Tennessee homeschool checklist for this year
Answer two questions and get the year's deadlines with their dates, the notice, testing and records, each linked to the law. Print it or tick it off here.
- Tennessee law
- This year's checklist
- Withdrawing from school
- ESA money
This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page. Laws change, and Tennessee's own statute and education department are the final word. The links below go straight to them.
Deadlines, forms and amounts checked on against the sources linked on this page.
Tennessee homeschool checklist, school year
Things to do, with their deadlines
File an Intent to Home School form with your local school district, with proof of the parent-teacher's high school diploma or equivalency.
Source: Tennessee Department of Education: Home School; Tennessee Department of Education: Independent Home School Requirements (revised June 2026)Your child takes a standardized test.
Source: Tennessee Department of Education: Independent Home School Requirements (revised June 2026); Public Chapter 912 of 2026 (House Bill 1729), Tennessee Secretary of StateSend your attendance records to the director of schools (or designee).
Source: Tennessee Department of Education: Independent Home School Requirements (revised June 2026)
The state's own form: Intent to Home School form (your local school district).
All year
Keep count of the days and hours. Independent home school students must receive a minimum of four hours of instruction per day for 180 days per school year.
Source: Tennessee Department of Education: Independent Home School Requirements (revised June 2026)Attendance records go to the director of schools (or the district's home school coordinator) at the end of each school year, and the local director of schools can inspect them at any time. The parent-teacher creates and keeps grades and transcripts. Proof of vaccination is not required to register.
Source: Tennessee Department of Education: Independent Home School Requirements (revised June 2026)
Good habits (not in the law)
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Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.
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Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.
Where this comes from
- Tennessee Department of Education: Home School (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: Independent Home School Requirements (revised June 2026) (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: Frequently Asked Questions for Home School (revised June 2026) (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: Individualized Education Account Program (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: School Choice Programs Comparison 2026-27 (state agency)
- Public Chapter 912 of 2026 (House Bill 1729), Tennessee Secretary of State (the law)
- House Bill 1729, 114th General Assembly (bill history) (the law)
- Tennessee Department of Education: EFS FAQs (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: IEA Program Handbook 2026–27 (PDF) (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: Individualized Education Account Program (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: IEA general questions and answers (PDF) (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: IEA for parents and students (state agency)
- Tennessee Department of Education: IEA student application and renewal (state agency)
Checked on October 29, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and forms change; confirm a date with your school district or the state agency before you rely on it. For legal advice, ask a lawyer licensed in Tennessee; homeschool legal-help organizations and your state's homeschool groups can also point you to help. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.