Individualized Education Account Program

Students qualify if they are eligible to enroll in kindergarten through 12th grade and have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with a primary or secondary diagnosis of one of the following: autism, deaf-blindness, hearing impairment (including deafness), intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, visual impairment (including blindness), or multiple disabilities. Additionally, students must either (1) have been enrolled in and attended a Tennessee public school for one full school year immediately preceding the school year in which they receive an IEA, (2) be enrolling in a Tennessee school for the first time, or (3) have received an IEA in the previous school year. After receiving an IEA, students can no longer be enrolled in a public school. _(Last updated July 15, 2024)_

Scholarships are available to students to enroll in participating schools or homeschooling. Account funds are approved for wide use, including for tuition or fees at a participating school and textbooks required by a participating school; tutoring services provided by an accredited tutor; payment for purchase of curriculum and any required supplementary materials; fees for transportation; tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program or course; fees for nationally norm-referenced testing or exams related to postsecondary admissions; contributions to a Coverdell Education Savings Account for the benefit of the participating student; educational therapies by a licensed or accredited provider; approved computer hardware or technology for educational need; services provided under a contract with a public school, including individual classes and extracurricular activities; tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution; textbooks at a postsecondary institution; and fees for the management of the IEA. _(Last updated July 15, 2024)_

The state funds the program through the school funding formula. An Individualized Education Account (IEA) is funded by state funds at an amount equivalent to 100% of the state and local funds reflected in the state funding formula that would have gone to the student had he or she attended a zoned public school, plus special education funds to which the student would otherwise be entitled under the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The state funds are subtracted from the amount otherwise payable to the school district where the student resides. Families receive IEA funds quarterly in an IEA debit card account during the 10 months of the school year. Funds can roll over each quarter, but at least half of the annual award amount must be spent by the end of the school year. _(Last updated July 15, 2024)_

No legal challenges have been filed against the program. _(Last updated July 15, 2024)_