Spotlight:

a recent survey showed 8 in 10 Tennessee parents want more education options for their kids.

Having the opportunity to choose the school that best meets their child’s needs is a top priority for Tennessee parents.

GLOSSARY OF EDUCATION OPTIONS

There are several types of education options currently available to parents in Tennessee. Here is a quick breakdown: 

• Public Schools: 1,800 public K-12 schools in Tennessee serving just over 1 million students.
  Traditional public schools are K-12 institutions funded through a combination of local, state, and federal resources. The schools are free and open to everyone. Traditional public schools must adhere to state and federal accountability standards to measure school performance, academic achievement, and student progress. 
  

• Charter Schools: 115 public charter schools serving 44,000 K-12 students in Tennessee
  Charter schools are public schools that are free and open to all students. In exchange for additional flexibility, charter schools are held accountable to high standards as outlined in their foundational “charter.” Charter schools are operated under a contract with a charter school authorizer, which may be either the local school district or the state. 
  

• Magnet Schools: 121 public magnet schools serving 81,261 K-12 students in Tennessee
  Magnet schools are public schools that operate as part of the local school system and are accountable to state standards. These schools differ from traditional public schools because they often focus on individually themed curricula. Examples of themes that magnet schools focus on include STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), fine arts, world languages, international studies, and career and technical education. Like charter schools, magnet schools are free and open to the public, and due to high demand, students are often accepted via a lottery system. 
  

• Nonpublic Schools: There are more than 600 nonpublic schools in Tennessee
  Nonpublic schools include private schools and home school programs. These nonpublic schools are independently operated and receive no local, state, or federal funding. While nonpublic schools are not subject to the same state and federal regulations that govern traditional public schools, they often adhere closely to these policies to provide an equal or better educational experience. At private schools, students pay tuition, and some schools may be religiously affiliated. 
  

• Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program
  According to the Tennessee Department of Education, “The Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program is a school choice program for eligible students with disabilities. The program was created by the Individualized Education Act, adopted by the General Assembly in 2015. The first IEAs were awarded in January 2017. The IEA Program gives parents and students access to public education funds to use on certain types of approved educational expenses that best meet their own unique needs.”

• Education Savings Account (ESA) Program

  The ESA program in Tennessee went into effect in July 2022, allowing for parents in Metro Nashville Public Schools, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Hamilton County Schools, or a school that was in the Achievement School District on May 24, 2019, to use state and local funds to cover eligible expenses, including tuition, at participating private schools.