The Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program in Tennessee is opening January 13th for NEW applications for the 2026-2027 school year. This program can supplement funding toward tuition for Tennessee families with students in grades K-12. This page will be updated as new information is available.
EFS Resources and FAQ’S
- Application Timeline:
- State of TN Resources:
- 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 based on last year’s voucher.
- 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.
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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.
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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.
