Homeschooling in Tennessee

Your options

1) Independent home school under the local LEA (49-6-3050(b)). 2) Church-related umbrella school (Category IV) – parent teaches under a church-related school's supervision and its rules; exempt from LEA requirements (49-6-3050(a)(2)-(3), 49-50-801). 3) Accredited online school (Category III) – not classed as home school.

Notice or letter of intent

Independent: Intent to Home School form to the local director of schools/district home school coordinator before the start of each school year (annual); first registration may be any time. Umbrella: no intent form; may need proof of enrollment for the district.

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects

Not prescribed for independent home school; parent lists subjects and curriculum on the intent form.

Days or hours

Independent: at least 4 hours/day for 180 days (same days as public schools).

Testing or assessment

Independent: grades 5, 7 and 9 take state-board-approved standardised tests (free at local public school or via approved testing service within 30 days). Remediation steps if behind; if 1+ year behind on two consecutive tests the director may require school enrollment. Umbrella: per school.

Records

Independent: keep attendance records, open to director inspection, and submit them to the director at the end of each school year. Umbrella: school keeps records.

Parent qualifications

Independent: high school diploma or approved equivalency (proof submitted with form). Umbrella grades 9-12: school may require diploma/equivalency.

Other rules

Parent issues diplomas/transcripts (umbrella school does for its students). No proof of immunization required. Annual meningococcal information provided to home schools.

Official forms

Intent to Home School form: tn.gov/… ; Independent Home School Requirements: tn.gov/…

The law

Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3050; 49-50-801 – read the law

Not yet confirmed: the link is to an unofficial copy of the Tennessee Code (the official code has no stable public link). Check your state’s official page: Tennessee official page.

Who to contact

• Tennessee Department of Education – Non-Public Schools / Home School[email protected] · Official pageWho handles notices: Local district (independent home school); umbrella school for church-related option

Special education and public school classes and sports

Statute/TDOE pages do not address special ed (only a learning-disability exception to remediation). LEAs must allow home school students to try out for interscholastic athletics (49-6-3050(e)); may take AP/PSAT at any public school offering them; facility use at principal's discretion.

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Tennessee

To enroll your child in a public school in Tennessee, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school. Ask how it decides grade placement and whether it accepts credits from homeschooling before your child starts, and bring the records you choose to share. We didn’t find a state rule on this for Tennessee in the official sources we checked – see the Tennessee official page and ask the district.

See going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.