GOV. LEE PUSHES TO DOUBLE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS IN FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

CNF

2/3/26
In his final State of the State address on February 2, 2026, Governor Bill Lee proposed a significant expansion of Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program. Lee is asking lawmakers to increase the number of available private school vouchers from 20,000 to 40,000 for the 2026-2027 school year.  The proposal seeks $155.3 million in additional funding, bringing the total estimated cost for the program’s second year to over $303 million.

The governor cited overwhelming interest as the primary reason for the push, noting that over 54,000 applications have already been received for the current 20,000 spots. To balance the voucher expansion, Lee’s proposed 2026-2027 budget also includes $170 million in new funding for public schools via the state’s funding formula. It also includes a plan to raise the starting salary for public school teachers to $50,000 beginning in 2027 as well as $20 million for K-12 public school facility grants; and $40 million for charter school improvements.

To qualify for the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) for the 2026-2027 school year, students must meet basic eligibility criteria. However, because demand often exceeds the number of available spots, the state uses a priority system to award scholarships.
Core Eligibility Requirements:
Every applicant must meet the following four standards:
  1. Residency: Must be a Tennessee resident.
  2. Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States.
  3. Age/Grade: Must be entering grades K-12 and be at least 5 years old by September 30, 2026.
  4. Academic History: Must have completed fewer than 13 school years (K-12) 

Scholarship Prioritization:
While any K-12 student eligible for public school can apply, scholarships are awarded in the following order:
  • Priority 1: Returning Students. Current EFS recipients who apply for renewal.
  • Priority 2: High Financial Need. Students from households with income at or below 100% of the federal free/reduced lunch threshold (roughly $57,720 for a family of four), or those receiving SNAP/TANF.
  • Priority 3: Moderate Financial Need. Students from households with income at or below 300% of the free/reduced lunch threshold (roughly $173,160 for a family of four).
  • Priority 4: Public School Transfers. Students currently enrolled in a TN public school or entering kindergarten for the first time.
  • Priority 5: All Others. Any other eligible students, including those already in private school who do not meet income requirements.
Required Enrollment
To receive funds, students must eventually enroll in a registered Category I, II, or III non-public school in Tennessee. You can apply before being admitted, but enrollment must be confirmed by the school to finalize the award. As of late January 2026, 262 private schools in Tennessee have officially registered to participate in the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.

Registered Schools by Region
The state provides a full Registered EFS Schools List which includes schools from almost every major county.

While the school below is currently the only one listed on the state’s official registry for Cumberland County, other private schools in the Crossville area may be eligible to participate if they complete the registration process by April 30, 2026. Schools typically must be Category I, II, or III non-public schools to qualify.

In Crossville (Cumberland County), Inez Wrenn Seventh-day Adventist School  and  Trinity Academy in Crossville are eligible for EFS funds for the 2026-2027 school year:
Other Local Private Schools
Here are other schools registered for the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program for the 2026-2027 school year:

Davidson County (Nashville):

The Academy for G.O.D.
Father Ryan High School
St. Henry School
Ezell-Harding Christian School
Akiva School

 

Knox County (Knoxville)

Grace Christian Academy

Knoxville Catholic High School

First Lutheran School

Annoor Academy of Knoxville.

Hamilton County (Chattanooga area): 

Various schools including 

Notre Dame High School

and local religious academies have joined the program.

 

Williamson County:

Currey Ingram Academy

Franklin Christian Academy

St. Matthew Catholic School

 

School Eligibility Requirements:
Not all private schools can join. To participate, a school must be a Category I, II, or III non-public school in Tennessee and have a physical location in the state. They must officially register with the Tennessee Department of Education specifically for the EFS program as well.
Finding a Local School:

Because registration remains open through April 30, 2026, new schools are added regularly. You can use the Schools Near Me tool to search for participating private options near your specific address.