List of 9 items.

• + April 1, 2025

  GPS TO ACCEPT EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIPS
  
  Dear families,

  
  

  We write to update you about the Educational Freedom Act (EFA) in Tennessee, which will benefit our current and future families. The GPS Board of Trustees has approved the acceptance of Educational Freedom Scholarships (EFS) for the 2025-26 school year to help support the investment in your daughters’ education. More information about the Educational Freedom Scholarships can be found here. 

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• + April 10, 2025

  EFS WEBINAR RECORDING

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• + April 14, 2025

  EFS Application Checklist Released

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• + April 24, 2025

  Applications to open May 15 at 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET

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• + May 2, 2025

  EFS HANDBOOK AND FAQS AVAILABLE

  Dear families,

   

  The state of Tennessee has made available a comprehensive EFS Family Handbook to provide more detailed information regarding the Education Freedom Scholarship (school voucher) Program along with an FAQ to address questions you might have.

   

  As a reminder, the applications for the 2025-26 school year open on May 15, 12 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. ET. We encourage you to be prepared with your scanned documents and to apply as soon as the applications open as they will be distributed based on when completed applications are received. 

   

  Please refer to our webpage for the most current communications.

   

  Here's to the girls!

   

  Megan D. Cover

  Head of School 

• + May 7, 2025

  UPDATES TO FAQS REGARDING EFS APPLICATIONS

  Dear families,

   

  Yesterday, the state issued an updated FAQ document with a few points that are worth noting, especially if your tax filing situation had you doubting your ability to apply.

   

  For example, these points were added:

   

  For the first year of the program and due to the IRS extension, if you have not completed your 2024 taxes and would like to submit income verification for a Qualified Scholarship, you can upload your 2023 Form 1040 US Individual Tax Return as additional documentation related to income level; however, the income documentation will be denied, and you will be permitted to file a step 1 appeal within 10 business days of receiving the denial, which will maintain your place in line and permit more time to submit your 2024 taxes. (Previously the state has said you must have 2024 1040 completed.)

   

  They also provided a bit more clarity on how sibling applications will work:

   

  How will applications be managed if I apply for more than one student in my family?

  • An individual application must be submitted for each student intending to participate in the EFS Program in the 2025-26 school year.
  • Parent/guardian information and Tennessee residency documentation will be pre-populated on subsequent applications after it is entered in one student’s application.
  • As with all applications, applications completed for multiple children in one family will be reviewed in the order in which they are received; no preference is given for approval of sibling applications.

  As always, this communication and the link to the updated FAQs is on our website for your convenience. We will send out another reminder next week as the application date nears. Should you have specific concerns, you may email the state's EFS program coordinators directly at EFS.Questions@TN.gov or our office at EFS@GPS.edu.

  REMINDER: Applications open next Thursday, May 15, at 12 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. ET.

  Here's to the girls!

   

  Megan D. Cover

  Head of School 

• + May 13, 2025

  EFS APPLICATIONS TO OPEN IN 48 HOURS

  Dear families,

   

  This serves to remind you that applications for Education Freedom Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year open at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) this Thursday, May 15, for all Tennessee families to submit an eligible student application. Please mark your calendars to ensure you are first in line for these scholarships as they are distributed in order of completed submissions.

   

  Here are some helpful links as you prepare to apply:

  • Checklist of required documents
  • Current list of FAQs
  • EFS Family Handbook
  • Most recent GPS communication with updated information
  • Our web page with all our communications and state links

  In the meantime, if we can be of assistance, please email EFS@GPS.edu.

   
  All my best,

   

  Megan D. Cover

  Head of School 

• + May 14, 2025

  EFS APPLICATIONS TO OPEN TOMORROW AT 1 PM ET

  Dear families,

   

  Please be prepared to apply for the Education Freedom Scholarships tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) As a reminder:

  • Just released: A step-by-step guide.
  • If you're applying for more than one child, consider submitting the younger child first as they will use the scholarships longer.
  • Applications will be reviewed in the order received by the department.
  • Application decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis, sent via email, and updated on the online portal dashboard.
  • Once an application is submitted, an email will be sent from Notifications@TheoLearning.com to confirm receipt; you may want to add this email to your safe-sender list to avoid its going to spam.
  • Families may review the status of their application by logging into the online application portal at any time.
  • Only complete applications will be reviewed for scholarship eligibility, so it is imperative that applications have all required documentation uploaded, documentation is clear and legible, and all required fields are completed.
  • Incomplete applications will be returned and will not maintain their place in line for scholarship consideration.
  • Applications returned as incomplete may be resubmitted with complete information, but the application will be considered received when the application is resubmitted with all required information. 
  • Do not scan your proofs of residency and tax information as one document; save your uploaded documents as single files. 
  • GPS will not be notified of your application, only if and when you receive a scholarship.

  Please refer to our web page for the links to the EFS Family Handbook, FAQs, application checklist, and previous communications. As a reminder, GPS will continue to participate in the program as long as it aligns with our status as an independent school. Should the state change its stance and infringe upon this independence, we reserve the right to modify our position.

   

  Here's to the girls!

   

  Megan D. Cover

  Head of School 

• + June 2, 2025

  IMPORTANT UPDATES TO EFS FOR 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR

  Dear families,

   

  For those individuals who have received a conditionally approved voucher from the state, we look forward to partnering with you to facilitate this program. Among other information, the state communicated that you would be able to confirm enrollment at a qualifying school—GPS, of course—on or after June 2. We understand that the portal opened at noon today; though the state doesn’t appear to have notified participants, recipients can now finalize their application by notifying the state of their selected school. We encourage you to log in and select GPS and to be on the lookout for additional communication from the state. You have until July 15 to finalize this enrollment.

   

  PAYMENT ADJUSTMENTS

  Additionally, the state has promised to notify GPS of student voucher status in the coming weeks. Until then, we cannot adjust payment schedules or amounts due, but we will do so in FACTS as the voucher status becomes clear. At that point, FACTS will continue to demonstrate a balance due, with anticipated collection from the state later in the year. If a family makes a one-time payment for the full tuition due before July 1, then the school later receives voucher reimbursement from the state, GPS will refund money to the family shortly after receipt of funds from the state. Alternatively, families may choose a 2- or 10-payment option, both of which include the TRP (Tuition Refund Plan) and will allow for adjustments to later payments during the year, after GPS is made aware of voucher acceptance.

   

  STUDENTS WHO TURN 18

  Please note that if your student turns 18 during the school year, you need to review page 17 of the EFS Handbook, which states, in part, any student who turns 18 years old during the EFS contract year must take action to continue using the EFS. Once a student reaches age 18, the existing EFS will be suspended, and no further EFS payment disbursements can be made, unless or until the department receives documentation indicating one of the following:  

  • The student will enter a contract and serve as his or her own account holder.
  • The student’s parent or legal guardian will serve as the student’s account holder. The parent or legal guardian must submit a valid notarized power of attorney or an order of conservatorship indicating that the following rights have been transferred from the student to the parent or legal guardian:  
    • The right to make educational decisions regarding placement and participation of the student in the EFS Program;
    • The right to make banking and financial decisions and transactions, limited to management, control, and access to the EFS.  

  We continue to welcome your questions or feedback regarding this program, and encourage you to email EFS@GPS.edu or follow the state website.

   

  Here's to the girls!

   

  Megan D. Cover

  Head of School