The summaries below describe three different approaches, or alternative ways, the state of Tennessee offers homeschooling families to meet state compulsory education requirements. Additional and more extensive help can be found within our e-book: Tennessee Homeschool Legal Workbook: Your Guide to Compliance - Facts & Forms, prepared by HomeSchoolLegal.com.

Approach 1

Approach: Establish an independent homeschool

Restrictions: Grades K-8 require that teacher have a high school diploma or GED. Grades 9-12 require a Baccalaureate Degree or a waiver from the Commissioner of Education.

Reporting: Submit notice of intent to local superintendent by August 1st, subject to a $20/week late fee from August 1st to September 1st which may be waived by local superintendent.

Recordkeeping: Maintain attendance records, available for inspection and submitted to the local superintendent at the end of the school year.

Requirements: Subjects not determined for grades K-8. For grades 9-12, parent must choose either College Prep or General. General must include subjects required for graduation; college prep must include subjects required for entrance to public universities. Attend 180 days per year, four hours per day.

Testing: In grades 5 and 7, students must take same state board approved standardized tests required of public school students. In grade 9, students must take same state board approved standardized tests required of public school students, but NOT the high school proficiency test. Testing outside the local school will be at parent’s expense.

Compulsory Attendance: Applies to children between the ages of 6 and 17. Applies to children under age 6 who have been enrolled in any school for more than six weeks. Parent of a 6-year-old may apply for deferral with the principal of the public school.

 Source of Law: Tennessee Code Annotated

NOTE: Independent homeschoolers (Approach 1) who teach children in grades 9-12 must have a Baccalaureate Degree or a waiver from the Commissioner of Education. Such waivers are rarely granted. Many parents choose to utilize Approaches 2 or 3 for these grades for this reason. A listing of church-related and satellite schools is available.

Approach 2

Approach: Establish a homeschool in association with a church-related school. In addition, for grades 9-12, register with local school district each year.

Restrictions: Grades K-8 have no teacher restrictions. A high school diploma or GED is required for grades 9-12.

Reporting: As required by church-related school. Also, must register with local school district for grades 9-12. 

Recordkeeping: None. Keep attendance records as required by church-related school.

Requirements: Subjects as required by church-related school. Attendance as required by church-related school.

Testing: Testing is required. Students in grades 9-12 shall be administered an annual achievement or the Sanders Model of value-added assessment, whichever is in use in that Local Education Agency and is sanctioned by the state board of education.

Compulsory Attendance: Applies to children between the ages of 6 and 17. Applies to children under age 6 who have been enrolled in any school for more than six weeks. Parent of 6-year-old may apply for deferral with the principal of the public school.

 Source of Law: Tennessee Code Annotated

 Approach 3

 Approach: Operate as satellite campus of church-related school

 Restrictions: Teacher certification not required

Reporting: As required by church-related school

 Recordkeeping: As required by church-related school

 Requirements: Subjects as required by church-related school

 Testing: As required by church-related school

Compulsory Attendance: Applies to children between the ages of 6 and 17. Applies to children under age 6 who have been enrolled in any school for more than six weeks. Parent of 6-year-old may apply for deferral with the principal of the public school.

 Source of Law: Tennessee Code Annotated     

*NOTE*: This is not intended to be legal advice and is offered only as an educational service for visitors of this site. It is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Requirements may change at any time, and interpretations of the law and regulations can differ. Consult a legal services provider and a local home schooling support group for more specific information.