The Tennessee Department of Education started sending out eligibility notices for the Education Freedom Scholarship program on Friday, Feb. 20, kicking off the first wave of decisions for the 2026–27 school year. State officials say they have already reviewed renewal applications and notified returning families, with more than 18,600 renewals and a renewal rate of roughly 99%. New applicants will be handled by priority group and in the order their applications came in, with decisions going out weekly. For thousands of Tennessee parents, those emails will decide whether state funds help cover private-school tuition next year.
Notices hit inboxes Friday
According to WSMV, the department began releasing decisions on Friday and has already communicated eligibility to most students who were renewing their scholarships. The station reports that officials prioritized renewal applications first, then set up a plan to send out decisions for new families on a rolling weekly schedule. In other words, some parents are getting answers now, and others will be watching their inboxes for weeks.
Priority system set by law
State law requires a tiered priority system when there are more applications than available scholarships, and the department must follow the categories laid out in the Education Freedom Scholarship statute, according to the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service. That legal framework explains why renewals went to the front of the line and why income level and school enrollment status will shape how new applications are ranked.
Who is at the front of the line
The department will award scholarships in this order: current Education Freedom Scholarship recipients; students whose household income does not exceed 100% of the free- or reduced-price lunch threshold; households at or below 300% of that threshold; students currently enrolled in a Tennessee public school or eligible for kindergarten; and finally, all other eligible students. WSMV reports that most applications this year came from families in the income-prioritized categories in priorities 2 and 3, with priority 5 applicants not far behind.
Applications jumped about 32% from last year
The state received 56,442 Education Freedom Scholarship applications for 2026–27, including about 37,798 new applications and 18,644 renewals, according to figures summarized by 96.9 WXBQ and other local outlets. That total represents about a 32% increase from last year’s 42,827 applications, a number the Tennessee Department of Education reported when it released inaugural-year results. The department also noted that the scholarship amount for 2025–26 was $7,295 per student.
Legal and political backdrop
The voucher program is being challenged in Davidson County Chancery Court, where plaintiffs argue the law diverts money from public schools and lets private schools that accept vouchers operate outside standard public-school accountability rules, according to AP News. The governor’s office has defended the scholarships and says officials intend to serve more students while lawmakers continue to debate whether to expand the program.
What families should watch next
Families are being told to keep an eye on both the Education Freedom Scholarship portal and the email address they used to apply. The Tennessee Department of Education directs applicants to sign in through the EFS portal and to contact [email protected] with any questions. Officials have also posted handbooks and FAQs online. The department notes that completed applications are reviewed in the order they were submitted and that new applicants are processed by the required priority categories. For portal access and official guidance, families can visit the Tennessee Department of Education.
