Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarships Open for Applications Tomorrow

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Starting tomorrow, families across Tennessee can apply for the state’s first-ever universal school choice program — the Education Freedom Scholarships.

For the 2025–26 school year, 20,000 scholarships will be available through this new initiative, marking a major step in Tennessee’s broader education reform efforts. The program is designed to give families more control over their children’s education by allowing students to use public funds to attend the school of their choice — whether public, private, or charter.

“This is part of Tennessee’s reform efforts and providing students and families with as much choice in their education as we possibly can,” said Senator Bo Watson. “The Education Freedom Scholarship program, passed this year in the General Assembly, will allow 20,000 students to access public dollars to attend the school of their choice.”

The scholarships are a key feature of the Education Freedom Act, signed into law earlier this year by Governor Bill Lee. The program is being hailed as a significant milestone in expanding educational opportunity and tailoring learning environments to better meet student needs.

Families interested in applying can begin the process tomorrow, with more information available through the state’s Department of Education.