As students and teachers head back to school, Tennessee is opening a new chapter for thousands of families. Alongside the excitement of fresh school supplies and the endless possibilities a new school year brings, something else is new—the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program. This universal school choice program empowers families to choose the best educational opportunity for their children.
The significance of this new chapter is captured in the words of President Ronald Reagan. Speaking at the White House in 1989, he stated, “And choice in education is the wave of the future because it represents a return to some of our most basic American values. Choice in education is no mere abstraction. Like its economic cousin, free enterprise, and its political cousin, democracy, it affords hope and opportunity.” For thousands of Tennessee families, that hope is now a reality.
Building upon existing school choice programs, the Education Freedom Scholarship Act was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee this past spring. Families are no longer restricted by ZIP code or household income when it comes to taking charge of their children’s education. The EFS program removes these barriers, putting parents in control of their children’s future. Each scholarship recipient receives a $7,295 scholarship to use for the school that best fits their needs and goals.
While we await final data from the Department of Education, available information shows overwhelming enthusiasm for the EFS program:
- Over 40,000 applications were submitted for just 20,000 available scholarships
- 19,000 applications were received within the first hour of the application window opening
- Over 33,000 applications were received on the first day
- Applications were nearly evenly split between qualified income and universal eligibility
- Applicants came from over 300 ZIP codes, representing all regions of the state
- 241 private schools, including the vast majority of eligible schools and four virtual schools, are participating
This enthusiasm for school choice aligns with statewide polling showing school choice is overwhelmingly popular among Tennesseans across the political spectrum. Ultimately, the true EFS success story will be told through the experiences of children, families, teachers, and school leaders as doors open and lives flourish.
As the school year begins, let’s celebrate not only a fresh start but also the hope and opportunity available to Tennessee families as new chapters open.
