Homeschooling in Tennessee: what the law requires and who pays
The department says Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3050) allows two kinds of home school: an independent home school, or enrollment in an approved church-related (umbrella) school. We have not found an official source saying a Tennessee program pays homeschooled students.
What Tennessee’s law requires
- The law that allows it
-
The department says Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3050) allows two kinds of home school: an independent home school, or enrollment in an approved church-related (umbrella) school.
“The law identifies two ways parents or legal guardians may choose to home school their children: independent home school or enrollment in an approved church-related non-public school” Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN
- Telling the state or district
-
Independent home schoolers file a notice of intent with the school district where the family lives.
“must submit notice of intent to home school to the school district where the family resides” Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN
A new notice of intent is due before the start of each school year.
“To continue operating as an independent home school, a new notice of intent must be submitted before the start of each school year.” Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN
Umbrella (church-related) school students do not file the intent form.
“An Intent to Home School form is not required for students enrolled in a church-related school because these programs are approved non-public schools.” Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN
- What and how long to teach
-
Independent home school students receive at least 4 hours of instruction a day for 180 days a year.
“Students must receive a minimum of four (4) hours of instruction per day for 180 days per school year.” Tennessee Department of Education, Independent Home School Requirements (PDF, revised June 2026)
- Testing or evaluation
-
Independent home school students in grades 5, 7 and 9 take a nationally normed test chosen by the parent or the state test given to public school students.
“Independent home school students in grades 5, 7, and 9 must take either a parent-selected nationally normed standardized test or the same state board-approved standardized assessment required of public school students.” Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN
- Records to keep
-
Attendance records go to the district's director of schools (or designee) at the end of each school year.
“Attendance records must be submitted to the director of schools (or designee) in the school district where the student lives at the end of each school year.” Tennessee Department of Education, Independent Home School Requirements (PDF, revised June 2026)
- Who may teach
-
Independent home school parents need a high school diploma or equivalency credential.
“parents or legal guardians must possess a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education” Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN
The state’s own page for families: Tennessee Department of Education, Home Schooling in TN.
State money for homeschoolers in Tennessee
We have not found an official source saying a Tennessee program pays homeschooled students.
Programs that do not pay homeschoolers
Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS). A homeschooled student may apply, but receives EFS funds only after enrolling in an EFS-registered Category I, II or III non-public school. (Tennessee Department of Education, 2026-27 Education Freedom Scholarship FAQs (PDF))
Tennessee EFS: amount and how to apply Private schools in Tennessee
Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Tennessee next to every other state.
Questions parents ask
Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Tennessee?
Independent home schoolers file a notice of intent with the school district where the family lives. A new notice of intent is due before the start of each school year. Umbrella (church-related) school students do not file the intent form.
Do homeschoolers in Tennessee have to take tests?
Independent home school students in grades 5, 7 and 9 take a nationally normed test chosen by the parent or the state test given to public school students.
Can a homeschooler in Tennessee get state money?
We have not found an official source saying a Tennessee program pays homeschooled students. A homeschooled student may apply, but receives EFS funds only after enrolling in an EFS-registered Category I, II or III non-public school.
Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.
Homeschool law in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming