Home School

Independent Home School

Registering as an independent home school means that the student’s parent or legal guardian is the teacher of record and is responsible for ensuring all educational requirements are met under the law. To independently home school in Tennessee, parents or legal guardians must possess a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education and must submit an Intent to Home School form to the school district where the family resides. Parents may withdraw their child to independent home school at any point during the school year. To continue operating as an independent home school, a new Intent to Home School form must be submitted before the start of each school year. Students graduating from an independent home school receive their diplomas and transcripts from their parent-teacher.

Independent home school students must take the TCAP assessment in grades five, seven and nine.

Each Tennessee school district has a home school coordinator whose responsibilities include assisting families with compliance for independent home school.

Forms and documents for assisting with this process are available below.

• Independent Home School Requirements
• Intent to Home School Form
• District Home School Coordinators (03/14/2024)
•  2023-2024 Home School Attendance Calendar Template

Church-Related Umbrella School (Category IV)

A church-related “umbrella” school is a satellite program offered by some Category IV non-public schools. “Umbrella” or satellite programs allow parents or legal guardians to participate as a teacher in the church-related school under the supervision of the school’s director. Under Tennessee state law, parent-teachers are subject to the requirements established by the church-related school for home-school teachers.  Additionally, parent-teachers whose students are in grades nine through twelve (9-12) must possess at least a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education.

An Intent to Home School form is not required for students enrolled in a church-related school because these programs are approved non-public schools. Instead, parents or legal guardians must provide proof of enrollment in the church-related school to the local school district. As a non-public school, the church-related umbrella school is responsible for student record-keeping and testing requirements. Students graduating from an umbrella school receive their diploma and transcripts from the church-related school at which they are enrolled.

To access a list of state-approved Category IV church-related umbrella schools, visit the Non-Public Schools webpage and click on the current Non-Public Schools List. Umbrella programs are identified in the first column titled “Satellite.”

Accredited Online School (Category III)

An accredited online school is a Category III non-public school that is accredited by a Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE) approved regional accrediting agency.

An Intent to Home School form is not required for students enrolled in an accredited online school because these programs are approved non-public schools. Instead, parents or legal guardians must provide proof of enrollment to the local school district. As a non-public school, the accredited online school is responsible for student record-keeping and testing requirements. Students graduating from an accredited online school receive their diploma and transcripts from the online school where they are enrolled.

A partial list of Category III accredited online schools, including a list of approved regional accreditors is available below. It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to ensure that their student has been enrolled in an online school that is approved in Tennessee.

• Accredited Online Schools List (04/23/24)
• SBE Policy 3.500