Image Credit: tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
The state has launched a website for eligible families to enroll in the Tennessee Education Savings Account program.
After a chancery court lifted the injunction on the program, it is now available for students in Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the Achievement School District in Memphis.
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It took just four days after the court’s decision for the state to update resources and ensure the website was ready to accept applications.
For the 2022-23 school year, the program will accept 5,000 students. The fund will provide around $7,000 per student to be used for private school tuition or other educational expenses related to homeschooling. It can also be applied towards educational needs such as uniforms, tutoring, and summer education programs.
Receiving an ESA does not automatically guarantee that a student can attend a private school. Families must apply to those schools and receive acceptance there as well. A list of participating schools can be found here.
Not just anyone is eligible to receive an ESA. Families must also qualify for the program by residing in one of the included school districts and meeting income requirements. Families cannot make more than twice the federal income eligibility guidelines for receiving free school lunch.
If the number of applications exceeds the number of ESAs available, a lottery will be held to fill all available spots in the program. Currently, the state plans to increase the number of available ESAs each year, with a total of 15,000 being available over the next five years.
Governor Lee has pushed for the program for the entirety of his term, stating that this will give families the ability to choose the school that they believe is the best fit for their student.
Additional information and the enrollment form can be found on the ESA website.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
