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Applications for the Volunteer State’s publicly funded vouchers to fund grades K-12 private school tuition for the 2025-26 school year will be taken starting Wednesday afternoon, May 15.

The , supported by President Donald Trump, pushed by Gov. Bill Lee and approved in a special session of the General Assembly in late January, will provide $7,295 for a year’s worth of tuition at an approved private school on behalf of each eligible student.

Up to 10,000 eligible students statewide will be able to use the vouchers with no family income restrictions. Another 10,000 will be able to use vouchers if they meet family income and other requirements.

Public schools for 2025-26 still will get the base funding of $7,295 for each student that moves from a public school to a private one come August but not other state funding that area public school officials can add up to more than $12,000 per student.

Tennessee has estimated that about 65% of those taking advantage of the vouchers will be using them for existing students already enrolled in private schools.

In addition, officials of local private schools participating in the program recently said in interviews that they would have few spaces available for new students covered by the vouchers.

The voucher applications through the Tennessee Department of Education will launch online 1 p.m. Eastern Time or noon Central Time May 15, a Wednesday.

CHECKLIST AVAILABLE

A checklist for parents is available online at . It goes over what is needed for all applicants, as well as additional things for those who fall under income-based qualifications.

In a nutshell, it must be proven students are U.S. residents or in this country legally, as well as additional requirements for those who must prove income levels or receipt of public assistance.

“A quality education has the power to change the trajectory of a child’s life, and for the first time, families across Tennessee have the opportunity to choose the best school for their child,� Gov. Lee said in a news release. “I’m grateful that the vast majority of eligible schools intend to participate in Education Freedom Scholarships, and I have full confidence in the Department of Education’s ability to implement the program.�

Local school boards pushed back against the proposal, although they have accepted the $2,000 one-time bonuses for public school teachers included in it. The bonus will be paid after June 30, the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year.

On April 10, the department published the EFS application checklist and encouraged interested families to gather required documentation to submit when the application launches. Families can access the checklist for Education Freedom Scholarships, Tennessee’s landmark universal school choice plan at .

Items needed include proof of identity and residency, as outlined online.

Also, interested Tennessee families may sign up for regular email updates at VGU1JVRjJXVFE3Tk9XM1lB OUQ5TS4u.

In addition, families can make plans for the 2025-26 school year by viewing the most updated list of schools intending to participate on the EFS webpage, totaling 223 schools as of May 1, the that is updated each Tuesday and Thursday at .

The department is actively registering eligible schools to receive funds for the 2025-26 school year, and two new ones recently joined the list from the Tri-Cities.

“I appreciate all the families and schools who engaged throughout this implementation phase as we continue to best prepare them for the upcoming application launch on May 15,� Lizzette Reynolds, state commissioner of education, said in a news release.

The first-year cost of the program is estimated at $447 million, including administrative costs and the teacher bonuses. It is an expansion of a voucher program already in place in Hamilton, Davidson and Shelby counties.

BACKGROUND

• During the Tennessee General Assembly’s extraordinary legislative session in late January, legislators passed the TEFA and Lee signed the universal school choice program into law Feb. 12.

• On Wednesday, March 20, the State Board of Education held a meeting to hear the EFSA emergency rules, which established procedures for the scholarship program. During the meeting, the emergency rules received a unanimous positive recommendation. The emergency rules will remain in effect for 180 days while the department and state board work to promulgate permanent rules.

To learn more about the EFSA Program and access additional resources, visit the at /efs.html.