Governor Lee Names New Education Commissioner
On Jan. 17, Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Dr. Penny Schwinn to lead the Tennessee Department of Education as commissioner. Click here to read the press release. Dr. Schwinn plans to start at the department in the near future. In the meantime, Dr. Lyle Ailshie will continue to serve as interim commissioner. If you have any questions, please contact Educator.Communications@tn.gov
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IEA Info Videos
Looking for more information about the IEA Program? Check out these short informational videos posted on the IEA webpage:
For more detailed information about the IEA Program, watch the IEA Parent Information Session Webinar, read answers to frequently asked questions, read the IEA Parent Handbook, or check out the resources on the IEA webpage.
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Launch of 2019–20 Student and School Applications for the IEA Program
The applications for students and private schools to participate in the Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program for the 2019-20 school year (Aug. 1, 2019-July 31, 2020) are now open.
- Applications for private schools to participate in the IEA Program are accepted year-round. Current participating schools must annually apply to participate in the IEA Program. The department strongly encourages schools to apply as soon as possible so that parents are aware of which schools are approved to participate and to ensure the school’s application is fully approved by the Aug. 1, 2019, start date.
The department will not review applications that are received by the department after the deadline has passed. The department will review applications within 30 calendar days.
If the student application is approved, parents must complete the following additional steps to enroll the student in the IEA Program:
- Read the 2019-20 IEA Parent Handbook. The handbook will be posted on the IEA Resources webpage in the summer and announced through the IEA Update.
- Submit the IEA Contract along with all required supporting documentation, including the Assurances Form, and FERPA Waiver by following the instructions that the department will email to account holders in mid-July 2019. Make sure to check your email in July. Complete contracts for students currently enrolled in the IEA Program must be received by the department by 3 p.m. CT on July 26.
- By Aug. 1, notify the IEA school district liaison for the district in which your student resides that the student will be enrolling in the IEA Program for the 2019-20 school year. The list of IEA school district liaisons is posted on the IEA webpage.
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If all of these steps are not completed by the deadlines above, the student will not be enrolled in the IEA Program for the 2019-20 school year. No extensions can be given.
If you have any questions, please contact the IEA team at (615) 253–3781 or IEA.Questions@tn.gov. Please note: Due to the volume of calls and emails, it can take the IEA team up to 10 business days to respond.
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Parent Information Sessions
In January and February, the department will provide information sessions for parents on the IEA Program. Parent information sessions are designed to help parents who are interested in enrolling their student in the IEA Program learn more about what the IEA Program is, including student eligibility, amount of funding, approved expenses, and parent responsibilities. Parents will also learn how to complete the application process to enroll their child in the IEA Program. These sessions are not for parents of students already enrolled in the IEA Program.
If you did not register to attend an in-person session, there will be a live webinar for parents on Feb. 13 from 6–8 p.m. CT. Instructions for how to access the webinar are available here. Pre-registration is not required for the webinar.
The session PowerPoint and a recording of the session webinar are posted on the department’s IEA web page (here).
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Private School Information Sessions
The department will conduct a live information session webinar on the IEA Program for private school principals interested in applying to participate in the IEA Program for the 2019-20 school year. Private school information sessions are designed to help private school principals learn more about what the IEA Program is, including school eligibility, school responsibilities, and approved expenses. Private school principals will also learn how to complete the application process to become a participating school in the IEA Program.
The webinar will be held on Feb. 15 from 9–11 a.m. CT. Instructions for how to access the webinar are available here. School principals do not need to pre-register for the webinar.
The session PowerPoint and recording of the live webinar are posted on the department’s IEA web page (here).
Schools principals can also submit a request for the IEA team to come and speak to their school by emailing IEA.Questions@tn.gov.
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Additional Resources for Parents
The Arc Tennessee
The Arc is the nation’s largest organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families, with a 65-year history of promoting and protecting the rights of people with I/DD and providing them the opportunity to live full, satisfying, and self-determined lives as valued and contributing members of their communities. For more information, please visit https://www.thearctn.org/ or contact: (800) 835-7077, info@thearc.org
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