How to start homeschooling in Tennessee
The legal steps, in order, checked against Tennessee law.
Short answer: Tennessee families can run an independent home school, enroll in a church-related umbrella school, or use an accredited online school. For an independent home school, the teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent, files a notice of intent with the local district each year, teaches 4 hours a day for 180 days, reports attendance, and has the child tested in grades 5, 7 and 9.
Checked against Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3050, as cited on the state Notice of Intent form on Nov 8, 2026. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Tennessee gives you 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick one and follow its steps.
Independent home school
Parents who will be the primary teacher under the supervision of the local school system superintendent.
Steps
- Make sure the teaching parent has a high school diploma or a state-approved equivalency credential.
- File the Intent to Home School form with your local school district, along with proof of your diploma. You can register at any time of year, including mid-year.
- Choose and buy your own curriculum. The district will ask you to identify it.
- Teach at least 4 hours a day for 180 days a year.
- Send attendance records to the director of schools (usually the district's home school coordinator) at the end of each school year.
- Have your child take a standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9.
- File a new intent form before the start of each school year.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Your local school district (its home school coordinator) When: Anytime for the first year, then before the start of each school year Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Not confirmed in our check. Ask the state education department. |
| Time | At least 4 hours a day for 180 days a year |
| Parent qualifications | High school diploma or a state board approved equivalency credential, with proof sent in with the intent form |
| Testing or evaluation | A standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9: either a nationally normed test the parent picks, proctored by someone not related to the child, or the same state test public school students take. Results go to the parent, the director of schools and the state board. |
| Records to keep | Attendance records, sent to the director of schools at the end of each year and open to inspection. The parent keeps grades, transcripts and all student records. |
The law: Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3050, as cited on the state Notice of Intent form Tennessee Department of Education, Independent Home School Requirements, Grades K-12 (revised June 2026) Tennessee Department of Education, Home School page
Other legal routes
Tennessee law also allows these. We have not confirmed their full rules, so ask the state education department before you choose one.
- Church-related umbrella school: Families who enroll their child in an approved church-related umbrella school.
- Category III accredited online school: Families who enroll their child in an approved Category III accredited online school.
Leaving public school mid-year
Parents may withdraw a child to an independent home school at any point in the school year by filing the intent form with the district.
High school, transcripts and diplomas
The parent-teacher creates the high school diploma and transcript. The department, the state board and the local district do not issue diplomas to home school students. Students who later enroll in a public or approved private school may be tested for placement, and students in grades 9 to 12 may be tested for credit.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in Tennessee?
Yes, under the independent home school route, you notify your local school district (its home school coordinator) anytime for the first year, then before the start of each school year.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in Tennessee?
A standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9: either a nationally normed test the parent picks, proctored by someone not related to the child, or the same state test public school students take. Results go to the parent, the director of schools and the state board.
Sources
- Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-3050, as cited on the state Notice of Intent form
- Tennessee Department of Education, Independent Home School Requirements, Grades K-12 (revised June 2026)
- Tennessee Department of Education, Home School page
- Home School, Tennessee Department of Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.