Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Tennessee?

Yes (for independent home school, the option most families use). You send notice to the director of schools (home school coordinator) of the school district where you live, any time for the first year (including mid-year withdrawal); before the start of each school year after that. How often: annually. The state Intent to Home School form or your district's electronic version, emailed, mailed or dropped off to the district home school coordinator, with proof of the teaching parent's education.

What subjects do I have to teach in Tennessee?

Tennessee doesn't set a required subject list (for independent home school, the option most families use). Most families still cover reading, writing, math, science and social studies.

How many days or hours of homeschool does Tennessee require?

At least 4 hours per day for 180 days per school year.

Are standardized tests or evaluations required in Tennessee?

Standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9. Either a nationally normed test chosen and paid for by the parent, proctored by someone not related to the student and scored by the test developer with national norms in English language arts and math; or the same state test public school students take (TCAP), free at the local public school (not the grade 9 end-of-course exam). Results go to the parent, the director of schools, and the State Board of Education.

Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Tennessee?

High school diploma or state-approved equivalency credential. A tutor with the same qualifications may be used.

What records should I keep when homeschooling in Tennessee?

Daily attendance records (subject to inspection by the director of schools at any time); Grades and transcripts (the parent-teacher creates and keeps them); Test results for grades 5, 7 and 9; Copies of diplomas and all student records.

How to homeschool in Tennessee

Moderate regulationChecked against official sources October 9, 2026

Tennessee has two homeschool routes. With an independent home school, you file an Intent to Home School form with your school district each year before school starts. You also teach 4 hours a day for 180 days, send in attendance records at year's end, and test in grades 5, 7 and 9. With a church-related umbrella school, the school keeps the records and handles testing, and you don't file the district form.

Homeschooling in Tennessee at a glance: notice of intent required (send to the director of schools (home school coordinator) of the school district where you live); instruction time: at least 4 hours per day for 180 days per school year; no required subject list; testing: standardized test in…

Option 1: Independent home school

The option most families use.

Independent home school · Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3050

A parent or legal guardian with a high school diploma or equivalency credential registers with the local school district and is the teacher of record. The district collects the yearly notice and end-of-year attendance records.

Notice: Send to: the director of schools (home school coordinator) of the school district where you live.
When: any time for the first year (including mid-year withdrawal); before the start of each school year after that.
How often: annually.
How: the state Intent to Home School form or your district's electronic version, emailed, mailed or dropped off to the district home school coordinator, with proof of the teaching parent's education.
Instruction time: At least 4 hours per day for 180 days per school year.
Records to keep: Daily attendance records (subject to inspection by the director of schools at any time).
Grades and transcripts (the parent-teacher creates and keeps them).
Test results for grades 5, 7 and 9.
Copies of diplomas and all student records.
Testing / evaluation: Standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9. Either a nationally normed test chosen and paid for by the parent, proctored by someone not related to the student and scored by the test developer with national norms in English language arts and math; or the same state test public school students take (TCAP), free at the local public school (not the grade 9 end-of-course exam). Results go to the parent, the director of schools, and the State Board of Education.
Parent qualifications: High school diploma or state-approved equivalency credential. A tutor with the same qualifications may be used.
Also: Compulsory attendance applies from age 6 through 17.
Proof of vaccination is not required to register.
Districts must give home schools information about meningococcal disease each year.

Official form: Tennessee Notice of Intent to Home School (Department of Education)

What the notice must include

Each student's full name, grade, birthdate and age.
Subjects to be taught and proposed daily hours of instruction.
Curriculum to be used.
Names of the parent(s) or guardian(s) who will teach.
Mailing and residential address, phone and email.
Statement that the teaching parent has a high school diploma or equivalency credential, with proof attached.
Proof of guardianship, if a legal guardian is teaching.
Parent or guardian signature and date.

Checklist

File the Intent to Home School form with proof of your diploma or equivalency: before starting the first year; before the start of each school year after that.
Keep daily attendance (4 hours/day, 180 days): ongoing.
Submit attendance records to the director of schools: at the end of each school year.
Standardized test (state TCAP or parent-chosen national test): in grades 5, 7 and 9.

Option 2: Church-related umbrella school (Category IV)

Church-related umbrella school (Category IV) · Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3050

Your child enrolls in an approved church-related nonpublic school that runs an umbrella homeschool program, and you teach at home under the school director's supervision. The umbrella school keeps records, handles testing, and issues the diploma.

Notice: Not required.
Instruction time: Set by the umbrella school.
Records to keep: Grades and attendance as required by your umbrella school.
Testing / evaluation: Handled by the umbrella school.
Parent qualifications: Set by the umbrella school; parents teaching grades 9-12 may be required to have a high school diploma or equivalency credential.

Checklist

Enroll with an approved church-related umbrella school: before withdrawing from your current school.
Give the district proof of umbrella school enrollment if asked: when you withdraw.
Report grades and attendance to your umbrella school: per your umbrella school's schedule.

Option 3: Accredited online school (Category III)

Accredited online school (Category III)

Enrolling in a state-approved, accredited private online school is legally private school, not homeschooling. The online school handles records and testing. An online program that is not approved can only be used as curriculum inside an independent or umbrella home school.

Notice: Not required.

Checklist

Confirm the online school is on Tennessee's approved accredited online schools list: before enrolling.

Leaving a public school

You may withdraw your child from public school at any point in the year by filing the Intent to Home School form with your district (independent home school) or by showing proof of enrollment in a church-related umbrella school.

Common questions about homeschooling in Tennessee

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Tennessee?: Yes (for independent home school, the option most families use). You send notice to the director of schools (home school coordinator) of the school district where you live, any time for the first year (including mid-year withdrawal); before the start of each school year after that. How often: annually. The state Intent to Home School form or your district's electronic version, emailed, mailed or dropped off to the district home school coordinator, with proof of the teaching parent's education.
What subjects do I have to teach in Tennessee?: Tennessee doesn't set a required subject list (for independent home school, the option most families use). Most families still cover reading, writing, math, science and social studies.
How many days or hours of homeschool does Tennessee require?: At least 4 hours per day for 180 days per school year.
Are standardized tests or evaluations required in Tennessee?: Standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9. Either a nationally normed test chosen and paid for by the parent, proctored by someone not related to the student and scored by the test developer with national norms in English language arts and math; or the same state test public school students take (TCAP), free at the local public school (not the grade 9 end-of-course exam). Results go to the parent, the director of schools, and the State Board of Education.
Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Tennessee?: High school diploma or state-approved equivalency credential. A tutor with the same qualifications may be used.
What records should I keep when homeschooling in Tennessee?: Daily attendance records (subject to inspection by the director of schools at any time); Grades and transcripts (the parent-teacher creates and keeps them); Test results for grades 5, 7 and 9; Copies of diplomas and all student records.

Worth double-checking

The Department says only that the yearly notice is due before the school year starts; it gives no fixed calendar date, and some districts set their own. Check with your district's home school coordinator.
The full text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3050 was not read directly for this summary (the official code is hosted on LexisNexis); details come from the Department of Education's June 2026 guidance.
Neither the statute nor the Department lists required subjects for independent home schools, but the district will ask which curriculum you are using.

Sources

This is a plain-language summary to help you get organized, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the details with your state or school district before you file.