The Education Freedom Scholarship, for Tennessee homeschool families

The short version

How this changes the choice in front of you

For a lot of Tennessee families, the practical question isn't "how do I get EFS money for homeschooling" — it's "does an EFS-participating school do what I want better than the co-op or hybrid I had in mind?" Those are different educational models, and the scholarship only lowers the cost of one of them.

• Staying independent: you keep full control of curriculum, calendar, and instruction, and you pay for co-ops, tutorials, and classes yourself.
• Enrolling with a scholarship: the school owns academic records and reporting; you get substantial tuition help and a structured program.
• Blending: some Christian schools offer part-time or hybrid enrollment. Whether the scholarship applies to those arrangements depends on the school's EFS approval and enrollment status — ask specifically.

Questions families ask

Can independent homeschoolers use an Education Freedom Scholarship?

Generally no. Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship follows a student who enrolls in a participating non-public school that the state has approved for the program. Families who homeschool independently — registered with their local school district or through a church-related umbrella school that is not an EFS-participating school — do not receive the funds directly for at-home curriculum and expenses.

How much is the scholarship worth?

The award is tied to the state's per-pupil funding amount, which is roughly $7,000 per student for the first program years. The exact figure is set annually by the state, so confirm the current amount before you budget around it.

Which schools can accept it?

Participating schools must be non-public schools in one of Tennessee's recognized categories (Category I, II, or III) and must be approved by the state to enroll scholarship students. Many hybrid programs, co-ops, and microschools are not organized as approved non-public schools, so they cannot accept EFS funds even if they serve homeschool families.

Is there an income limit?

The program includes a large number of scholarships that are open to families regardless of income, alongside a share reserved for families meeting income criteria. Because allocation rules and priority groups can shift year to year, check the current application guidance directly.

What about hybrid schools and university-model programs?

It depends entirely on how the program is legally organized. Some hybrid schools and university-model schools are registered non-public schools and can pursue EFS participation; others are structured as support programs for homeschooling parents and cannot. Ask the program directly whether it is EFS-approved.

Does taking the scholarship change my student's legal status?

Yes — a scholarship student is enrolled in a non-public school, not homeschooling independently. That changes who is responsible for attendance, records, testing, and reporting. Talk it through with the school before enrolling.