TN ESA program bonds.
From $100. Enter your amount.
Schools that participate in Tennessee's Education Savings Account (ESA) program can meet the Department of Education's financial-viability requirement with a surety bond payable to the state, under TCA 49-6-2601 et seq. Premiums are 1% of the bond amount, $100 minimum, with a soft credit check that never affects your score.
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Apply to filed in a day or two.
Participation bonds are straightforward once the department sets your amount. Here's the whole process:
Apply online
Your school details, the bond amount the department set, and the effective date — plus a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. That is the entire application.
Reviewed & approved
Most clear quickly; if underwriting needs anything, you hear from an underwriter within 48 hours. The credit check is a soft pull that never affects your score.
E-sign & file with the department
Pay online and receive the executed bond, ready to file with the Tennessee Department of Education to complete your ESA participation. Wet-ink originals mailed on request.
What it is and who needs it.
What the ESA program bond actually covers
Tennessee's Education Savings Account (ESA) program (TCA §§ 49-6-2601 et seq., with State Board Rule 0520-01-16) lets eligible families direct state education funds to approved schools and service providers. To participate, a school must demonstrate financial viability and a commitment to lawful participation.
A surety bond payable to the state is one of the accepted ways to satisfy that requirement. The amount reflects the ESA funds the school expects to receive, and the Department of Education sets it as part of approving your participation.
The bond backs the state and participating families: if a school misuses ESA funds or violates the program's terms, a claim can be made to recover the loss — and if the surety pays, the school repays the surety. Enter the amount the department set and see your price, starting from $100.
You need this bond if you are
One application, then a quick review.
These are the actual underwriting fields, including a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Submit once and your bond is typically issued within 1–2 business days.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other Tennessee bonds.
Complete your ESA participation today.
Premiums from $100. Enter the amount the department set and file in a day or two.