Ways to pay for private school in the Knoxville area
9 sources for families in Knox, Blount, Anderson and Sevier counties: who qualifies, what each is worth in 2026-27 and the dates coming up.
Last verified: October 2026
Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS)
Tennessee's universal scholarship, often called the state's voucher: $7,530 per K-12 student for 2026-27, paid first toward tuition and fees at a registered Category I, II or III school, with any remainder usable for approved extras.
Who qualifies →Students with an IEP · no income testIndividualized Education Account (IEA)
Tennessee's account for K-12 students whose IEP lists one of 11 eligible disabilities. It funds the TISA base plus average special-education dollars and, unlike EFS, can pay any approved private school category or home schooling.
Who qualifies →Free · age 4 · income-basedTennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) in Knox County
State-funded pre-kindergarten that each school district runs for four-year-olds at risk, most often measured by household income. In Knox County, Knox County Schools runs it at 23 sites; Blount, Anderson and Sevier families apply through their own districts.
Who qualifies →6 weeks to K · income-basedSmart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance (TDHS)
TDHS help with licensed child care costs for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners, aimed at parents with roughly full-time work or college schedules.
Who qualifies →New · Tennessee opted inFederal Scholarship Tax Credit (from 2027)
A federal income-tax credit that begins in 2027 for gifts to approved scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). Tennessee has opted in, but its list of approved SGOs is still being built.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsDiocese of Knoxville Catholic Tuition Assistance
Knoxville-area Catholic schools pair EFS with need-based help from the Knoxville Regional Catholic Schools Operating Fund (KRCSOF), which families reach through a FACTS application at their school.
Who qualifies →Grades 11-12 · college creditTennessee Dual Enrollment Grant (TSAC)
TSAC money that lets an 11th or 12th grader take college classes at a reduced price: as much as $620.55 per class for the first five, less after that, and hour-based awards at a TCAT.
Who qualifies →At each schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
The grants, multi-child pricing, parish or church-member rates and payment plans a school offers on its own. In Knoxville this layer often decides whether a tuition bill is manageable after EFS.
Who qualifies →Partner fundEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
Private dollars for families choosing one of the church or community schools that take part, aimed at what is still owed once EFS and school aid are counted. A counselor confirms the terms in your funding check.
Who qualifies →Dates ahead
- Nov 16, 2026EFS school registration for 2027-28 opens. A Knoxville-area school that is not on the list yet has until April 30, 2027, with no late registrations.
- Dec 11, 2026Knoxville Catholic High School's FACTS tuition-assistance deadline for 2027-28; the school asks every aid applicant to file for EFS as well.
- Jan 1, 2027The federal scholarship tax credit starts. Tennessee has opted in, and TDOE is still taking preliminary interest forms from would-be SGOs.
- Jan 15, 2027Projected third EFS funding event for 2026-27 (20% of the year's award).
- Feb 16, 2027Projected opening of the 2027-28 IEA window for students with an active Tennessee IEP.
- Mar 15, 2027Projected final EFS funding event for 2026-27 (10%).
- Apr 30, 2027EFS Marketplace stops selling technology and uniforms at 4 p.m. CT; also the last day for schools to register for 2027-28 EFS.
- Jun 25, 2027EFS Marketplace closes for every remaining product and service at 4 p.m. CT.
- Jun 30, 2027Deadline for the 2026-27 Dual Enrollment Grant application, and for EFS schools to verify 2027-28 enrollment in the portal.
TDOE says 2027-28 EFS student application dates will be posted when available. The 2026-27 cycle opened renewals on December 9, 2025 and new applications on January 13, 2026, and closed both on January 30, 2026, so a Knoxville family should have documents scanned by early December.
| Is | Isn't | |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee ESA | A program for students zoned to Memphis-Shelby, Metro Nashville or Hamilton County schools | Open to Knox, Blount, Anderson or Sevier residents |
| EFS | The statewide program Knoxville families actually use | Usable at Category IV or V schools |
Find out which Tennessee program fits your child
Answer five questions. A tuition counselor calls back with the program, the amount and the next date for your family, at no cost.