Educational Freedom Scholarships
As you may know, the Tennessee legislature recently passed the Educational Freedom Act (EFA), a program that will provide scholarships that families can apply towards private school tuition. While the state Department of Education is still finalizing details on its implementation, we would like to provide an important update and address a few common questions.
USJ’s Board of Trustees has been thoughtfully considering the opportunities and risks of accepting the Educational Freedom Scholarships (EFS) and has formally made the decision to participate in the program for the 2025-2026 school year.
We are hopeful about how a $7,295 scholarship could help make USJ more affordable for our families. At the same time, please be assured that the Board remains committed to protecting the school’s independence, mission, and values. The current law explicitly states that accepting Educational Freedom Scholarships will not affect a school’s autonomy in areas such as creed, practices, admissions, hiring, or curriculum, nor does the program expand the state’s regulatory authority over private schools. However, should any future changes to the program conflict with USJ’s mission, independence, values, or governance, the Board will reevaluate the school’s continued participation.
We will keep you updated as we learn more about the program’s implementation. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this new opportunity for our school and community.
Sincerely,
Matt Fite Don Roe
Chair, Board of Trustees Head of School
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible for the scholarship?
- How does a family apply, and when?
- How many scholarships are available?
- How are the scholarships awarded?
- Is there an advantage to participating in the first year?
- How will this impact the financial aid offered by USJ?
- Is a student who receives the scholarship required to take state tests such as the TCAP?
- How does EFS participation affect the USJ enrollment process?
