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Homeschooling a Child with an IEP in Tennessee

What happens to your child's special education services when you homeschool in Tennessee, and how to reach the services that remain available.

What happens to your child's services

Once you home school, your child is treated as a parentally placed student and is not entitled to the same services a public school would provide. Your district must still identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities, and the Tennessee Department of Education requires districts to make home school students with disabilities eligible for equitable services through an individualized service plan.

Primary source: IDEA, 20 USC 1412(a)(10)(A); 34 CFR 300.130-144; Tennessee Department of Education, Serving Students with Disabilities Participating in School Choice Programs FAQ

How to access services while homeschooling

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Child Find

Every district must identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities living in Tennessee who may need special education, including home school students (34 CFR 300.111).

IDEA, 20 USC 1412(a)(3); 34 CFR 300.111

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Equitable services

The Tennessee Department of Education requires districts to count home school students with disabilities in grades K-12 in their proportionate share and to make them eligible for IDEA equitable services. The district decides which equitable services it makes available, and a student who receives them gets an individualized service plan (ISP).

IDEA, 20 USC 1412(a)(10)(A); 34 CFR 300.130-144; Tennessee Department of Education, Serving Students with Disabilities Participating in School Choice Programs FAQ

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Dual enrollment

Tennessee law gives home school students no right to use public school facilities or programs. Use needs the principal's approval and confers no right (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(1)). A public school must let a home school student take an advanced course or preparatory college entrance exam it offers if space is available (49-6-3050(f)), which is not a special education service.

Before you withdraw

  1. 1

    Request complete copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports before you withdraw.

  2. 2

    Consider requesting an IEP meeting to discuss the transition. This is optional.

  3. 3

    File your homeschool notice as your state requires. Our wizard prepares it for you.

  4. 4

    Arrange any private therapies or services your child needs before withdrawal takes effect.

Keep copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports. You'll need them if you re-enroll.

Special education help

COPAA

copaa.org · Find a special education attorney near you

Wrightslaw

wrightslaw.com · Special education law encyclopedia

Common questions

What happens to my child's IEP when I start homeschooling in Tennessee?
Once you home school, your child is treated as a parentally placed student and is not entitled to the same services a public school would provide. Your district must still identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities, and the Tennessee Department of Education requires districts to make home school students with disabilities eligible for equitable services through an individualized service plan.
Can my child still get special education help from the school if we homeschool in Tennessee?
Child Find: Every district must identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities living in Tennessee who may need special education, including home school students (34 CFR 300.111). Equitable services: The Tennessee Department of Education requires districts to count home school students with disabilities in grades K-12 in their proportionate share and to make them eligible for IDEA equitable services. The district decides which equitable services it makes available, and a student who receives them gets an individualized service plan (ISP).

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Requirements sourced from T.C.A. 49-6-3050. Last reviewed October 2026