The demand for Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS) in Tennessee is revealing a strong interest among families in the state for more educational options. Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education confirmed that they’ve received over 50,000 applications for the second year of the program. Following January 13, within a span of less than two days, 31,797 new applications flooded in, reinforcing the drive for educational choice.
“As demand for Education Freedom Scholarships continues to grow, I look forward to working with the General Assembly to increase the number of available scholarships for the 2026-27 school year,” Gov. Lee stated, according to a recent governor’s website announcement. It’s a move that is seeing support, given that almost all of the previously enrolled families are seeking to renew their scholarships. This indicates a high level of satisfaction with the program’s first year of run.
The scholarships, part of the Education Freedom Act passed in early 2025, are aimed at providing children with opportunities to attend schools they might otherwise not be able to access due to income or location constraints. Currently, with the application period still open until January 30, families are being urged to apply. If applications exceed the scholarships available, a prioritization system will be employed, and a waitlist will be established for extra opportunities…