Homeschool Requirements in Tennessee
Tennessee gives you two ways to homeschool: on your own, reporting to your district, or through a church related school. The paperwork is very different. Here's each one in plain English.
Homeschool mom of two and co-founder of Packet Day
✓ Last verified against the Tennessee Department of Education's home school page
The short answer ⚡
Yes. On your own, you need a high school diploma or equivalency credential, a notice of intent to your school district before each school year, and a test in grades 5, 7 and 9. Through a church related umbrella school, the school sets the rules and keeps the records instead.
Tennessee at a glance 📋
- Notify the district
- Yes
- A notice of intent before each school year, if you homeschool on your own
- Parent qualification
- Diploma
- A high school diploma or a state approved equivalency credential
- Testing
- Grades 5, 7, 9
- A test you pick, or the same state test public school students take
- Starting mid year
- Any time
- You can withdraw your child to home school at any point
- Help
- Coordinator
- Every district has a home school coordinator
- Church related school
- Option
- An umbrella school replaces the notice and handles records and testing
Pick your path 🛤️
Tennessee law (TCA 49-6-3050) names two ways to homeschool. A third option, an accredited online school, isn't homeschooling at all, but many families use it.
| On your own | Church related umbrella school |
|---|---|
| You are the teacher of record | Church related umbrella schoolYou teach as a parent teacher, supervised by the school's director |
| Notice of intent to your district before each school year | Church related umbrella schoolNo Intent to Home School form, since the school is an approved nonpublic school |
| Testing in grades 5, 7 and 9 | Church related umbrella schoolThe church related school handles records and testing |
| You need a high school diploma or equivalency credential | Church related umbrella schoolThe school's own requirements apply to parent teachers |
| Your child's diploma and transcript come from you | Church related umbrella schoolYour child's diploma and transcript come from the school |
On your own
1. Independent home school
You're the teacher of record and you make sure every requirement is met. You need a high school diploma or a state approved equivalency credential, and you send a notice of intent to the district where you live.
Umbrella option
2. Church related umbrella school
Some church related nonpublic schools (called Category IV) offer a home school program. You teach as a parent teacher under the school director's supervision. Parent teachers follow that school's requirements, and for grades 9 to 12 the school may ask for a diploma or equivalency credential.
Good to know
3. Accredited online school
Your child can attend an accredited online school from home. The Department says this isn't home schooling. These are private schools (called Category III), accredited by an approved regional accrediting agency.
Starting on your own, step by step 📬
Everything goes through the school district where your family lives. You can withdraw your child to homeschool at any point in the school year, and every district has a home school coordinator to help.
Have these ready
- Your high school diploma or state approved equivalency credential
- The Intent to Home School form from the Department, or your district's electronic form with the same information
Make sure you have a high school diploma or an equivalency credential the State Board of Education approves.
Send your notice of intent to the school district where you live. Use the state's Intent to Home School form, or the electronic form your district asks for.
Withdrawing from public school mid year? You can do that at any point. Ask your district's home school coordinator how they like to handle it.
Test your child in grades 5, 7 and 9.
Before each new school year: send a new notice of intent.
Good to know
- Your district's home school coordinator can help you stay on track. The Department's contact is Home.School@tn.gov.
- Your child's diploma and transcript come from you, the parent teacher.
Source: Tennessee Department of Education: Home School
Want this as a printable? Get the free Tennessee checklist.
Records to keep 🗂️
The Department's page doesn't list records for you to keep, so ask your district's home school coordinator what they expect. Because you issue your child's diploma and transcript, these copies will help either way:
- A copy of every notice of intent with the date you sent itOur suggestion
- Test results for grades 5, 7 and 9 so you have them for the transcriptOur suggestion
- Grades and a course list each year you create the transcript, so build it as you goOur suggestion
- A few work samples each term handy if you move, enroll in school or apply to collegeOur suggestion
One folder per school year keeps it simple.
Testing: what Tennessee actually requires 🧪
Independent home school students in grades 5, 7 and 9 must take a test. You can choose a nationally normed standardized test yourself, or use the same state board approved assessment public school students take.
The Department's page doesn't say who gives the test or where results go, so ask your district's home school coordinator. In a church related umbrella school, the school is responsible for testing.
What to teach 📚
The Department's page doesn't list required subjects. It says that as an independent home school parent, you're the teacher of record and you make sure all the educational requirements under the law are met. That includes:
- Testing: a test in grades 5, 7 and 9
- Your diploma: a high school diploma or equivalency credential
For anything else, such as subjects or school days, ask your district's home school coordinator. In a church related umbrella school, the school's requirements apply.
5 mistakes new Tennessee homeschoolers make ⚠️
1. Skipping the notice.
On your own, you send a new notice of intent before the start of each school year, not just the first one.
2. Missing a test year.
Independent home school students are tested in grades 5, 7 and 9. Put those years on your calendar.
3. Counting an online school as homeschooling.
The Department says an accredited online school is a private school, not a home school. Its rules are the school's, not the home school law's.
4. Assuming an umbrella school means no paperwork.
You skip the Intent to Home School form, but the church related school has its own requirements for parent teachers. Ask what they are before you enroll. Leaving public school, you may be asked for proof of enrollment.
5. Skipping your district's home school coordinator.
Every district has one, and helping families comply is their job. A quick call early saves a lot of guessing.
Tennessee homeschool FAQ 💬
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Tennessee?
On your own, yes. Send a notice of intent to the school district where you live, using the Department's Intent to Home School form or your district's electronic form with the same information. Send a new one before each school year. Through a church related umbrella school, you don't file that form.
Do I need a diploma to homeschool in Tennessee?
On your own, yes. You need a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the State Board of Education. In a church related umbrella school, parent teachers follow the school's requirements, and for grades 9 to 12 the school may ask for a diploma or equivalency credential.
Which grades are tested in Tennessee?
Independent home school students are tested in grades 5, 7 and 9. You can pick a nationally normed standardized test, or use the same state board approved assessment public school students take. The Department's page doesn't say who gives the test, so ask your district's home school coordinator.
Can I start homeschooling in the middle of the school year?
Yes. The Department says parents may withdraw their child to independent home school at any point during the school year. Send your notice of intent to your district, and call your district's home school coordinator to ask how they like to handle a mid year start.
What is a church related umbrella school?
It's a home school program offered by some church related nonpublic schools, called Category IV. You teach as a parent teacher under the director's supervision. The school handles records and testing and gives your child's diploma and transcript. Ask the school what it requires before you enroll.
Is an online school the same as homeschooling in Tennessee?
No. An accredited online school is a private school, not a home school, even though your child learns at home. These are called Category III schools. They're accredited by a regional agency the State Board of Education approves, and they follow their own rules, not the home school law.
Who gives my child's diploma if I homeschool on my own?
You do. Students graduating from an independent home school receive their diploma and transcript from their parent teacher. Through a church related umbrella school, the diploma and transcript come from that school instead. Keep good grade and course records as you go.
Who can help me understand the rules in my district?
Every Tennessee school district has a home school coordinator whose job includes helping families comply with the independent home school rules. You can also email the Department of Education at Home.School@tn.gov. Start with your coordinator, since districts handle the notice themselves.
Get your free Tennessee checklist ✅
We turned this whole page into a 1 page printable checklist: every notice step, every test year, what to keep on file. Stick it in your homeschool binder and you're covered.
Plus, make your first learning packet free. 11 to 17 pages, generated around your kiddo in a minute or two.
Sources 📖
Last verified October 2026. Requirements are summarized from the sources above.
This page summarizes public information for general reference. It is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current requirements with your district's home school coordinator, the Tennessee Department of Education, or a qualified attorney before making decisions for your family.
Explore more states 🗺️
More state guides
- North Carolina homeschool requirementsHow to homeschool legally in North Carolina: file one Notice of Intent with DNPE, test every year, and keep attendance and immunization records.
- Georgia homeschool requirementsHow to homeschool legally in Georgia: file a Declaration of Intent by September 1, teach 180 days, test every 3 years, and write a yearly progress report.
- Virginia homeschool requirementsHow to homeschool legally in Virginia: send a notice of intent by August 15 each year, meet one of four parent options, and show progress by August 1.
From the Packet Day blog
- How Many Hours of Homeschool a Day? Real Answers by GradeHow many hours of homeschool per day? Real answers by grade (K to 2, 3 to 5, and 6 to 8), plus why home learning needs fewer hours than school.
- A Homeschool Schedule for Multiple Kids at Different LevelsTeaching two kids at two levels? Here's the homeschool schedule for multiple kids that finally worked for us: a two-hour rotation with zero shoulder taps.
New to homeschooling? See how Packet Day helps on sick days, and why so many parents are done hunting for free worksheets.