Below is a summary of Tennessee Homeschool Laws to help you ensure your homeschool is compliant.
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Note: The information below is not to be considered legal advice. I’m a homeschool mom with an interest in helping you, not a lawyer. I strongly recommend that you contact your state education department if you have questions specific to your circumstances.
Tennessee has three options for homeschooling with varying requirements.
Independent Homeschool
This option has the most requirements, but mostly gives you independent control of your homeschool. Requirements include instructor qualifications, notification, immunization records, attendance records, standardized testing, and minimum instruction time.
Can I Teach?
You must possess a high school diploma or equivalent in order to teach your child.
Do I Have to Notify the State?
Yes. You must notify your local director of schools prior to the start of each school year. The notice must include the following:
- Child’s name
- Child’s age
- Child’s grade
- Homeschool location
- Curriculum
- Proposed hours of instruction
- Teacher qualifications
- Immunization records
The Tennessee Department of Education has a recommended form you can use.
They also provide a listing of Home School Coordinators by school district.
Attendance Records
Tennessee requires that you maintain attendance records and submit them to the director of schools at the end of each year.
More details about the instruction time requirement are below.
Testing Requirement
Your child must take a standardized test in Grades 5, 7, and 9. The test must be administered by a state-designated individual or an approved testing service.
Contact your local school district to coordinate the test.
How Many Days a Year do I Have to Teach?
You must teach 180 days per year for an average of four hours per day.
Remember that maintaining attendance records is required by law.
Church-Related Umbrella School
This option requires membership in a church-related school. These schools must be accredited or a member of one of several associations that monitor them.
Can I Teach?
It depends. Each church-related school may have different requirements.
Do I Have to Notify the State?
Yes. You must provide evidence to your local school district that your child is enrolled in a church-related school.
However, you do not have to submit the Intent to Home School form discussed in the Independent Homeschool option.
Other Requirements
Other requirements will depend on the rules of the church-related school that you enroll in. This may include things like required subjects, standardized testing, maintaining a portfolio, or immunizations.
How Many Days a Year do I Have to Teach?
This will depend on the requirements of your church-related school.
Accredited Online School
This option requires enrollment in a properly accredited online school. Tennessee recognizes accreditations from the following agencies:
- Cognia
- NWAC – Northwest Accreditation Commission
- MSA – Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- MSCES – Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools
- MSCSS – Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
- NCA CASI – North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement
- NAIS – National Association of Independent Schools and affiliates
- NCPSA – National Council of Private School Accreditation
- NEASC – New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- WASC – Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Do I Have to Notify the State?
Yes. You must provide evidence that your child is enrolled in an accredited online school to your local school district.
However, you do not have to submit the Intent to Home School form discussed in the Independent Homeschool option.
Other Requirements
Other requirements will depend on the rules of online school that you enroll in. This may include things like required subjects, standardized testing, maintaining a portfolio, or immunizations.
How Many Days a Year do I Have to Teach?
This will depend on the requirements of your online school.
Compulsory Attendance Age
The compulsory attendance age is the age range in which your child must be attending school of some type.
In Tennessee, your child must attend school from ages 6 to 17 years old or until they graduate high school, if they are homeschooled. (It’s 18 years old for non-homeschooled kids).
Public School Sports
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association allows homeschoolers to participate in its activities as long as they meet normal eligibility requirements and you notify the superintendent of your child’s intent to participate.
Contact your local school for more information.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this summary of Tennessee Homeschool Laws gets you started on your homeschool journey with your family!
If you’re just getting started, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed.
The Home Learning Kit can help!
It’s a package of handy learning tools to make your homeschool more fun and engaging, curated by yours truly. Check it out!
