State of Tennessee Funding Opportunities

Education Freedom Scholarships will allow residents of Tennessee who have a child entitled to attend a public school in grades K-12 to use state funds toward education expenses, including tuition and/or fees at registered Category I, II, or III private schools located in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Education is working diligently to launch this program and provide access to Tennessee families. As implementation of the program is underway, the department is partnering with the State Board of Education as they promulgate rules ahead of a projected spring application launch. More information will be forthcoming. 

What we know so far:

The proposed scholarship amount for the 2025-26 school year is $7,295.

To be eligible for the EFS program, students must be  a resident of Tennessee who is entitled to attend a public school in any of the grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) and lawfully present in the United States.

It is expected that 20,000 scholarships will be available for Tennessee students in the 2025-2026 school year, including:

• 10,000 scholarships for students who are:
  • At or below 300% of income qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch
  • Have a disability
  • Are eligible for the existing ESA program
• 10,000 additional scholarships available to a universal pool of students entitled to attend a public school in Tennessee.
• Note: Chattanooga Christian School is not involved in the approval or denial of families who wish to apply for the ESA program.

For information about the EFS program, please visit the Tennessee Department of Education's website.

Please note that with all State programs, Skyuka Hall is not involved in the approval or denial of families who wish to apply, nor can the School is not allowed to provide eligibility advice.

 

The ESA program allows eligible students who are zoned to attend Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Hamilton County Schools, or a school that was in the Achievement School District (ASD) on May 24, 2019, to use state and local money toward education expenses, including tuition and/or fees at approved participating non-public schools.

The Tennessee Education Savings Account Program (ESA) was established and guided by state law, Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-2601 et al. and State Board of Education Rule 0520-01-16.

For information about the ESA program, please visit the Tennessee Department of Education's website.

Please note that with all State programs, Skyuka Hall is not involved in the approval or denial of families who wish to apply, nor can the School is not allowed to provide eligibility advice.

The Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program is a school choice initiative established for eligible K-12 students with qualifying disabilities. This IEA Program supports Tennessee families by providing funds for approved education expenses tailored to meet each student's unique learning needs. 

To qualify for the IEA Program, students must meet specific eligibility criteria established and guided by state law, Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-14 et al. and State Board of Education Rule 0520-01-11. Students need to have been enrolled in a Tennessee public school for the entire school year before they participate in the IEA Program unless they are entering kindergarten for the first time or are new to Tennessee. Additionally, the student must have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) with a qualifying disability. Once enrolled in the IEA Program, the student can no longer be enrolled in public school.

For information about the IEA program, please visit the Tennessee Department of Education's website.

Please note that with all State programs, Skyuka Hall is not involved in the approval or denial of families who wish to apply, nor can the School is not allowed to provide eligibility advice.