Home Schooling in Tennessee

Parents may home school their own children pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) §49-6-3050 by registering with their local education agency (LEA). Parents choosing this educational option must meet specified educational requirements, test the child and report attendance to the local education agency (LEA) at the end of the year.

By authority of the same statute, parents may also home school their own children by affiliating with and registering with a church related school defined by TCA §49-50-801.  If a parent is exercising this educational option by home schooling a child who is in grade K-12 they must also register with the LEA they would otherwise be attending.  For parents exercising this option, with the exception of grades 9-12, the testing requirements are determined by the church related school.  Parents exercising this option for children in grades 9-12 must also meet certain educational requirements.  Church-related schools must determine what recording-keeping requirements are in place for these parents.  However, church-related schools must keep daily attendance reports which pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3007(d) shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times, to the director of schools of the system in which the school is located or to the director of school’s authorized representative.

TCA  49-6-3001(c) (1) states -- every parent, guardian or other legal custodian residing within this state having control or charge of any child or children between six (6) years of age and seventeen (17) years of age, both inclusive, shall cause such child or children to attend public or non-public school, and in event of failure to do so, shall be subject to the penalties hereinafter provided.

All students residing in Robertson County must be accounted for and educational opportunities provided according to “No Child Left Behind”.  Parents conducting a homeschool program, students enrolled in a homeschool program, church-related program, and/or satellite program, must notify the LEA.  For more information and to register your child with the LEA, please contact Donna Dorris or Cathy Watkins at the Robertson County Board of Education, Office of Student Services  at 384-5588.  Notification should be done by September 1, 2009.