Tennessee Individualized Education Account

The Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program is a school choice initiative established for eligible K-12 students with qualifying disabilities. This IEA Program supports Tennessee families by providing funds for approved education expenses tailored to meet each student’s unique learning needs. These funds can be used for various purposes such as scholarships to attend certain non-public schools, participation in umbrella home school programs, or being independently home schooled.

To qualify for the IEA Program, students must meet specific eligibility criteria established and guided by state law. Students need to have been enrolled in a Tennessee public school for the entire school year before they participate in the IEA Program unless they are entering kindergarten for the first time or are new to Tennessee. Additionally, the student must have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) with a qualifying disability. Once enrolled in the IEA Program, the student can no longer be enrolled in public school. Click this link for more information.

Students cannot participate in both the Education Savings Account (ESA) Program and the IEA Program.

How much is an IEA? Can it pay for all school expenses?

Account holders can decide how to spend this money between tuition, required books and technology, uniforms, and other allowable educational expenses.

Tuition can be used for:

• Tuition/Fees at a Participating Non-public School
• Educational Therapies
• Tutoring Services
• Computer Hardware or Technological Devices

A complete list of eligible expenses can be found beginning on page 28 of the Parent Handbook.

Eligibility Requirements

A student is eligible to receive an IEA if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. is a Tennessee resident; and

2. will be in grades K-12 at the time of enrollment in the IEA Program; and

3. has an active individualized education program (IEP) 1 through a Tennessee public school district in effect at the time of request for participation in the program; (If you have questions about your child’s IEP status, please directly contact the public school district in which your student is enrolled.); and

4. has one of the following disabilities in the active IEP as the primary or secondary disability at the time of request for participation in the program²:

• autism;
• deaf-blindness;
• developmental delay;
• hearing impairments;
• intellectual disability;
• multiple disabilities3;
• orthopedic impairments;
• specific learning disabilities;
• traumatic brain injury;
• visual impairments; and

5. meets at least one of the following requirements:

• was previously enrolled in and attended a Tennessee public school for the one full school year immediately preceding the school year in which the student receives an IEA;
• has not previously attended a K-12 school in Tennessee, but is currently eligible to enroll in a kindergarten4 program in a Tennessee public school;
• has not previously attended a school in Tennessee for the one full school year immediately preceding the school year in which the student receives an IEA, and moved to Tennessee5 less than one year prior to the date of enrollment in the IEA Program; or
• received an IEA in the previous year.

Which private schools are eligible to receive IEA funds?

There are many eligible private schools! You can find an up to date list of participating private school by visiting the Tennessee Department of Education.

How can I apply?