Last verified: October 2026
Can a Memphis family use the Education Freedom Scholarship to homeschool?
No. EFS dollars follow a child only into a classroom at a signed-up label I-III school with a building in Tennessee; teaching at home on your own does not count. A homeschooled child can still apply, but nothing is paid until the child enrolls at one of those schools.
The ESA works the same way; a child homeschooled last year generally has to spend a full year in public school before becoming ESA-eligible.
Which Tennessee program pays for homeschooling in Memphis?
The IEA does, as long as the child's Tennessee IEP is current and lists a covered disability. It may be used for independent homeschooling, at church-related umbrella programs or at Category I-V schools, and it pays for approved curricula, online courses, tutoring and therapies.
The 2027-28 IEA window is projected for February 16 to April 16, 2027.
What is a church-related umbrella school in Shelby County?
Picture a church school that enrolls children on paper while their parents do the teaching at home; that is an umbrella program, and Tennessee lets label IV schools run them. TDOE's 2026-27 directory flags 7 umbrella programs in Shelby, Tipton and Fayette counties; Gateway Christian Schools in Memphis alone reports 5,389 students.
Signing up with an umbrella keeps a family on the right side of attendance law, yet it unlocks no EFS or ESA money, since label IV is outside both.
Do online schools count for Memphis families using state money?
Some do. The West Tennessee ESA list includes 21 online-only schools that an ESA student could attend, while EFS requires a school with a physical Tennessee campus.
Families comparing online Christian programs, such as American Faith Academy (AmFaith), should check that the provider is on the list for their specific program before counting on state funds.
| Option | What it is | State money? |
|---|---|---|
| Independent homeschool | Parent teaches; notice filed with the district | IEA only |
| Category IV umbrella school | Church-related school enrolling homeschoolers | IEA only |
| Online school on the ESA list | Full-time online school approved for the ESA | ESA (MSCS zone); not EFS |
| EFS-registered campus school | Category I-III school with a Tennessee campus | EFS, and ESA if approved |
What is the next step for a Memphis family?
Spend two minutes on the funding check, and a counselor will call back with the program that fits, its dollar value and the next deadline.