Overview
- Officials reported roughly 50,000 submissions in the first 48 hours after launch, following a day-one record of more than 42,000 that surpassed Tennessee’s prior mark of 33,000.
- By 11 a.m. on Feb. 5, applications had exceeded 46,000, with about 80% of applicants indicating plans to attend participating private schools and 19.7% opting for other choices such as homeschooling.
- Comptroller data show 34% of verified applicants have household incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level and 38% fall between 200% and 500%, with nearly three-quarters placed in SB 2’s top priority tiers.
- Awards will prioritize students by income and disability, and a lottery will be used only if demand exceeds the $1 billion available for grants of roughly $10,000 that can cover tuition, tutoring and other education costs.
- The application window runs through March 17, and state leaders told families at a public meeting that waitlists are possible if requests outpace funding.