The Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program in Tennessee is set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year. This program could provide funding toward tuition for Tennessee families with students in grades K-12. This page will be updated as new information is available.

Learn more: Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS)

EFS Resources and FAQ’S

Application Timeline:
- The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) just announced that the application will open on May 15 at 1:00pm EST
State of TN Resources:
- Access the Required Document (Checklist Here)
- Access the EFS Family Handbook (Here)
Admissions Requirements:
- KCS will continue to maintain the same admissions requirements for students and families.
EFS Funding Amount:
- The amount of an EFS is predicted to be approximately $7,295 per student.
Need-Based Financial Aid:
- Families eligible for EFS should apply to maximize their aid for KCS tuition.
Priority for EFS Applications:
- If you apply and receive an EFS voucher for the 2025-2026 school year, you will have priority for future EFS applications in subsequent years.
State-Funded Program:
- EFS vouchers are funded by the state of Tennessee, not the federal government.
- Participating in the program will not make KCS a recipient of federal financial assistance.
Eligibility:
- EFS vouchers are available only to Tennessee residents, regardless of county of residence.
- EFSs are available to current and future students attending an approved non-public school in Tennessee, from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Funding and Vouchers:
- There will be 20,000 EFS vouchers available in the first year, with an additional 5,000 scholarships each year following.
- Half of the scholarships will go to:
  - Students at or below 300% of the income level for free or reduced-price lunch (e.g., $173,160 for a family of four),
  - Students with disabilities, and
  - Students eligible for the Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) program.
- These scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The remaining 10,000 scholarships will be available to a broader pool of students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Program Participation Limits:
- Students may only participate in one of Tennessee’s school choice funding programs: IEA, ESA, or EFS. Families may apply for different programs for different students, but each individual student may only participate in one program.