EFS Resource Guide

The Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program in Tennessee is set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year. This program could provide funding toward tuition for Tennessee families with students in grades K-12. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.

Learn more about the Tennessee Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS).

Your Questions Answered

  • Application Timeline:
    • The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has not yet announced when applications will open for schools or families.
    • The application for an EFS will open this spring, though a specific date has not been provided.
  • Tuition and Fees:
    • Participation in the EFS program will not cause a tuition increase beyond the forecasted increases approved by the Board of Trustees as part of the strategic plan.
  • Admissions Requirements:
    • CCS will continue to maintain the same admissions requirements for students and families, following a covenantal school model.
  • Need-Based Financial Aid:
    • CCS will publish the plan for determining need-based financial aid for families who are accepted into the EFS program.
    • Families eligible for the program should apply to maximize their aid for CCS tuition.
  • Priority for Future EFS Applications:
    • If you apply and receive an EFS voucher for the 2025-2026 school year, you will have priority for future EFS applications in subsequent years.
  • State-Funded Program:
    • EFS vouchers are funded by the state of Tennessee, not the federal government.
    • Participating in the program will not make CCS a recipient of federal financial assistance.
  • Eligibility:
    • EFS vouchers are available only to Tennessee residents, regardless of county of residence.
    • EFSs are available to current and future students attending an approved non-public school in Tennessee, from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
  • Funding and Vouchers:
    • There will be 20,000 EFS vouchers available in the first year, with an additional 5,000 scholarships each year following.
    • Half of the scholarships will go to:
      • Students at or below 300% of the income level for free or reduced-price lunch (e.g., $173,160 for a family of four),
      • Students with disabilities, and
      • Students eligible for the Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) program.
    • These scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • The remaining 10,000 scholarships will be available to a broader pool of students on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Program Participation Limits:
    • Students may only participate in one of Tennessee’s school choice funding programs: IEA, ESA, or EFS.
    • Families may apply for different programs for different students, but each individual student may only participate in one program.
    • The IEA and ESA programs will continue to accept applications for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • EFS Funding Amount:
    • The amount of an EFS is predicted to be approximately $7,000 per student. This is lower than the funding available through the ESA and IEA programs.
    • If students are currently participating in IEA or ESA and remain eligible for those programs, they would receive a higher funding amount from those programs than from an EFS.

Chattanooga Christian School

3354 Charger Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37409 | 423.265.6411