How to Apply to be a Participating School

Before Applying

Administrators of non-public schools interested in participating in the IEA Program should read the laws guiding the IEA Program and the IEA Program Handbook before completing the Participating Non-Public School Application & Assurances.

If you have any questions about becoming an IEA participating non-public school, please contact Shelley Johnson at (629) 702-0410 or email Shelley.R.Johnson@tn.gov.

What to Expect During the Application Process

To participate in the Tennessee Department of Education’s (department) Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program and accept IEA funding from an IEA account holder for payment for tuition, fees, and/or textbooks, an interested non-public school must apply online. Applications to become an IEA participating non-public school are accepted year-round and must be submitted annually.

Application Instructions

Submit the Participating Non-Public School Application & Assurances along with all required supporting documentation. Please be advised that the application must be submitted by the school principal or director. The application is not complete until all the following documents have been submitted along with the signed application:

Proof of Financial Viability

Non-public schools interested in becoming or remaining a participating school in the IEA Program must demonstrate financial viability to repay any funds that may be owed to the state [See Tennessee State Board of Education Rule 0520-01-11-.08(1)(a)2.] Schools can comply with this requirement by doing one of the following:

a.       Submit a copy of the previous year’s Form 990 tax statement;

b.       File a surety bond payable to the IEA Program from a surety: The amount of the surety bond must be equal to the maximum number of students enrolled in the IEA Program that the school has the capacity to enroll (identified in the school’s application) multiplied by the amount of the average quarterly IEA award for the previous contract year. The bond must be signed by someone duly authorized to bind the organization to this agreement (e.g., the administrator of a non-public school).; or

c.       Submit a statement by a certified public accountant: If a school has been approved as a Category I, II, or III non-public school for five years or more, in lieu of the surety bond or tax statement, the school can submit a statement from a certified public accountant confirming that the school is able to pay an aggregate amount equal to the maximum number of students enrolled in the IEA Program that the school has the capacity to enroll (identified in the school’s application) multiplied by the amount of the average quarterly IEA award for the previous contract year.

Both the CPA statement template and the surety bond template are available on the Resources page of the IEA website.

School Calendar

The calendar must list the total number of instructional days students will be attending the school during the contract year (the school year that the school is applying to participate in the IEA Program).

List of All Tuition and Fees

Schools must submit an itemized list of all the costs required for a student to attend the school for the school year that the school is applying to participate in the IEA Program.

Updating School Information

If at any time the information submitted in the application changes, including, but not limited to, the email address, physical address, and phone number, the school shall report the changes to the department. Schools must notify IEA.Questions@tn.gov within 15 days of any changes.