Homeschooling in Tennessee: what the state requires
The rules for homeschooling in Tennessee, in plain English, from the state’s own sources.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Tennessee sources. State page: Tennessee Department of Education — Home School. Compulsory school age: 6 to 17, inclusive (TDOE FAQ: between the ages of six and seventeen, inclusively; until 17 or completion of high school).
Independent home school (Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3050)
The parent is the primary teacher and files an Intent to Home School form with the local school district each year. Instruction is four hours a day for 180 days, and students are tested in grades 5, 7 and 9.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. Before the start of each school year (or when starting mid-year) — Intent to Home School form filed annually with the local public school system (student name, grade, age, birthdate, subjects, daily hours of instruction; parent information; documentation of the parent's high school diploma or equivalency). Families may begin at any point in the school year. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — TDOE: no mandated curriculum; parents select the curriculum. |
| Days | 180 days — 180 days per year. |
| Hours | 180 days of at least 4 hours. — Four hours per day. |
| Records | Required. Parent-teacher reports attendance to the local school district and maintains student records. |
| Teacher | Parent-teacher must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education (grades K-12). |
| Other | Home schools must be given information about meningococcal disease annually. LEA may request proof of health services if the student participates in LEA-sponsored interscholastic/extracurricular activities. |
By grade
Testing or evaluation in grade 5, grade 7 and grade 9. Grades 5, 7 and 9: either a nationally normed standardized test selected and paid for by the parent-teacher, or the state board-approved assessment (TCAP) administered by the local school district. Tested on reading/language arts, math, science and social studies. Results go to the school district.
High school and graduation
Parent-teachers set graduation requirements and create and issue transcripts and diplomas.
Official sources:
- TDOE — Home School
- TDOE — Home School FAQ
- TDOE — Frequently Asked Questions: Home School (Aug. 2025)
- TDOE — Notice of Intent to Home School form
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Statute text of §49-6-3050 could not be fetched from an official site (state code is hosted by LexisNexis; Secretary of State and capitol.tn.gov PDFs blocked). A specific statutory notice date (e.g., August 1), when attendance records are submitted, and any consequence of low test scores were not confirmed.
Home school under a church-related (umbrella) school, Category IV (§49-6-3050(a)(3))
Parents enroll their child in an approved church-related school and teach at home as parent-teachers under the school director's supervision. The umbrella school handles records, attendance reporting and testing.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Not required. No Intent to Home School form. Parents enroll directly with the church-related school; they may need to give the local district proof of enrollment when withdrawing from public school. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — Set by the umbrella school. |
| Days | Not specified on TDOE pages; set by the umbrella school. |
| Hours | Not specified on TDOE pages. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. The church-related school is responsible for testing its enrolled students. |
| Records | Required. The church-related umbrella school keeps student records and reports attendance. |
| Teacher | For grades 9-12, parent-teacher must have at least a high school diploma or equivalency credential approved by the State Board of Education. |
| Other | Students are subject to mandatory attendance under §49-6-3007. |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
Students receive transcripts and diplomas from the church-related school.
Official sources:
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Day/hour and testing rules for umbrella-school students not confirmed in statute text.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics Math 4 | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies Social Studies 3; Personal Finance 0.5 | 3.5 |
| Foreign Language World Language 2 | 2.0 |
| Fine Arts | 1.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Physical Education 0.5; Wellness 1 | 1.5 |
| Electives Elective Focus 3 | 3.0 |
| Total | 22.0 |
|---|
TDOE also lists 1 credit of Computer Science, which may be substituted for the fourth math credit or the third lab science credit (so the 22-credit total is unchanged). Students in public school in 11th grade must take the ACT or SAT; EOC exams factor into course grades.
Source: TDOE — Graduation Requirements
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
TDOE: accredited online schools (Category III) are not home schools even if accessed from home.
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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