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Homeschooling in Tennessee

Tennessee families can home school through a church-related umbrella school (which handles records and testing) or independently with annual notice, attendance records and tests in grades 5, 7 and 9.

Last checkedAgainst Statute + state sources

Tennessee at a glanceLevel: Low

Notice to the state
No
Umbrella school: no notice to the district (§49-6-3050). Independent: a notice of intent to the local director of schools before each school year (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(1)).
Testing
No
Umbrella school: the church-related school handles testing. Independent: tests in grades 5, 7 and 9 in English and math, with results sent to the director of schools and State Board (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(5)).
Record-keeping
Required
Umbrella option: record-keeping by the church-related school. Independent option: attendance records subject to inspection and submitted to the director of schools at year end. (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(2); TDOE)
Immunization
Not required
Independent and church-related umbrella homeschoolers are exempt from school immunization requirements (TCA §49-6-5001(i)).
Required subjects
None specified
Instruction time
Independent: at least 4 hours a day for the public school number of days (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(3)). Umbrella school: set by the church-related school, which must match the public school term
§49-50-801(d)
Parent qualifications
Independent: a high school diploma or equivalency. Umbrella school: set by the church-related school, with a diploma or equivalency for grades 9–12 under §49-6-3050(a)(2)(B).
Compulsory school age
6–17 generally; a child age 6 or younger is exempt if a home school notice is filed with the LEA or church-related school director, and enrolled home school students are exempt at age 17
§49-6-3001(c)(1)–(2)

Ways to homeschool here: Church-related umbrella school (Category IV) · Independent home school · Accredited online school (private school, not a home school)

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Overview

Tennessee defines a home school as one conducted or directed by parents or legal guardians for their own children. Under the umbrella option, parent-teachers teach under the supervision of the church-related school’s director and follow its requirements. Each district has a home school coordinator to help independent home schools comply (TDOE). Home school students may try out for interscholastic athletics (§49-6-3050(e)). They may take advanced courses and preparatory college entrance exams, including PSAT/NMSQT, Pre-ACT and CLT10, at public schools if space is available (§49-6-3050(f); 2026 Public Chapter 912).

  • Church-related umbrella school (Category IV)
  • Independent home school
  • Accredited online school (private school, not a home school)

Requirements at a glance

  • Notice: Church-related umbrella school option: no notice to the district under §49-6-3050, though upon withdrawal from public school parents may be required to show proof of enrollment (TDOE). Independent home school option: annual notice of intent to the local director of schools before each school year, with children’s names, ages and grades, location, proposed curriculum, hours and parent qualifications. (TCA §49-6-3050(a)(2)–(3), (b)(1); TDOE)
  • Testing or assessment: Umbrella option: testing and records are the church-related school’s responsibility. Independent option: tests in grades 5, 7 and 9 (state tests or parent-selected nationally normed tests in English language arts and mathematics, proctored by an unrelated person and recorded by the test developer), results sent to the parent, director of schools and State Board. The statutory remediation requirement was removed in 2026. (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(5); 2026 Public Chapter 912)
  • Records: Umbrella option: record-keeping by the church-related school. Independent option: attendance records subject to inspection and submitted to the director of schools at year end. (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(2); TDOE)
  • Subjects: None specified
  • Instruction time: Independent option: at least 4 hours a day for the number of days required of public schools (TCA §49-6-3050(b)(3)); umbrella option: set by the church-related school, which must operate for the same length of term as public schools (§49-50-801(d))
  • Parent/teacher qualifications: Independent option: high school diploma or equivalency; umbrella option: set by the church-related school, with a diploma or equivalency required for grades 9–12 under §49-6-3050(a)(2)(B), while teachers under §49-6-3050(a)(3) follow its requirements (TCA §49-6-3050)
  • Compulsory attendance ages: 6–17 generally; a child age 6 or younger is exempt if a home school notice is filed with the LEA or church-related school director, and enrolled home school students are exempt at age 17 (§49-6-3001(c)(1)–(2))

Sources

This page summarizes the statutes and official pages listed in the sources block, as read on the last-checked date. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm current requirements with your state or local education agency.

Statute read on Justia (2025 Tennessee Code); Tennessee’s official code is hosted by LexisNexis.