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TNFirefly · Newsletter
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No. 15
Thu · 10 Sep · 2026
Our Thursday deep dive. We take one Tennessee education or policy story and unpack it in full — how it started, who's involved, and what it means for you.
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From the Editor
Good morning from The Beam.
This week, supporters of the new Education Freedom Tax Credit released research that found its financial impact could be even greater than initially projected.
The American Federation for Children says the program will be helpful for both public school students and families of private schoolers who need assistance paying tuition costs not covered by programs like the Education Freedom Scholarship. |
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State Education
New research by the American Federation for Children found the program could provide Tennessee students with $377 million if just ten percent of taxpayers participate.
By Sky Arnold
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Education Freedom Tax Credit Could Raise More Than Initially Projected |
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Taxpayers will be able to use the Education Freedom Tax Credit to redirect up to $1,700 per year that would have gone to the federal government into a scholarship provided by participating scholarship granting organizations.
Eligible families would then have the option to apply for scholarships to support public and private school expenses like tutoring, tuition, special education services, and other academic needs.
"I think the Education Freedom Tax Credit is really going to kind of supercharge some of the existing choice programs. And that's not just private choice. This can be used by students who attend a charter school or attend a magnet school or whatever their own public school or homeschool, who have needs, who have real needs."
— Shaka Mitchell, AFC Senior Fellow
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By the Numbers
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2.4M
Tennessee tax filers eligible to redirect up to $1,700 in federal taxes to student scholarships.
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$377M
Projected scholarship funding in Tennessee if 10 percent of eligible taxpayers participate.
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1.1M
Tennessee K-12 students who could qualify for scholarship funding, roughly 94 percent of the state's student population.
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Voices
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CEO, American Federation for Children
"The Education Freedom Tax Credit has created an unprecedented opportunity to open the doors of education freedom for families nationwide. Dr. Graff's research demonstrates the life-changing difference taxpayers can make for American students by donating to a scholarship granting organization while reducing their own federal tax liability."
— Tommy Schultz
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Reader Poll
Do you support the Education Freedom Tax Credit?
One tap — your response is recorded instantly.
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Signoff
That's a wrap on this week's Beam. Look for our Friday Flicker podcast tomorrow.
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Our Thursday deep dive. We take one Tennessee education or policy story and unpack it in full — how it started, who's involved, and what it means for you.
You are receiving this because you subscribed to The Beam.
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