Find your next step in Tennessee

Use the official routes below to ask about services for your child. Keep the program's eligibility decision separate from a referral or application.

Start with TEIS for early help

The Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) offers therapy and other early services at no cost to eligible families. Call 800-852-7157 or use the referral form on the TEIS page. TEIS referral page

TEIS considers its diagnosis list, prematurity criteria or a developmental evaluation. Its published evaluation threshold is a 25% delay in two developmental areas or a 40% delay in one. TEIS eligibility page

The Extended Option can continue TEIS until the start of the school year after a child's fifth birthday. It requires TEIS enrollment before age three and eligibility for school special education under IDEA Part B; the FAQ also specifies a third birthday on or after October 15, 2022. TEIS Extended Option FAQ

The linked policy's general rule calls for TEIS eligibility at least 45 days before age three. It separately provides a pathway for referrals made 90 to 45 days before the third birthday. If the child qualifies under Part C, TEIS seeks consent for the school referral and continues Part C services while Part B eligibility is decided. TEIS extension policy

A referral made fewer than 45 days before the third birthday goes to the school district for Part B eligibility and does not qualify for the Extended Option under that policy. TEIS extension policy

The policy says TEIS services end at the third birthday if the district requested evaluation consent and the parent has not given it by then. TEIS extension policy

You cannot receive services through a TEIS Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and a school Individualized Education Program (IEP) at the same time. After leaving TEIS for school services, you cannot return to TEIS. A child first referred after age three must use the school route. TEIS Extended Option FAQ

If your child is nearing three, ask the TEIS coordinator to confirm the referral date, eligibility dates and next meeting.

Ask about a school evaluation

You may ask your school to evaluate whether your child needs special education. Consent for the first evaluation and consent to start the first special education services are separate decisions. State parent-rights guide

Tennessee's June 2023 timeline sheet gives 60 calendar days after the district receives parental consent to complete the initial evaluation and eligibility decision. It gives 30 calendar days after eligibility for the initial IEP meeting. State timelines, June 2023

The state's evaluation page links a March 31, 2014 exceptions memo. It lists an agreement in writing between the parent and district for a specific-learning-disability determination using response to intervention, repeated parental failure or refusal to make the child available, or a qualifying transfer between districts. State exceptions memo, March 2014 State evaluation page

For the transfer exception, eligibility must still be unfinished, the new district must be making sufficient progress, and the parent and new district must agree on a specific completion date. State exceptions memo, March 2014

The memo does not list a school break as an automatic extension. State exceptions memo, March 2014

Keep the date the district received consent. If a deadline is disputed, ask which exception applies and request its written basis.

The current consolidated Tennessee special education rule was not retrieved for this review. These dates are presented as dated state guidance, not a review of every current legal requirement. State timelines, June 2023

Compare EFS and IEA before changing schools

Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) applications for 2026-27 are closed. The department lists a $7,530 scholarship for that school year. State EFS page

EFS requires Tennessee residency and eligibility to attend public school in grades K-12. The student must enroll in a registered Tennessee Category I, II or III non-public school; tuition and fees take priority. State EFS page

For EFS or other state school-choice questions, call 615-741-5158 and select the Office of Programs and School Choice prompts. EFS also lists EFS.Questions@tn.gov. State EFS page

Individualized Education Account (IEA) applications for 2026-27 are closed. The department projects February 16, 2027 for the 2027-28 application window to open. That date is projected. State IEA page

IEA requires Tennessee residency and K-12 enrollment when joining. The parent page lists four school-history routes: a full prior Tennessee public-school year; eligibility for public kindergarten without prior Tennessee K-12 public-school attendance; a move to Tennessee less than a year before joining without attending a Tennessee school for the full preceding school year; or an IEA in the previous school year. IEA parent guidance

The current page accepts an active IEP from a Tennessee public-school district at the application-window close, or TEIS Extended Option participation with a Part B report naming a listed disability. Autism is listed. Residency, grade and school-history rules still apply. IEA parent guidance

The current parent page includes the TEIS route, but the July 2026 handbook's eligibility passage describes an active IEP. The kindergarten wording also differs: the webpage refers to prior Tennessee K-12 public-school attendance; the handbook refers to prior Tennessee K-12 school attendance. Ask IEA.Questions@tn.gov to clarify these cases. IEA parent guidance IEA handbook, July 2026 State IEA page

The July 2026 IEA handbook uses a district-related funding formula, rather than a single statewide award. Students may apply to IEA, ESA and EFS, but may participate in and receive funding from only one. IEA handbook, July 2026

An IEA-participating private school does not have to admit an IEA student or provide special education services. Check the school's admission and service arrangements before committing. IEA handbook, July 2026

Understand services after a parent chooses a private school

Tennessee's April 2025 school-choice FAQ says participation alone does not end special education eligibility. A parentally placed non-public student has no individual entitlement to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) through an IEP while in the program. School-choice FAQ, April 2025

Eligible students may receive equitable services through an individualized service plan. These are limited services chosen through the district's process, not a guarantee of any particular service or the same services offered in public school. School-choice FAQ, April 2025

For a school-choice student who lives in one district and attends private school in another, the district where the private school is located handles the three-year reevaluation. School-choice FAQ, April 2025

For an earlier requested reevaluation in that situation, the FAQ allows a request to either district. It generally recommends the school-location district for families continuing IEA or ESA, and the home district for families planning to return to public school. School-choice FAQ, April 2025

The FAQ says a family seeking FAPE through an IEP may leave the school-choice program and enroll in a public school district. School-choice FAQ, April 2025

For a first evaluation of a child already in private school, ask the school-location district and the state education team to confirm the referral route. This review did not establish a complete current Tennessee rule for every initial private-school referral.

Ask TennCare about Katie Beckett

Katie Beckett serves children under 18 with significant disabilities or complex medical needs who cannot qualify for ordinary Medicaid because of parental income or assets. TennCare Katie Beckett page

As checked September 12, 2026, Part A provides full Medicaid plus up to $15,000 yearly in home and community services for children meeting institutional-level care requirements who will receive care at home. TennCare Katie Beckett page

Part B is for children at risk of institutional care who do not meet institutional-level requirements. It provides up to $10,000 yearly in services, as checked September 12, 2026, without Medicaid enrollment. TennCare Katie Beckett page

Part C preserves existing Medicaid when it would end because parental income or resources increased, the child would qualify for Part A, and no Part A slot is open. These conditions apply together. TennCare Katie Beckett page

An applicant must be found eligible for Part B before Part A consideration. TennCare reviews finances, and Disability and Aging reviews medical eligibility. Funding limits enrollment; Part A premiums may apply. TennCare Katie Beckett page

Start with the TennCare Connect link on the official Katie Beckett page. For help with TennCare Connect, call 855-259-0701. TennCare Katie Beckett page

Check ECF CHOICES eligibility and priority

Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES requires an intellectual or developmental disability, financial eligibility and qualifying care needs. TennCare's page places the onset of intellectual disability before age 18 and developmental disability before age 22. TennCare ECF CHOICES page

For children under 18, parental income and resources generally count. The page lists exceptions for a child age 17 or older who qualifies for nursing-home-level care, or a child entering or leaving Intensive Behavioral Family Supports, called Group 7. TennCare ECF CHOICES page

Qualified applicants may still wait for a slot. If no opening is available, TennCare uses a referral list with priority groups and slot availability; a referral does not secure enrollment. TennCare ECF CHOICES page

Use the self-referral link on the ECF CHOICES page. The TennCare Long-Term Services and Supports help desk is 877-224-0219. TennCare ECF CHOICES page

Use plan-specific insurance help

Tennessee Consumer Insurance Services answers general questions at 615-741-2218, or 800-342-4029 outside Davidson County. Its complaint page first directs consumers to contact their insurer and keep a record of the response. State insurance help

The department does not regulate self-insured employer health plans. Its routing page points those plans to the U.S. Department of Labor and lists separate routes for TennCare, Medicare, military and federal-employee coverage. State insurance help

Ask the plan about the specific evaluation or therapy, authorization and provider network before scheduling. The former under-12 autism coverage claim has not been reverified here. Current rural diagnostic waits, individual premiums and open program slots also remain unknown.

This guide helps you find the responsible program. It does not provide medical or legal advice.