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Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) Program

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What is the ESA program?

The ESA program allows eligible students who are zoned to attend Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Hamilton County Schools, or a school that was in the Achievement School District (ASD) on May 24, 2019, to use state and local money toward education expenses, including tuition and/or fees at approved private schools.

ESA_Program_Timeline

Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) Enrollment Deadline Approaching:

ESA Account Holders must submit Fall 2023 school enrollment verification for approved students by September 15, 2023, to ESA.Questions@tn.gov.

ESA Winter Application and Enrollment Deadlines

The Fall 2023 ESA application deadline was August 1, 2023. Applications received and/or postmarked between August 2, 2023, and January 5, 2024, will be reviewed for January 2024 enrollment at one-half the total ESA awarded amount.

Enrollment for January 2024 approved applicants will be due no later than January 15, 2024.

Student Application

Learn about the ESA application for students interested in participating in the program below.  To complete this application, you will need to fill in the required fields and attach copies of your documents. Do not send original documents.

PLEASE NOTE: No applications will be accepted via email. Currently, all 2023-24 submissions and documents must be mailed to the department or given to an ESA Team member at an in-person event. The department is currently contracting for a secure, online system for the ESA program. In the future, families will use the online system for application and for approved educational expenses.

Families have two options in completing this form:

  1. Print and fill out the application by hand. Families can print and then handwrite responses before mailing.
  2. Fill out the application on a computer before printing and mailing.

Once your application is filled out, prepare to mail your application to us for review. Please ensure all needed documents are included with your application. Then, send the complete application with supporting documentation to the following mailing address:

ESA Program c/o TDOE

Andrew Johnson Tower, 10th Floor

710 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, TN 37243

Application Resources

Additional Resources

ESA 2023-24 Family Handbook: A guide to the ESA Program for Families

ESA 2023-24 School Handbook: A guide to the ESA Program for Schools

Approved ESA Schools for 2023-24: A list of approved, participating schools where families may spend the ESA on tuition, textbooks, uniforms, and other approved educational expenses

Considering Nonpublic School Options: A guide for approved families to consider their school options for the ESA scholarship

ESA Legislative Changes