Homeschool Law in the United States of America: Tennessee

In Tennessee, parents have the option to educate their children at home, an option known as homeschooling or home education.

Parents in Tennessee may choose to home school their own children in grades K - 12. The Tennessee Home School law (Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-6-3050) states: "A home school is a school conducted or directed by a parent or parents or a legal guardian or guardians for their own children."

"TnHomeEd is a network and comprehensive independent clearinghouse of homeschooling information specifically for Tennessee parents and other interested parties.

The mission of TnHomeEd is to provide homeschooling and education information to all parents regardless of why or how they school, who they are, what they believe or their membership status."

"People start home schooling every day in Tennessee. You may have questions about how to start, how to enroll your child to be in compliance with the compulsory attendance laws, or where to go to get curriculum. THEA was formed to help you get started and continue teaching your children as we work to protect homeschooling freedom.
Since 1984, we’ve been helping families across the state by providing tested, common sense advice to help them launch their home schools.
Tennessee law defines home schooling as “parent or guardians teaching their children”. That definition is simple, direct and straight forward. If you are a parent, you can home school in Tennessee."

(a)

(1) A "home school" is a school conducted or directed by a parent or parents or a legal guardian or guardians for their own children. Public school facilities may be used by home school participants with the approval of the principal of the school, but this permissive authority shall not be construed to confer any right upon the participants to use public school facilities. If approved, use shall be in accordance with rules established by the local board of education.

(a) The public schools shall be free to all persons above the age of five (5) years, or who will become five (5) years of age on or before September 30, residing within the state.

(a) The following classes of children between six (6) and seventeen (17) years of age, both inclusive, shall be temporarily excused from complying with the provisions of this part, the local board of education to be sole judge in all such cases involving children who are enrolled in a public school and, as to children enrolled in a non-public school, as defined by § 49-6-3001(c)(3)(A), the director of schools of the school to be the sole judge in all such cases.

(a) On or before the beginning of the school term each year, the director of schools of each school district shall furnish to the principal teacher in each school, or cause to be furnished, through any duly elected attendance teacher, as herein provided, the names of children depending on their schools for instruction, together with the names of the parents or guardians of the children, the lists to be taken from the census enumeration on file in the office of the director of schools, or from any other available and reliable sources.

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "church-related school" means a school operated by denominational, parochial or other bona fide church organizations, which are required to meet the standards of accreditation or membership of the Tennessee Association of Christian Schools , the Association of Christian Schools International , the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools , the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools , the Tennessee Association of Non-Public Academic Schools.