Last verified: October 2026
What are the next school-choice deadlines for Memphis families?
First up in 2027 is the ESA, open February 2 through April 15, followed by the IEA, which TDOE expects to run February 16 through April 16. MOST's lottery application runs in February, and 2027-28 EFS dates have not been posted.
Have EFS documents ready in early December, since last year's window opened in mid-January and closed in under three weeks.
Which dates still matter for 2026-27 award holders?
EFS families should expect the Quarter 3 disbursement around January 15, 2027, and both the EFS and ESA Marketplaces stop accepting technology and uniform orders on April 30, 2027. The EFS Marketplace closes for all remaining services June 25, 2027.
ESA families reapply each year with new income proof during the February-April window.
All dates in order
- Nov 1, 2026St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School opens its FACTS need-based aid window (returning families by Dec 1, new families by Feb 1, 2027)
- Nov 16, 2026Private schools can begin registering for the 2027-28 Education Freedom Scholarship; TDOE closes registration April 30, 2027 with no exceptions
- Jan 1, 2027The federal scholarship tax credit takes effect; Tennessee has opted in, and MOST says its family application portal opens in 2027
- Jan 15, 2027Projected EFS Quarter 3 disbursement (20% of the 2026-27 award)
- Feb 2, 2027The 2027-28 ESA application opens at noon Central for income-eligible students zoned to Memphis-Shelby County Schools; it closes April 15, 2027 at 4 p.m.
- Feb 16, 2027Projected opening of the 2027-28 IEA application for students with an IEP; TDOE projects it will close April 16, 2027
- Feb 2027MOST's new-student and lottery application window (MOST lists February 1-28); lottery families' paperwork is due April 21
- Apr 30, 2027EFS and ESA Marketplaces stop taking orders for technology and uniforms (4 p.m. Central)
- Jun 30, 2027Deadline to file the TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant for 2026-27 terms
TDOE had not posted 2027-28 EFS student application dates as of October 30, 2026. The 2026-27 cycle opened renewals December 9, 2025 and new applications January 13, 2026, and closed January 30, 2026, so Memphis families should have documents scanned by early December.
| Program | Status | Next window |
|---|---|---|
| EFS 2027-28 | Not open | Dates not announced; last cycle Jan 13-30 |
| ESA 2027-28 | Not open | Feb 2 - Apr 15, 2027 |
| IEA 2027-28 | Not open | Feb 16 - Apr 16, 2027 (projected) |
| MOST new students | Not open | February lottery application |
| MSCS Pre-K | Open | Applications accepted year-round |
| Dual Enrollment Grant 2026-27 | Open | Due June 30, 2027 |
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.