Latest news with #EducationFreedomScholarshipProgram
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
More than 38,000 applications for TN school vouchers submitted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Less than a week after applications for Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship Program opened, more than 38,000 have been submitted. The program, often referred to as school vouchers, opened applications on May 15. Severe weather likely this evening, multiple rounds expected, all threats possible During a January special session, state lawmakers approved the program, which uses public money to fund scholarships that families can use to help pay for tuition at private schools. There are 20,000 scholarships available in the first year of the program, each worth $7,295. On Tuesday morning, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) stated in a news release that 38,160 applications have been submitted from people across the state. For the 2025-26 school year, 10,000 of the total scholarships will be reserved for students coming from households with a qualified income. The other half will be universal scholarships that are awarded to students regardless of their household's income. The TDOE reports that 18,852 applications were from families with a qualified income. According to the department, 19,308 applications were for universal scholarships. Schools that have registered to participate in the program and accept students using scholarships can be viewed on the Education Freedom Scholarship website. Families hoping to apply for the program can do so online. The TDOE is starting to review applications in the order they are received. Applicants will be notified by email regarding their application status. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee school vouchers: Half of applicants request scholarships with income cap
Roughly half of those who have applied for Tennessee's taxpayer-funded school vouchers to offset private K-12 school costs put in for scholarships with income limits, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. As of May 19, more than 38,000 people applied for the newly launched vouchers, known as Education Freedom Scholarships, just four days after applications opened, a news release from the department stated. The program marks a statewide expansion to Tennessee's controversial school vouchers and offers 20,000 scholarships worth $7,295 for the 2025-26 school year. The first 10,000 are reserved for families who fall below an income threshold, have children with disabilities or received vouchers under Tennessee's previous program. The remaining 10,000 are open to all eligible students, regardless of income. The department said it received 18,852 applications for qualified income scholarships and 19,308 for universal scholarships as of May 19. It was not immediately clear if any applicants have been approved, including those who applied for the income-restricted scholarships. "The demand for universal school choice in Tennessee is strong, and families are embracing the freedom they have been provided through the Education Freedom Scholarship Program," Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds said in the release. "All students deserve the ability to access a learning environment that best fits their unique needs." The applicants so far span 300 zip codes, the release said. An average of 2,935 applications were submitted per grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade. Applications were still open as of May 20. They will be approved in the order they are received, but it will take some time for the department to process, approve and award the 20,000 vouchers, the release said. A waiting list will be established if additional scholarships become available. Applicants will receive updates from the email address Notifications@ More: TN private school voucher program gets over 33K applications for 20K spots within hours of opening As applications launched last week, parents reported mixed results on wait times, with some who were in the queue for hours as estimated wait times fluctuated wildly. Others were able to get through in a matter of minutes. Some said they received confirmation emails with the wrong child's name, but later received updates with the correct information. The department said it tested its website and system thoroughly to handle a large influx of traffic ahead of opening applications. It was not immediately clear when applications will close. Applications and more information can be found at Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@ You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle @RachelAnnWegner. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee school vouchers: How many listed income restrictions
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee parent eager to apply for new school voucher program
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Next month, public school families will be able to apply for private school vouchers in Tennessee, and some parents are counting down the days. The Tennessee Department of Education announced Thursday applications for the Education Freedom Scholarship Program (EFS), which uses public dollars to help families pay for private school, will open at 12 p.m. CT on May 15. RELATED: School voucher applications to open soon in Tennessee. Here's what you need to know According to the TDOE, 20,000 scholarships worth $7,295 are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Meanwhile, 10,000 scholarships will be reserved for lower-income students; the rest are open to all students. 'I cannot be happier. I cannot be more relieved,' said Yadira Calderon, parent of a Metro Nashville Public Schools student. Calderon's 16-year-old daughter is on the autism spectrum, and lately school has been an uphill battle. 'She's delightful and she's incredible. She has all of these incredible skills, and she has all of these holy cow challenges,' Calderon said. 'I have not had the financial ability to get her out of the system earlier and find that environment that is more conducive to the way she can learn, because my goodness, she can learn.' This past January, the General Assembly narrowly passed the Education Freedom Scholarship Act, which will provide taxpayer-funded scholarships to help families pay for private school or other options. Opponents pushed back against the controversial program and argued the measure diverts money away from public schools and into private schools that have no accountability. 'I can't overstate how frustrating it is, and how that it's someone's priority to destroy public education,' Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said in January. 'I understand the controversy. I was one of those five, seven years ago,' Calderon said. [I thought], 'A voucher? Why? The public school system exists for a purpose and a reason, and many kids and many families benefit from it.' But in my case, we have not benefited, and there are many like us.' ⏩ The scholarship likely won't cover the full private school tuition, another concern brought up by opponents. Calderon told News 2 there's no perfect solution, but she believes private school will be a huge improvement. 'We're going to be working on removing those concerns, removing the barriers, because that's what the voucher does. The voucher removes the barrier that many of us have and facilitates going and knocking on the doors of some of the schools that exist that have a proven record of how to better support all kinds of learning,' Calderon said. So far, 211 private schools in the Volunteer State have expressed interest in participating in the Education Freedom Scholarship program. Almost 150 private schools have officially registered. To learn more, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School voucher applications to open soon in Tennessee. Here's what you need to know
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Applications for Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship Program are scheduled to open for families next month. On Thursday, the Tennessee Department of Education announced that the application process will launch at 12 p.m. CT on May 15. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → Education Freedom Scholarships allow a child who attends a public school in grades K-12 to use state funds to attend a private school, according to the TDOE. The proposed scholarship amount for the 2025-26 school year is reportedly $7,295. 'A quality education has the power to change the trajectory of a child's life, and for the first time, families across Tennessee have the opportunity to choose the best school for their child,' said Gov. Bill Lee. 'I'm grateful that the vast majority of eligible schools intend to participate in Education Freedom Scholarships, and I have full confidence in the Department of Education's ability to implement the program.' ⏩ Approximately 20,000 scholarships will be awarded for the 2025-26 school year, officials said. There are currently 211 schools that have indicated they intend to participate in the program. The department previously released a student application checklist, which detailed eligibility requirements and the documentation needed for an application to be approved. To view the checklist, follow this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Multiple local schools show interest in voucher program so far
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Several local private schools have expressed early interest in participating in the new school voucher program. On Tuesday, the Tennessee Department of Education released a list of 162 schools that have signaled intent to participate in the school voucher program. This includes several schools in the East Tennessee area. Clothes closet at Powell church expands to help meet growing community need St. Mary's School Apostolic Christian Academy RIO Christian Academy Maryville Christian School Annoor Academy of Knoxville Concord Christian School Knoxville Catholic High School OneSchool Global Knoxville Sacred Heart Cathedral School St. John Neumann Catholic School St. Joseph School Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School Temple Baptist Academy The Christian Academy of Knoxville River's Edge Christian Academy Grace Christian Academy First Lutheran School Seymour Community Christian School The King's Academy Trinity Academy All Saints' Episcopal School Lakeway Christian Schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy Campus Fairview Christian Academy Zion Christian Academy The full list is available on the state's website. The school choice program is planned to provide 20,000 Knoxville students with state-funded scholarships that they can use at private schools. Eviction court sees 361 cases in one day as Knox County urged to fund legal aid 'A quality education has the power to change the trajectory of a child's life, and I'm grateful that Tennessee parents will have the opportunity to choose the best school for their child through the Education Freedom Scholarship Program,' said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. 'I commend the participating schools for their partnership to deliver excellent educational choices for parents in the coming school year.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
