yes. every k⁠i⁠d. applauds Tennessee’s passage of ⁠t⁠he Educa⁠t⁠⁠i⁠on Freedom Ac⁠t⁠

January 30, 2025

January 30, 2025

The Tennessee General Assembly has passed groundbreaking legislation to establish a universal scholarship program, sending the Education Freedom Act to Gov. Bill Lee for final approval. With its passage, Tennessee becomes the first state in 2025 to pass a universal school choice bill, setting a powerful precedent for the rest of the nation.

“Tennessee took a bold step today toward expanding educational opportunities with the passage of the Education Freedom Act,” said Shannon Pahls, public affairs director, yes. every kid. “By prioritizing parental choice, Tennessee is paving the way for a brighter future where families are empowered to choose where and how their children are educated. Thank you to Governor Lee, Lieutenant Governor McNally, Speaker Sexton, and the entire Legislature for their unwavering dedication to Tennessee families and students.”

Background:

  • The Education Freedom Act establishes a statewide scholarship program beginning in the fall of 2025. 
  • Twenty thousand scholarships will be available to Tennessee students for the 2025-2026 school year. Ten thousand scholarships will be for universal eligibility, and 10,000 will be for students at or below 300% of income qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students with a disability, or those eligible for the existing ESA program.
  • For the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, scholarships will be open to universal eligibility, with 5,000 additional scholarships each year 75% of applications for total scholarships are submitted the previous year.

About yes. every kid. 

yes. every kid. is a leading advocacy team with a family-first approach to transform America’s education policy landscape. We work to transform education away from the current top-down standardized model to a bottom-up approach that enables every family and student to customize an education that best matches their values and priorities.

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