Tennessee homeschool requirements
Tennessee offers three routes: an independent home school (notice to the local director of schools plus state testing in certain grades), a church-related umbrella school (no district notice, umbrella handles testing), or an accredited online school.
Program
United States — Tennessee · Tennessee Home School (Independent / Umbrella)
What the Tennessee process looks like
1.Establish the program
Choose a route and register
Independent route: give annual notice to the local director of schools before the school year, with the children's names/ages/grades, curriculum, hours, and parent qualifications. Umbrella route: enroll through a church-related school, which handles compliance and requires no district notice.
Withdraw from prior school (if applicable)
Withdraw the child from any current school.
2.During the year
Teach and keep attendance
Provide instruction for the required number of days and keep attendance records. Under the umbrella route, follow that school's record-keeping rules.
3.End of year
Complete required testing
Independent students take the state test (TCAP) in grades 5, 7, and 9. Church-related umbrella students are exempt from state testing; the umbrella school determines any testing.
Sources · Last reviewed 2026-07
Take the Tennessee checklist with you
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