How to Homeschool in Tennessee

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If you and your family are ready to begin homeschooling in the Volunteer state, you've come to the right place. Tennessee has several requirements regarding documentation and recordkeeping for your homeschool, but it has relatively few regulations concerning how you implement your child's education. In this article you will find the following:

An overview of Tennessee homeschool laws,
An introduction to homeschool groups in Tennessee, and
A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started.

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

Tennessee Homeschool Laws

You have a number of different options for homeschooling in TN.

Traditional Homeschooling

If you just want to teach your child at home, you must complete and submit an intent to homeschool form to your local school district each year. This form must be submitted annually at the beginning of the school year. It should include the following:

Name, age, and grade level of each child to be homeschooled
Location of the school (your home)
Proposed curriculum
Proposed hours of instruction
Qualifications of the parent-teacher (high school diploma or GED)
Proof of vaccinations

For grades K-12, the parent-teacher must hold at least a high school diploma or GED in order to qualify. He or she must also ensure that students participate in schooling for at least 4 hours per day and 180 days per year. Accurate attendance records are important. They must be available for review by the local superintendent and also must be submitted to the superintendent at the end of each school year.

At the end of the year, you must submit your attendance records to the director of your local school district along with test results (if required). Standardized testing is required for the following grade levels:

5th grade
7th grade
9th grade

NOTE: High school students are not required to take the high school proficiency test.

Standardized tests may be completed at your local public school free of charge or a private testing facility at your expense. Be sure to contact your local school district to learn about testing opportunities in your area. Local support groups and homeschooling organizations will also be helpful if you are looking for testing options.

Homeschooling through a Church-Related School

Tennessee enables homeschoolers to operate under the umbrella of a church-related school. There are a few different options available under this option. Please refer to a local church-related school in order to learn more.

Homeschooling through a Distance-Learning School

The final option enables you to homeschool your child through a distance-learning school that is private and accredited.

Homeschool Groups in Tennessee

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Tennessee to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA)

http://www.tnhea.org/

This organization provides a variety of resources to you and your family. Their chapters cover the entire state with local support groups and co-ops. They also publish a monthly newsletter and host several events throughout the year including conferences and a curriculum fair.

Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association (CSTHEA)

http://www.csthea.org/

CSTHEA is a Christian organization based in the Chattanooga area but covering all of Southeast Tennessee. They provide starter guides, mentorship, and support groups in addition to hosting and organizing a variety of extracurricular opportunities for your family.

Heart and Heart Home Education Support Group

http://www.tn-heart-and-hearth.com/

This Christian organization serves South Central Tennessee with seasonal celebrations, field trips, and co-op meetings. They also host a small conference each year and publish a group yearbook.

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NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Tennessee

Moving Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Tennessee. All of the Moving Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Tennessee legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Moving Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Moving Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Moving Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.