State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, is encouraging Shelby County families to apply for the new Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program when the application portal opens May 15. Starting with the 2025–26 school year, all K–12 students in Tennessee will be eligible for a $7,295 scholarship to attend a participating private school that meets their individual […]
State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, is encouraging Shelby County families to apply for the new Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program when the application portal opens May 15.
Starting with the 2025–26 school year, all K–12 students in Tennessee will be eligible for a $7,295 scholarship to attend a participating private school that meets their individual needs.
“For far too long, a student’s educational opportunity has been tied to their home address, limiting access to quality options,” Gillespie said. “This new scholarship program gives families more control to choose what’s best for their children. Every student deserves the chance to succeed and I urge parents in Shelby County to explore this opportunity.”
The Tennessee Department of Education will issue 20,000 scholarships in the program’s first year. Half will go to income-eligible students through qualified scholarships and the other half will be available to all students statewide through universal scholarships.
To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must be Tennessee residents who are lawfully present in the United States, at least five years old by Sept. 30, 2025, entering grades K–12 and have attended school for no more than 13 years.
Families applying for a qualified scholarship must provide documents such as a 2024 federal tax return (Form 1040), proof of enrollment in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or eligibility for the Individualized Education Account or Education Savings Account programs. All applicants must submit two forms of Tennessee residency and documentation verifying legal presence in the United States.
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, acceptable forms and a student application checklist, please visit this link.
The General Assembly passed the Education Freedom Act during a special legislative session earlier this year, expanding school choice statewide. The law includes a growth mechanism that adds 5,000 universal scholarships each year once applications exceed 75% of the current cap.
More than 200 private schools across Tennessee plan to participate in the EFS program. The department has published an approved schools list on its website.
In the last decade, Republicans in the General Assembly have invested $4.4 billion in new public education funding and more than $1 billion in teacher pay raises. The recently enacted $59.8 billion state budget includes $244 million in public school funding increases through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula and $198.4 million in teacher bonuses.