Parents and Students

• ESA 2025-26 Family Handbook

• Video: TN ESA: Tuition and Fees Payment Guide for Families
• Written Instructions: TN ESA: Tuition and Fees Payment Guide for Families

• ESA Service Providers List
• Video: TN ESA: Family Wallet User Guide (guidde.com)
• Written Instructions:
  • TN ESA Family Marketplace User Instructions: Access & Navigate
  • TN ESA Family Marketplace User Instructions: Book a Session
  • TN ESA Family Marketplace User Instructions: Purchase a Product

• FAQ for Serving Students with Disabilities

Before receiving the next ESA disbursement, either your student will need to become the account holder of the ESA account, or the ESA Program must receive one of the following for your student. Access to the student’s account will be restricted until these procedures are followed.

1. A valid notarized power of attorney executed by your student, appointing you as the agent, OR
2. A conservatorship order issued by a judge, appointing you as the conservator and granting the appropriate decision-making rights. (Individuals interested in pursuing this option are encouraged to contact an attorney. Please be advised this is a lengthier process.)

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal agreement between two individuals in which the principal (e.g., your student) agrees to allow the agent (e.g., you, the parent or caretaker) to make decisions or exercise rights and responsibilities on the principal’s behalf.

POAs can be:

General: Intended to cover all decisions, rights, and responsibilities. Note that Tenn. Code Ann. § 34-6-109 has a common list of powers that can be incorporated by reference, OR

Limited: Intended to cover only some decisions, rights, and responsibilities, AND

Durable: Takes effect immediately and remains in effect until termination by the principal, OR

Temporary: Takes effect immediately but only remains in effect until a specified date or future event occurs (e.g. graduating high school).

A POA does not have to be drafted by an attorney and does not need to be approved or issued by a judge. The ESA Program simply requires the POA be signed by the student in the presence of a notary public and notarized. However, a POA is only valid if your student has the mental capacity to understand the nature and purpose of the POA. If your student does not have this capacity, a conservatorship is required, which is a lengthier process and requires a court proceeding.

Who can execute a POA?

Tennessee law allows a student to sign a Power of Attorney (POA) only after they turn 18 years old. Families should wait until the student's 18th birthday before completing POA documents.

What does the POA need to include?

The POA that your student executes for you to remain the ESA account holder must at a minimum indicate that the following rights are transferred to you, as the agent:

• The right to make educational decisions regarding the placement and participation of the student in the Education Savings Account (ESA) Program; and
• The right to make banking and financial decisions and transactions, limited to management, control, and access to the Education Savings Account.

The above terms can easily be added to existing POA formats. In addition, TDOE provides an optional limited POA that only transfers the minimum rights necessary for participation in the ESA Program. A template of this form is provided below.

Please complete and submit the Education Savings Account (ESA) Program Age of Majority Form provided below.

• ESA Age of Majority Form
• ESA Durable Limited POA Form

• ESA Withdrawal or Transfer Procedures for Families
• ESA Enrollment Lottery Guidelines
  
• ESA Age 18 Guidance
  
• ESA Sports Brief
• ESA Legacy Student Guidance
• Next Steps for Families