Committee reviews emergency rules to implement Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship; House backs rules, Senate does not

State Board of Education and Tennessee Department of Education officials on the Government Operations joint rule-review panel explained the emergency rules created to implement the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program and answered extensive member questions about eligibility, documentation and program safeguards.

The emergency rules before the committee implement Public Chapter 7 (2025), which creates the Education Freedom Scholarship Program and directs the State Board of Education to promulgate rules “narrowly tailored to enforce the requirements of the program.” Nathan James, representing the State Board of Education, said the rules define key terms, set application and eligibility processes, establish appeals procedures and cover logistical matters so the program could operate in the 2025–26 school year.

Why it matters: PC 7 creates a new statewide school‑choice scholarship tied to private school attendance; the committee hearing was the public forum to explain how the State Board and department plan to administer the program immediately under emergency rules and later under permanent rules.

What officials said Nathan James, State Board of Education: James told members the statute requires the program be available for the 2025–26 school year, which made emergency rules necessary. He said the rules limit state regulatory authority to requirements necessary to run the program and that payments are scheduled in four installments “specifically to prevent” payment…