Apply during the application window
Applications for 2026–27 closed February 6, 2026. Awards go by priority category, then in the order applications arrive.
Coming soon to Tennessee EFS
Once at Home: coming soon to Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program
Teach your child to read with fully scripted, one-to-one lessons in just 15 minutes a day. Once is coming soon to the Tennessee EFS Marketplace. Get notified when Tennessee families can use scholarship funds for Once.
Tennessee EFS status
Once is coming soon to Tennessee EFS.
$7,530 per student, 2026–27Private school enrollment required
Reading instruction for Tennessee families
A complete reading plan without another subject to prep
Once tells you what to teach, what to say, and what comes next. You lead one focused lesson a day while Once provides the sequence and support.
Scripted curriculum
200+ ready-to-go lessons remove lesson-planning guesswork.
15 minutes a day
Short sessions fit around the rest of your family’s learning schedule.
Instructional coaching
Get guidance from a dedicated coach when you need support.
A clear path to reading
From letter sounds to connected stories
Each stage builds on the one before it, so you always know what to teach next.
1. Learn letter sounds
Build the foundation with focused, explicit practice connecting letters and sounds.
2. Blend sounds into words
Help your child combine sounds from left to right to read their first words.
3. Read connected stories
Build accuracy and fluency through one ongoing narrative with recurring characters.
How Education Freedom Scholarships work
Private school first, then the EFS Marketplace
The Tennessee Department of Education runs Education Freedom Scholarships for K–12 students enrolled in an EFS-registered Category I, II, or III private school in Tennessee. Once is coming soon to the Tennessee EFS Marketplace.
Review the department’s 2026–27 EFS Family Handbook and EFS FAQs.
Enroll in an EFS-registered school
Your child must enroll in an EFS-registered Category I, II, or III private school in Tennessee before funds are awarded. Homeschool students qualify only by enrolling in one.
Use remaining funds in the Marketplace
Funds pay tuition and fees first. Remaining funds can go to approved expenses in the EFS Marketplace. Once will appear there when it becomes available.
Tennessee EFS details for 2026–27
What Tennessee families should know
Tennessee’s program is open to K–12 students statewide, with no income limit to apply. Funds are released only after a student enrolls in a registered private school.
$7,530 per student
The 2026–27 scholarship equals Tennessee’s TISA base funding per student. Unused funds stay in the account from year to year while the student remains eligible.
Kindergarten at age five
Children must be at least five by September 30, 2026, to start kindergarten in 2026–27. Pre-K programs are not covered.
Tuition and fees come first
After tuition and fees, remaining funds can cover approved expenses such as tutoring that meets department requirements and curricula required by the school.
Sources: Tennessee Department of Education EFS page, EFS FAQs, and 2026–27 EFS Family Handbook. Program rules can change.
Questions from Tennessee families
Tennessee EFS and Once FAQs
What are Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarships?
Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS) are Tennessee’s universal school choice program, created by the Education Freedom Act that Governor Bill Lee signed in February 2025. The Tennessee Department of Education runs the program. Scholarships let K–12 students use state funds for education expenses while enrolled in an EFS-registered Category I, II, or III private school in Tennessee, with tuition and fees paid first.
Is Once available through Education Freedom Scholarships?
Once is coming soon to the Tennessee EFS Marketplace. Until then, scholarship funds can’t be used for Once at Home. Leave your details on this page and we’ll let you know when Tennessee families can use scholarship funds for Once.
Who is eligible for an Education Freedom Scholarship?
Tennessee residents who are U.S. citizens or lawfully present and entitled to attend a public school in grades K–12 can apply. For 2026–27, children must be at least five years old by September 30, 2026. Before funds are awarded, the student must enroll in an EFS-registered Category I, II, or III private school in Tennessee. If applications exceed available scholarships, the department awards them by priority category, starting with current recipients and lower-income households.
Can homeschool families use Education Freedom Scholarships?
Only by enrolling in a registered school. The Tennessee Department of Education says a homeschooling student can apply but must enroll in an EFS-registered Category I, II, or III private school to receive funds. Pre-K students are not eligible.
How much is an Education Freedom Scholarship for 2026–27?
The 2026–27 scholarship is $7,530 per student. The amount equals Tennessee’s TISA base funding per student, so it will likely change each year, and all scholarships depend on available appropriations. Unused funds stay in the account from one school year to the next while the student remains eligible.
What can EFS funds pay for?
Funds must first pay tuition and fees at the student’s school. Remaining funds can cover approved expenses, including textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials required by the school, tutoring services that meet department requirements, and educational therapies. Consumable supplies such as pencils and folders are not allowed.
When can I apply?
Applications for the 2026–27 school year closed on February 6, 2026. Check the Tennessee Department of Education’s EFS page for the next application window.
How much does Once at Home cost?
Once at Home costs $49 per month and is free until your child reads their first three-letter word, with no credit card needed. You can start today while Tennessee EFS availability is pending.
Start reading today
Begin 15 focused minutes a day now
Once at Home is free until your child reads their first three-letter word, with no credit card needed.
Get notified
Hear when Once is available through Tennessee EFS
Leave your name and email, and we’ll let you know when Tennessee families can use Education Freedom Scholarship funds for Once at Home. You can also send us a question.