates here. Families can make plans for the 2025-26 school year by viewing the most updated list of schools officially registered or intending to participate on the EFS webpage, totaling 230 schools to date. TDOE is actively registering Category I, II, and III schools to receive funds for the 2025-26 school year.

“I want to encourage interested Tennessee families to utilize these new resources as they continue to prepare for the upcoming application launch on May 15,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “These resources provide significant details about the application, including a step-by-step guide to support a smooth application process.”

Background: 

• During the Tennessee General Assembly's extraordinary legislative session in January, legislators passed the Tennessee Education Freedom Act, and Governor Bill Lee signed the landmark legislation to establish Tennessee’s universal school choice program into law on February 12, 2025.  
  
• On Wednesday, March 20, 2025, the State Board of Education held a special called meeting to hear the Education Freedom Scholarship Act emergency rules, which further fleshed out the law, defined terms, and established processes and procedures for the scholarships. During the meeting, the emergency rules received a unanimous positive recommendation, marking another pivotal step in the implementation process. The emergency rules will remain in effect for 180 days while the department and State Board of Education work to promulgate permanent rules.  
  

To learn more about the EFS Program and access additional resources, visit the EFS webpage. 

For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.  

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