What education do I need to homeschool my child or children?

To provide homeschool instruction, you or the person providing instruction must have one of the following: A high school diploma or GED or proper State Department of Education Exemption.

What do I do to start homeschooling my child or children?

You will need to provide notice to the Equity Office by August 1 before the start of each school year of the intent to conduct a homeschool.  Provide the child’s birth certificate, social security card, and immunizations.

Submit to the Equity Office the name, number, age, grade level of the child involved, location of the school, curriculum to be offered, proposed hours of instruction, qualifications of the parent/teacher, whether a college preparatory or general course of education will be taught in grades 9-12, and a description of the courses to be taught each year.

Will I need to keep attendance records?

Yes. Four (4) hours per day, 180 days per year.  Attendance forms are available above and on TN.gov website. Attendance records will need to be turned into the Office of Equity each school year.

Will my child be required to take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP)?

Yes. Independent homeschool students are required In grades 5 and 7, same state board approved secure standardized test (TCAP) is required of independent homeschool students.

Will I have to pay to have the testing administered?

No, there is no charge if the test is administered by the local school. Students can take the test at a professional testing service at the parent’s expense.

Can my child participate in sports and other activities in my school zone?

Yes. A physical will be required along with immunization. You will need to contact the Equity Office for additional information and requirements.

Do I need to notify the Equity Office if I discontinue homeschooling?

Yes, even if the child is returning to a Hamilton County school.

• 24-25 Homeschool Attendance Calendar
• 24-25 Notice of Intent to Homeschool
• Accredited Homeschools
• Accredited Homeschools – Spanish
• Homeschool Indemnity
• Homeschool Indemnity – Spanish
• Homeschool Sport Team Eligibility Report
• Homeschool Sport Team Eligibility Report – Spanish
• Notice of Intent to Homeschool – Spanish
• Homeschooling in Tennessee

Any school-age person enrolled in a Hamilton County school is eligible for homebound instruction provided the following conditions are met:

The student must complete a homebound request form (available below).

A licensed physician must sign the medical form stating that the student is unable to attend school because of pregnancy or a serious health or orthopedic impairment, but will benefit from instruction.  The physician must state that:

The student is expected to be absent from school due to the condition for at least two (2) weeks following the date of certification.The student has no contagious disease that would endanger the health of the teacher or for which contagious disease precautions (e.g., quarantine) have been taken.

If the student is confined to a hospital and the above conditions are met, instruction will be provided in the hospital and, if necessary, will be continued when the student goes home.

Pregnant students may be approved for up to six (6) weeks of homebound instruction, the dates of which are to be designated by a physician.

If, in the opinion of the physician, a student suffers complications from the pregnancy and is unable to return to class following the expiration of the initial six (6) weeks, the physician may certify the need for up to an additional two (2) weeks of homebound instruction.

The physician may re-certify the need for additional homebound instruction in successive increments of not more than two (2) weeks.

The homebound program will consist of three (3) hours of instruction per week by a certified and properly endorsed teacher.

Note: If the student receives exceptional education services, homebound services will be provided by that department.