IEA Student Application & Renewal

What to Expect During the Application Process

To apply for an IEA, the parent/legal guardian of an eligible student (or an eligible student who has reached the age of 18) must submit an application online. The application will be posted on the IEA Program website.

Students_Application_Timeline

New Student Applications for the 2024-25 contract year were accepted Feb. 15 - April 15, 2024. Please view the program’s policy on late applications here.

Questions related to an account holder’s choice to renew the IEA for the next contract year were added to the Quarter Three (Q3) Expense Report due April 1, 2024. This served as the renewal application for the 2024-25 contract year.

Admission and enrollment in a non-public school is a separate process from IEA application approval and is not guaranteed by application to the IEA Program. The award of an IEA does not ensure acceptance to a participating non-public school. Each non-public school has its own admission policies and procedures, and families are encouraged to start researching schools after the IEA application is submitted.

A current list of all approved IEA participating non-public schools is available in the “Resources” section of our website. This list does not constitute an endorsement by the department; it is the responsibility of account holders to thoroughly research schools and determine whether a school meets their child's educational needs.

  • Research and visit any IEA participating non-public school you are interested in and work with their admissions office to apply. Please note that IEA participating non-public schools are not required to admit or hold placements for students in the IEA Program. IEA participating non-public schools may not have available IEA seats for all grade levels the school serves.
  • If there is a non-public school that is not on the IEA participating non-public schools list, please encourage the school administration to reach out to us. We can help them through the very simple process of joining IEA. Non-public school applications are accepted year-round.
  • If choosing to independently home school, please visit the Home School Division website for more information and guidance on Tennessee home school requirements.