Frameworks and Standards

Homeschool Specific Information

Below is brief summary of the homeschooling law in Tennessee. Compulsory School Age “between the ages of six (6) and seventeen (17) years, both inclusive”; also applicable to children under age 6 who have enrolled in any public, private, or parochial school for more than six weeks; a parent of a six-year-old may make application for a one-semester or one-year deferral with the principal of the public school in which the child would be required to attend   Tennessee Legal Home Schooling Options:  1  2  3     Option: 1   Option: 2   Option: 3   Legal Option:   Establish and operate a home school   Establish and operate a home school in association with a church-related school   Operate as a satellite campus of a church-related school   Attendance:   180 days per year, 4 hours per day   180 days per year   180 days per year   Subjects:   For grades K-8: None For grades 9-12: Either college preparatory courses---those required for admission to state-operated four-year colleges, OR general studies courses---those required by the state board of education for high school graduation.   As prescribed by the church-related school   As prescribed by the church-related school   Qualifications:   For grades K-8: High school diploma or GED For grades 9-12: baccalaureate degree (or an exemption granted by the commissioner of education)   For grades K-8: None For grades 9-12: High school diploma or GED   None   Notice:   Submit a notice of intent to the local superintendent by August 1 of each school year   For grades K-8: None For grades 9-12: Register with the local school district each year   None   Recordkeeping:   Maintain attendance records; must be kept available for inspection and submitted to the local superintendent at the end of the school year   None   None   Testing:   Administer a standardized test in grades 5, 7, and 9; must be given by commissioner of education, his designee, or a professional testing service approved by the local school district   Administer the same annual standardized achievement test or Sanders Model assessment used by the local school district for grades 9-12   As prescribed by the church-related school     © 2007, HSLDA NOTE: This summary is not intended to be, and does not constitute, the giving of legal advice. Many states have unclear compulsory attendance statutes, and the courts of those states vary in their interpretation of the statutes. Therefore, there is no guarantee any state will accept all of the options for compliance listed under each state. This summary is not intended to be a substitute for individual reliance on privately retained legal counsel such as that provided by Home School Legal Defense Association.