Tennessee · Some paperwork

Homeschooling in Tennessee

Tennessee asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.

VerifiedMarch 2026

Notice of intentFile every yearIndependent path: submit Intent to Home School form to local school district before beginning and annually thereafter; church school path: enroll with school — no state notice required

Yearly assessmentYes, each year

Instruction time180 days, at least 4 hours a day

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Tennessee

Written from Tennessee's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.

Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Tennessee asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Independent path: submit Intent to Home School form to local school district before beginning and annually thereafter; church school path: enroll with school — no state notice required You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Tennessee Department of Education / Local School District (independent path) / Church-Related School (umbrella path).
Choose what to teach
Tennessee does not name required subjects, so your curriculum is your own decision. Most families still cover reading, writing, and math daily, and let interest lead the rest.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Tennessee does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
Plan the yearly assessment early
Tennessee asks for an assessment each year. You can choose from: Independent path: TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program) standardized test administered in grades 5, 7, and 9 — required at public school or approved site; Church-related school (umbrella) path: testing determined and administered by the individual church school — state TCAP not required; Online school path: follows the online school's assessment policies. Deciding in the autumn which route you will take saves a scramble in the spring.

Source: Tennessee Department of Education / Local School District (independent path) / Church-Related School (umbrella path) — www.tn.gov/education/families/school-options/home-schooling-in-tn.html. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Tennessee Department of Education / Local School District (independent path) / Church-Related School (umbrella path)
When it is due: Independent path: submit Intent to Home School form to local school district before beginning and annually thereafter; church school path: enroll with school — no state notice required
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: www.tn.gov/education/families/school-options/home-schooling-in-tn.html
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Testing, portfolios and reviews

Assessment: Required each year
Ways to meet it: Independent path: TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program) standardized test administered in grades 5, 7, and 9 — required at public school or approved site
Church-related school (umbrella) path: testing determined and administered by the individual church school — state TCAP not required
Online school path: follows the online school's assessment policies
Named tests: TCAP (mandatory for independent path grades 5, 7, 9)Church school umbrella: any test the umbrella school requires
Portfolio: Not required

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: Tennessee does not name required subjects — the curriculum is yours to choose.
Instruction time: 180 days, at least 4 hours a day
Who may teach: Independent path: teaching parent must hold a high school diploma or state-approved GED equivalent. Church school path: parent-teachers of grades 9–12 may be required by the church school to hold a high school diploma — varies by school. No teaching certificate required for either pathway.
Keeping records: No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.
Legal routes: Option 1 – Independent Home School (TCA § 49-6-3050): file annual Intent to Home School with local district; parent must have HS diploma; 4 hrs/day × 180 days; TCAP testing in grades 5, 7, 9; maintain attendance records
Option 2 – Church-Related School Umbrella (Category IV non-public school satellite): enroll in an approved church-related school that operates a home-school satellite program; state testing not required; school sets its own requirements; much less regulated than Option 1
Option 3 – Accredited Online School: student enrolls full-time in an approved accredited online school; not legally a home school but allows learning from home
Umbrella / cover schools: Tennessee's church-related school (CRS) umbrella pathway is the most popular choice for homeschooling families. Approved Category IV non-public schools offer satellite/umbrella programs where parents become the child's teacher under the school's supervision. The school is not required to use public school curriculum or testing, making this the most flexible path. Parents contact local church schools or organizations like THEA (Tennessee Home Education Association) for a list of approved CRS umbrella providers. Examples include Kings Academy, Donelson Christian Academy satellite, and many others. The CRS must be registered with the TN Department of Education.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports: Tennessee homeschoolers (who have filed a Notice of Intent under independent path) may participate in interscholastic athletics at TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) member public schools, provided the student meets standard TSSAA eligibility requirements. TSSAA member schools are prohibited from refusing participation to otherwise eligible homeschool students. Church school umbrella students participate through their umbrella school's athletic programs rather than public schools.
Dual enrollment: Tennessee homeschoolers may dual enroll in Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) and Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges. The Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant is potentially available. Students must meet placement requirements.
Diplomas: No state-issued diploma for homeschoolers. Independent-path parents issue their own diploma and transcript. Church school umbrella students receive a diploma from the umbrella school, which carries more institutional recognition. Accredited umbrella schools can issue accredited diplomas.
College admissions: Tennessee public universities (UT Knoxville, MTSU, etc.) have defined homeschool admissions policies typically requiring SAT/ACT scores and a transcript. Church school diplomas from accredited programs are generally well-received. Tennessee Promise scholarship eligibility extends to homeschool graduates meeting GPA and test score requirements.
Support for additional needs: Homeschooled TN students do not retain FAPE rights. Families may request Child Find evaluations from local districts. Some districts provide limited speech or OT services at their discretion.

Money your family can claim in Tennessee

Education Freedom Scholarship

Run by Tennessee Department of Education

$7,295 for 2025-26, rising to $7,530 for 2026-27.

Tuition comes first: the scholarship is designed for students enrolled at a registered non-public school, and curriculum is covered at that school. Tutoring can only be paid from what is left after tuition.

Source: www.tn.gov/education/efs.html. Checked July 26, 2026. Eligibility and application dates are set by the program — the official page is always the last word.

Questions parents ask about Tennessee

Is homeschooling legal in Tennessee?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Tennessee. Tennessee has moderate homeschool regulation — some requirements apply but they are generally manageable. Koydo can track your compliance automatically.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee requires families to file a Notice of Intent by Independent path: submit Intent to Home School form to local school district before beginning and annually thereafter; church school path: enroll with school — no state notice required. This notice must be renewed annually.

How many instruction days are required in Tennessee?

Tennessee requires 180 days, at least 4 hours a day.

What subjects are required by law in Tennessee?

Tennessee does not mandate specific subjects, giving families complete freedom to design their own curriculum.

Does Tennessee require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

Yes. Tennessee requires annual assessment. Accepted methods include: Independent path: TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program) standardized test administered in grades 5, 7, and 9 — required at public school or approved site, Church-related school (umbrella) path: testing determined and administered by the individual church school — state TCAP not required, Online school path: follows the online school's assessment policies.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Tennessee?

Tennessee has teacher qualification requirements: Independent path: teaching parent must hold a high school diploma or state-approved GED equivalent. Church school path: parent-teachers of grades 9–12 may be required by the church school to hold a high school diploma — varies by school. No teaching certificate required for either pathway.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee has a law (sometimes called a "Tim Tebow" law) allowing homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. Tennessee homeschoolers (who have filed a Notice of Intent under independent path) may participate in interscholastic athletics at TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) member public schools, provided the student meets standard TSSAA eligibility requirements. TSSAA member schools are prohibited from refusing participation to otherwise eligible homeschool students. Church school umbrella students participate through their umbrella school's athletic programs rather than public schools.

Worth knowing about Tennessee

Tennessee's church school umbrella pathway (Option 2) is the most popular and most flexible — no state testing, no subject mandates, school sets its own requirements. Independent path (Option 1) requires TCAP in grades 5, 7, 9 and a parental HS diploma. The Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA at tnhomeed.com) is the primary advocacy organization.

Who to ask in Tennessee

Regulator: Tennessee Department of Education / Local School District (independent path) / Church-Related School (umbrella path)
Official site: www.tn.gov/education/families/school-options/home-schooling-in-tn.html
Forms: www.tn.gov/education/families/school-options/home-schooling-in-tn.html

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with Tennessee's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits, ready to send to a college.Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer.Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.

Other states

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This page was written from Tennessee's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Tennessee Department of Education / Local School District (independent path) / Church-Related School (umbrella path). This is information for families, not legal advice.

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