PHOTOS: Gov. Lee Signs Expansion of Education Freedom Scholarship Program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation to expand the Education Freedom Scholarship Program (EFS), making scholarships available for 35,000 students in the 2026-27 school year. Tennessee's landmark universal school choice program continues to experience strong demand, with a 99% renewal rate after its first year and more than 300 schools registered to participate.

"Long before I became Governor, I believed a quality education can change the trajectory of a child's life," said Gov. Lee. "I'm deeply grateful for the General Assembly's partnership to expand the Education Freedom Scholarship Program and give more Tennessee families the opportunity to choose the learning environment that best fits their child's unique needs."

Photos may be viewed and downloaded here.

For the 2026-27 school year, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) received applications from more than 56,000 families. All 35,000 available scholarships are currently reserved and awaiting acceptance. Of those, 81% of new scholarships were awarded to applicants who meet income eligibility requirements or qualify through the Individualized Education Account (IEA) and Education Savings Account (ESA) Programs.

An additional 17,735 applications remain on a waitlist for processing as seats may become available, demonstrating continued demand for the program.

Tennessee families can find more information on the EFS program here.