In Tennessee, the Department of Education offers a variety of educational choices, including public, non-public, and home schools. A key component of these options is the Individualized Education Account (IEA) program as designated by state law. This program is designed to aid students with disabilities and their families by providing financial assistance, enabling them to select educational opportunities that suit their specific needs.
Applications for an IEA to begin in the 2024-25 school year will be accepted starting February 15, 2024. Applications for the 2024-25 school year will close on April 15, 2024.
Eligibility for the IEA Program
To be eligible for the IEA program, a student must meet several criteria:
- Tennessee Residency: The student must be a resident of Tennessee.
- Grade Requirements: The student should be enrolled in grades K-12 during the IEA program enrollment period.
- Active IEP: An active Individualized Education Program (IEP) through a Tennessee public school district is required at the time of application.
- Specific Disabilities: The student must have one of the following primary or secondary disabilities listed on their active IEP:
- Autism
- Deaf-blindness
- Developmental delay
- Hearing impairments
- Intellectual disability
- Multiple disabilities
- Orthopedic impairments
- Specific learning disabilities
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visual impairments
- Additional Criteria: Additionally, the student must either have attended a Tennessee public school in the previous year, be entering kindergarten, be new to Tennessee schools, or have received an IEA in the previous year.
Uses of IEA Funds
IEA funds can be allocated to a range of educational expenses, but they cannot be used if the student is enrolled in a public school. These expenses fall into thirteen categories, outlined by the IEA Act:
- Private School Costs: Tuition, fees, and textbooks at approved private schools.
- Tutoring Services: Supplementary academic instruction by accredited tutors.
- Educational Therapies: Individualized services to enhance academic performance.
- Curriculum: Instructional materials for specific content areas or grade levels.
- Technological Devices: Pre-approved computer hardware for educational needs.
- Test Fees: Fees for standardized tests and college entrance exams.
- Online Learning: Tuition for online courses, not exceeding full-time enrollment.
- Public School Services: Individual classes and extracurricular programs at public schools.
- Post-secondary Education Costs: Tuition, fees, and textbooks at eligible institutions.
- Dual Enrollment: Tuition for post-secondary courses while enrolled in K-12 education.
- Transportation: Fees for transportation to educational institutions and providers.
- ABLE TN Account Contributions: Savings for future qualified expenses.
- Coverdell-530 Education Savings Account Contributions: A trust for future educational expenses.
It’s important to note that IEA funds cannot reimburse personal expenses, and all purchases must be within the IEA contract period.
Applying for the IEA Program
Applications for the IEA program for the 2024-25 school year open on February 15, 2024, and close on April 15, 2024 and can be accessed through the TN Department of Education’s website. Parents or guardians of eligible students can apply within this window to avail of the program’s benefits for the upcoming school year.