Homeschooling in Tennessee? Here’s your plan.
some requirementsThousands of Tennessee families homeschool successfully. The process has more steps than some states, but every one is manageable, and we'll walk you through it.
Homeschooling is a real option for Tennessee families, and the steps are clear. Tennessee's home school law is T.C.A. 49-6-3050. If you run an independent home school, you send a notice to your local director of schools before each school year, teach at least 4 hours a day for 180 days, keep attendance records, and arrange testing in grades 5, 7, and 9. You can also enroll your children in a church-related school and follow that school's requirements instead.
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Tennessee homeschool requirements include conditions and exceptions. Compare the pathways below and read the conditions alongside each supported requirement.
Source: T.C.A. 49-6-3050. Last reviewed October 2026. Current through the Tennessee legislative session that ended May 8, 2026.
- Regulation level
- Moderate
- Compulsory ages
- 6–17
- Notification required
- Yes — simple notice to Director of schools (superintendent) of the local education agency (LEA) Before each school year
- Assessment required
- Yes — Standardized test, at specific grade levels
- Required subjects
- None mandated
- Primary statute
- T.C.A. 49-6-3050
- A child who is 6 or younger is exempt from compulsory attendance once the parent files a notice of intent to conduct a home school with the director of the LEA or with the director of a church-related school (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(2)(C)).
- The general compulsory attendance rule covers ages 6 through 17, both inclusive (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(1)(A)). A student enrolled in a home school is exempt once they reach 17 (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(2)(D)).
Conditions and exceptions
Age rules
- A child who is 6 or younger is exempt from compulsory attendance once the parent files a notice of intent to conduct a home school with the director of the LEA or with the director of a church-related school (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(2)(C)).
- The general compulsory attendance rule covers ages 6 through 17, both inclusive (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(1)(A)). A student enrolled in a home school is exempt once they reach 17 (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(2)(D)).
Independent Home School (Grades K-8)
- The notice must report the children's names, number, ages and grade levels, the school location, the proposed curriculum, the proposed hours of instruction and the parent-teacher's qualifications, for reporting purposes only (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1)).
- State law requires no withdrawal letter. An independent home school files the annual notice of intent with the local director of schools before each school year (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1)), and the Department of Education says parents may withdraw their child to independent home school at any point during the school year. A child withdrawn from public school must be placed in a public or nonpublic school within 30 days (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(4)).
- No subjects are set by statute. The annual notice must describe the proposed curriculum (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1)).
- Home schools must instruct for the same number of days state law requires of public schools (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(3)); that is 180 days of classroom instruction (T.C.A. 49-6-3004(a)(1)).
- Testing is required in grades 5 and 7 (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(A)).
- Choose either (i) a nationally normed test in English language arts and mathematics selected by the parent-teacher, proctored by someone not related to the student and recorded by the test developer, at the parent's expense; or (ii) the state board-approved tests given to public school students in the same grade (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(A)).
- The statute sets no passing score. Results must be provided to the parent-teacher, the director of schools and the state board of education (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(B)(iii)).
- The statute lists what the annual notice must contain (the children's names, number, ages and grade levels, the school location, proposed curriculum, proposed hours of instruction, and the parent-teacher's qualifications) but prescribes no form. The Department of Education says parents may use its Intent to Home School Form, or the district may request an electronic form containing the same information.
- If the parent-teacher is ill, or at the parent-teacher's discretion, a tutor with the same qualifications may be employed (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(c)).
- The statute requires the qualifications to be reported in the annual notice; it does not say a copy of the diploma must be attached.
Independent Home School (Grades 9-12)
- The notice must report the children's names, number, ages and grade levels, the school location, the proposed curriculum, the proposed hours of instruction and the parent-teacher's qualifications, for reporting purposes only (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1)).
- State law requires no withdrawal letter. An independent home school files the annual notice of intent with the local director of schools before each school year (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1)), and the Department of Education says parents may withdraw their child to independent home school at any point during the school year. A child withdrawn from public school must be placed in a public or nonpublic school within 30 days (T.C.A. 49-6-3001(c)(4)).
- No subjects are set by statute. The annual notice must describe the proposed curriculum (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1)).
- Home schools must instruct for the same number of days state law requires of public schools (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(3)); that is 180 days of classroom instruction (T.C.A. 49-6-3004(a)(1)).
- Testing is required in grade 9 only (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(A)). The grade 9 public school option is not an end-of-course examination (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(A)(ii)).
- Choose either (i) a nationally normed test in English language arts and mathematics selected by the parent-teacher, proctored by someone not related to the student and recorded by the test developer, at the parent's expense; or (ii) the state board-approved tests given to public school students in the same grade (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(A)).
- The statute sets no passing score. Results must be provided to the parent-teacher, the director of schools and the state board of education (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(5)(B)(iii)).
- The statute lists what the annual notice must contain (the children's names, number, ages and grade levels, the school location, proposed curriculum, proposed hours of instruction, and the parent-teacher's qualifications) but prescribes no form. The Department of Education says parents may use its Intent to Home School Form, or the district may request an electronic form containing the same information.
- If the parent-teacher is ill, or at the parent-teacher's discretion, a tutor with the same qualifications may be employed (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(c)).
- The statute requires the qualifications to be reported in the annual notice; it does not say a copy of the diploma must be attached.
Church-Related School (Umbrella School)
- No notice to the local director of schools is required by statute. The student is enrolled in the church-related school, which sets its own requirements (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(2)-(3)).
- State law requires no withdrawal letter. The church-related school, not the family, reports the names, ages, and addresses of its pupils to the local superintendent (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-07-02-.05(2)(e)). The Department of Education says: "However, upon withdrawal from public school, parents or legal guardians may be required to provide proof of enrollment in the church-related school to the local school district."
- The diploma or equivalency requirement applies to grades 9-12 (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(2)(B)). For K-8 the statute sets no qualification; the church-related school sets its own requirements for home school teachers (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(3)).
- The church-related school sets the curriculum.
- Church-related schools must run the same length of term as public schools (T.C.A. 49-50-801(d)); the public school term includes 180 days of classroom instruction (T.C.A. 49-6-3004(a)(1)). Follow the church-related school's calendar.
- The parent-teacher is subject to the requirements the church-related school sets for home school teachers (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(3)).
- The state testing rule for independent home schools does not apply. The exemption in T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(2)(A) covers church-related schools that administer or offer standardized achievement tests, so follow the church-related school's testing policy.
- You do not file the yearly notice of intent with the local director of schools. You follow the church-related school's requirements for home school teachers (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(3)).
- You do not send test results or attendance records to the director of schools. The church-related school handles record-keeping and testing (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(3)).
The essentials under the Independent Home School (Grades K-8)
- 1Notification requirements vary by pathway
- 2Assessment requirements vary by pathway
- 3Instructional time requirements vary by pathway
- 4Reporting requirements vary by pathway
- 5Renew your filing annually Before the start of each school year
Tennessee offers 3 options. See all below.
What to know about homeschooling in Tennessee
For an independent home school, you give your local director of schools an annual notice before each school year. The notice reports your children's names, number, ages, and grade levels, the location of your school, your proposed curriculum, your proposed hours of instruction, and your qualifications as the teaching parent. The law does not set a list of required subjects. You describe your own curriculum in the notice.
You teach for at least 4 hours a day for 180 days, the same number of instructional days the state requires of public schools. You keep attendance records, which the director of schools may inspect, and you turn them in to the director of schools at the end of each school year. The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education. If the parent is ill, or chooses to, a tutor with the same qualifications may teach.
In grades 5, 7, and 9, your child takes a standardized test. You can choose a nationally normed English language arts and math test, proctored by someone not related to your child, at your expense. Or your child can take the same state tests given to public school students in that grade. Results go to you, the director of schools, and the state board of education. The law sets no passing score.
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Every fact checked against official state law
- Facts backed by official law
- 95 / 95
- Quoted word for word from the law
- 86
- Confirmed not required by law
- 9
Explore the individual claims and cited sources behind this state's requirements.
34
source records linked
Additional reference links: 3 sources including the state DOE and HSLDA.
Review status
Last reviewed October 2026. We check Tennessee's official sources for changes twice a week.
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How homeschooling works in Tennessee
Tennessee offers 3 options to homeschool. The most common is highlighted.
Tennessee families choose between an independent home school and enrollment in a church-related school. We list the independent option twice, for grades K-8 and grades 9-12, but the rules are the same. The only difference is which tested grade applies: grades 5 and 7 for younger children, grade 9 for high school.
If you enroll in a church-related school, you follow the requirements that school sets for home school teachers, and the independent home school rules do not apply. The law does not require you to send a notice to your director of schools under this option. For grades 9-12, the teaching parent must still hold a high school diploma or equivalency credential. Church-related schools run the same length of term as public schools, so follow the school's calendar, and ask about its testing policy.
| Grades K-8Most common | Grades 9-12 | Umbrella School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing | Annual (Before each school year) | Annual (Before each school year) | None |
| Testing | Test (grades 5, 7) | Test (grades 9) | None |
| Hours/days | 180 days/yr, 4 hrs/day | 180 days/yr, 4 hrs/day | 180 days/yr |
| Records | Attendance | Attendance | None |
Independent Home School (Grades K-8)
Sourced from T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b). Last reviewed October 2026 · 32 individual claims tracked
Independent Home School (Grades 9-12)
Notification
simple notice to Director of schools (superintendent) of the local education agency (LEA) Before each school year
T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(1); T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b)(8) ·
Testing / assessment
Standardized test — at specific grade levels
Sourced from T.C.A. 49-6-3050(b). Last reviewed October 2026 · 31 individual claims tracked
Church-Related School (Umbrella School)
T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(2); T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(3); T.C.A. 49-50-801
Notification
None required
Required subjects
See curriculum requirements in the cited source
Testing / assessment
None required
Sourced from T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(2); T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(3); T.C.A. 49-50-801. Last reviewed October 2026 · 26 individual claims tracked
Forms and filings
Independent Home School Notice of Intent
Issued by: Director of schools (superintendent) of the local education agency (LEA)
When due: Before the start of each school year, or before commencing instruction if withdrawing mid-year
Independent Home School Notification & Plan
Issued by: Director of schools (superintendent) of the local education agency (LEA)
When due: Before the start of each school year, or before commencing instruction if withdrawing mid-year
Tennessee-specific tips
Practical guidanceSend your notice before the school year. Each year, send your notice to your local director of schools before the school year starts, and keep a copy. The law prescribes no form, so a written notice with the required information works; the state also offers an optional Intent to Home School Form, and your district may ask for its electronic form.
Keep a simple attendance log. One row per school day works well. You turn these records in to the director of schools at the end of each school year.
Plan testing in grades 5, 7, and 9. Decide early which test option you will use. State tests given by the commissioner are free and happen at the same time public school students are tested.
No withdrawal letter is required. Tennessee law does not require one. Your notice of intent is the filing for an independent home school, and a child leaving public school must be placed in a home school or other school within 30 days. If you use a church-related school, the district may ask for proof of enrollment.
Ask about sports and classes. Tennessee law lets home school students try out for interscholastic athletics at public schools if they meet the eligibility rules, and lets them take an advanced course or a PSAT, Pre-ACT, or CLT10 exam at a public school when space is available. Ask your local school for details.
Talk to your school before withdrawing a child with an IEP. Ask your school's special education coordinator what services your child receives now and what options remain after withdrawal.
Explore Tennessee homeschool guides
How to Start
Step-by-step guide to getting started in Tennessee
Compliance Checklist
Every requirement in one checklist
Documents & Templates
Forms, letters, and what to file
Deadlines & Calendar
Filing dates and assessment deadlines
Assessment Requirements
Testing rules and what scores mean
High School
Transcripts, diplomas, and college prep
Special Needs
IEP services, therapy access, and rights
Compare with Another State
Side-by-side law comparison for relocating families
Tennessee homeschool news
View all updates for Tennessee →Your independent resources
Official sources and independent organizations are listed separately below. Check the source and effective date before relying on an unresolved requirement.
State Law
T.C.A. 49-6-3050State DOE
Tennessee Department of EducationLast reviewed October 2026 · How we verify