Simplifying School Choice
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Resources
Key rules, deadlines, and documents for the upcoming year — plus what happens after you submit your application.
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Prefer the PDF version? Download this guide.
Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) helps families pay for private education with an annual award projected around the mid-$7,000 range. The money must go to tuition and required school fees first. If funds remain, families may be able to use them for certain eligible expenses like tutoring, textbooks, technology devices, therapies, or approved transportation.
The scholarship is available statewide, but it is capped in the first full year of the program.
Before applying, confirm your preferred school is officially eligible to receive EFS funds. Tennessee maintains an approved list of non-public schools, including required categories for EFS participation. If you’re unsure, contact the state’s non-public school office for verification.
These deadlines come quickly and typically are not extended. The guide lists:
Because awards are typically issued in order of complete applications, missing documents can cost your place in line.
Applications are submitted through the state’s EFS portal. Families generally need:
If you don’t have internet access, Tennessee may allow paper submission options that are entered into the system upon receipt.
After submitting, families track status in the portal. If eligibility requirements are met and scholarships remain available, the state issues a conditional approval. Families then select a participating school, and the school must confirm enrollment before funds are finalized.
Students who receive EFS typically must remain enrolled in a participating school and meet annual testing requirements (often grades 3–11).
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