FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Tennessee Education Savings Account Program(ESA)

The ESA program allows eligible students who are zoned to attend Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Hamilton County Schools, or a school that was in the Achievement School District (ASD) on May 24, 2019, to use state and local money toward education expenses, including tuition and/or fees at approved participating non-public schools.

How to apply

The Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) student application for the 2025-26 school year will open on February 3, 2025. The deadline to submit your application is July 1, 2025, with a priority deadline of May 1, 2025. The priority deadline is used if an enrollment lottery is needed. Click here for more information about the application process and eligibility guidelines. You can learn more about the ESA here.

How do i make a payment?

Click here for more information about the ESA payment process.

Education Freedom(EFS)

The Education Freedom Scholarships will allow residents of Tennessee who have a child entitled to attend a public school in grades K-12 to use state funds toward education expenses, including tuition and/or fees at registered Category I, II, or III private schools located in Tennessee.

How much is each scholarship worth?

The proposed scholarship amount for the 2025-26 school year is $7,295.

How to apply

The EFS student application for the 2025-26 school year launched May 15, 2025 at noon CT/1 p.m. ET. To learn more information click here.

Childcare Payment Assistance(DHS)

Child Care Payment Assistance is provided through the Child Care Certificate Program, a state program that assists Families First participants, parents transitioning off Families First, parents working or enrolled in post-secondary education programs, teen parents, and children in foster care. It’s also called the subsidized child care program. To participate in the program, families must be declared eligible by the Department of Human Services (TDHS) staff or by the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) staff for children in foster care. TDHS provides financial assistance with child care costs for families meeting income guideline criteria through several child care assistance programs.

Who is eligible to apply

  • Parents applying for the Smart Steps program whose income is below the 85th percentile of State Median Income  (which can be found on the Income Eligibility and Parent Co-Pay Fee Table using the 85.0% line that coincides with your household size) who have children six (6) weeks until kindergarten  and who work, are enrolled in a post-secondary education program, or a combination of both for an average of 30 hours or more a week.
  • High school or middle school mothers who stay in school who participate in the Teen Parent program.
  • Parents in the Families First program who need child care to complete the work activities in their personal responsibility plan.
  • Parents whose Families First case has closed can receive transitional child care assistance for 18 months after their Families First case closes IF each parent works an average of 30 hours or more a week.
  • Non-parental guardians in the Families First program who need child care for a related child IF the guardian does average 30 or more hours of work, training, or education a week.

How to apply

To learn more about the application process click here.