The federal scholarship credit in Tennessee
What it means for families in Tennessee
K-12 students who live in Tennessee can get a federal scholarship toward tuition and fees once the program starts. Household income has to be at or below 300% of your area's median, and foster children qualify automatically.
Scholarships are paid to a partner school, so the first step is finding out whether your child's school takes part. If it doesn't yet, recommend it and we'll reach out.
What it means for donors in Tennessee
Any US taxpayer can donate and claim up to $1,700 against federal income tax, dollar for dollar, starting January 1, 2027. When you donate to CEN SGO, you choose the partner school your donation supports.
Tennessee doesn't have its own scholarship tax credit for individuals, so the federal credit is the one to claim.
For schools in Tennessee
Families only get scholarships through a partner school, so schools come first. Registering with CEN SGO costs nothing. It's one agreement, and CEN handles donor receipts, income checks, awards, payments and reporting.
Schools that register before donations open on January 1, 2027 can run a pledge campaign with their parents first.
In Tennessee, scholarship granting organizations are certified by the Tennessee Department of Education.
Tennessee at a glance
Tennessee has opted in to the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, so families here can get scholarships when the program starts on January 1, 2027.
- May 5, 2026
- Opted in · Public Chapter 720, by statute
- Bill Lee
- Governor
- January 1, 2027
- The federal credit goes live
- $1,700
- The most a donor can claim each year
- None
- State scholarship credit
- Tennessee Department of Education
- Certifies SGOs
Key dates
Every date in one placeMay 5, 2026
Tennessee opted in (Public Chapter 720, by statute)
Fall 2026
States open certification for scholarship granting organizations
Next
January 1, 2027
The first day a donation earns the federal credit
December 31, 2027
The last day to donate for the 2027 return
Early 2028
The IRS form comes out and 2027 returns are filed
Homeschool
Homeschool in Tennessee
Yes, by statute
Questions
Questions about Tennessee
Short answers for families and donors in Tennessee. Every other question is on the FAQ page.
Does Tennessee take part in the federal credit?
Yes. Opted in May 5, 2026 (Public Chapter 720, by statute). Families here can get scholarships when the program starts on January 1, 2027.
Who decided for Tennessee?
Governor Bill Lee opted Tennessee in. Each year the governor sends Treasury the list of qualifying scholarship granting organizations.
Can people in Tennessee donate and claim the credit?
Yes. Any US taxpayer can claim up to $1,700 against federal income tax for a donation to a qualifying scholarship granting organization, starting January 1, 2027.
When does it start?
January 1, 2027. Donations made on or after that date count toward the credit.
Does Tennessee have its own scholarship credit?
No. Tennessee doesn't run a scholarship tax credit for individuals, so there's one credit to claim: the federal one.
Keep reading
Guides for families and donors
Other states that have opted in
Families in every opted-in state can get scholarships when the program starts. Each state has its own page.
Is your child's school in Tennessee?
Recommend it and we'll reach out to the school about taking part. It takes a minute.