Knox County Schools
Home School
Parents may home school their own children pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-6-3050 by registering with their local education agency (LEA). Parents choosing this educational option must meet specified educational requirements and report attendance to the local education agency 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 Tenn. Code Ann. §49-50-801. For parents exercising this option, with the exception of grades 9-12, the testing requirements are determined by the church-related school. Church-related schools must determine what recording keeping requirements are in place for these parents. However, church-related schools must keep daily attendance reports according to pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 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.
TN DOE Home School website
Contact Us
FAQ
Can a parent withdraw to attend home school at any point in the school year?
Yes. The cutoff date for registering for home school has been removed from the home school law. A parent is allowed to withdraw their child from the public school and register for home school at any point in the school year. The Home School Office can walk you through this process if needed.
Is a power of attorney sufficient as proof of legal guardianship?
No. A power of attorney is not considered the same as legal guardianship for the purposes of withdrawing a student to attend home school.
Can a student who has been home schooled during the kindergarten year enter the first grade in a public school?
Since homeschooling in kindergarten is in compliance with the compulsory school attendance law, it is deemed an approved kindergarten program. A student who has been home schooled during the kindergarten year may enter the first grade in a public school if they demonstrate acceptable performance on the district's placement test. The Home School Office can help support you when making arrangements for taking the placement test.
What rights do home school students have for special education services from Knox County Schools?
Students who are home schooled are entitled to the same services as children who are placed in private schools by their parents. This is provided via a "service plan" and is generally some type of related service, such as speech therapy, as determined by the school district where the student is registered to home school. The parent should contact the Knox County Schools’ Home School Office for complete information.
Are home school students allowed to participate in public school athletic programs?
Independently registered home school students have the right to try out for sports/athletic teams at their zoned Knox County School. TCA § 49-6-3050 states: (e)(1) If any of the public schools established under the jurisdiction of an LEA (Local Education Agency) are members of an organization or an association that regulates interscholastic athletic competition, and if such organization or association establishes or maintains eligibility requirements for home school students desiring to participate in interscholastic athletics at a member school, then the LEA shall permit participation in interscholastic athletics at those schools by home school students who satisfy the eligibility requirements established by the organization or association. (2) This subsection (e) does not guarantee that a home school student trying out for an interscholastic athletics team will make the team or supplant the authority of coaches or other school officials in deciding who makes the team. This subsection (e) is intended to guarantee only that the home school student shall not be prohibited from trying out for an interscholastic athletics team, if the student is eligible under the rules of the organization or association, solely by reason of the student's status as a home school student. (3) This subsection (e) shall not be construed to limit or supplant the authority of the organization or association to determine eligibility and to establish, modify and enforce its rules and eligibility requirements, including those applicable to home school students.
If interested, contact Bryan Brown at bryan.brown@knoxschools.org or Marion Quinn at marion.quinn@knoxschools.org.
If a student is 18 years old, can they withdraw themselves as an independent home school student?
The home school law is defined as a school “conducted or directed by a parent or parents or a legal guardian or guardians for their own children.” So, students (even if they are 18 years old) would not be allowed to withdraw themselves to home school.
Is the state curriculum mandated for independent home school students?
No. The Home School Law (TCA 49-6-3050) provides very little guidance specific to the curriculum a parent must provide. The only mention of curriculum is in section (b) (1): “…submission to the director of schools… the proposed curriculum to be offered…” But there is no mention of what type of curriculum should be used. However, parents should keep in mind the testing requirement in grades 5, 7, and 9 in which their child will be tested on the grade level state curriculum in Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. A parent should include those subjects in their proposed curriculum to ensure that their child will be prepared for testing in those areas.
Is Knox County responsible for testing students enrolled in Category III Online Virtual and Category IV Satellite (Church-Related/Umbrella) home schools?
No. Knox County is only responsible for testing students who are registered as independent home school students.
Can a parent of a home school student in grades 5, 7, or 9 choose to provide some other form of assessments rather than the TCAP/EOC?
Yes, there is an option outlined below in TCA § 49-6-3050 which would allow for a home school student to take a test other than the TCAP or End of Course Assessments. The law states: (5) (A) Administration by the commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee, or by a professional testing service that is approved by the LEA, to home school students of the same state board approved secure standardized tests required of public school students in grades five (5), seven (7) and nine (9); (ii) Tests administered by a professional testing service shall be administered within thirty (30) days of the date of the statewide test. Tests administered by a professional testing service shall be administered at the expense of the parent-teacher; (iii) All test results from either administration by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, or by a professional testing service, shall be provided to the parent-teacher, the director of schools and the state board of education; So the test would need to be standardized, administered by a professional testing service within 30 days of the statewide assessments, and the results provided to the LEA for review. ○ Please contact the Home School Office so we can work with you and your family to ensure the appropriate assessments and steps are taken in order for you to be in compliance with the requirements.
Which End of Course Assessments are required of 9th grade home school students?
If a home school student in grade 9 is taking a course for which there is an end of course test, that student should be required to take that end of course exam. That will mean some 9th grade students, depending on the courses they are taking, will have fewer tests to take that year than others.
Quicklinks
Register for Home School
Please select the Church-Related/Online or Independent Home School link below and follow the steps listed to enroll your child.
Online/Virtual or Church-Related School
Category III: Virtual/Online Schools
The link below contains a partial listing of acceptable online schools. Please check the websites of these schools to ascertain that they are still accredited by one of the associations listed above because accreditation status may change. It is ultimately the responsibility of the parent to determine whether their child is attending an accredited online school. You can access a current list of approved Category III schools on the Tennessee Department of Education Non-Public webpage.
Category IV: Church-Related Schools
All church-related satellite schools must be located within the State of Tennessee, and state accredited. Online or virtual schools must carry state-approved accreditation.
Registering for a Virtual Online or Church-Related Schools
If you are interested in enrolling your child in a virtual online school or church-related home school program, please consult the Tennessee Department of Education website to obtain updated information on rules and regulations.
CATEGORY III: Virtual Online School
- Virtual Online Information
- Tennessee Department of Education Category III Virtual Online Schools List
CATEGORY IV: CHURCH-RELATED HOME SCHOOL
Submit Proof of Enrollment in an approved church-related, satellite, or online/virtual school to your child's school. Proof of enrollment must be on school letterhead, and must include the student's name and enrollment date.
You MUST take proof of enrollment to your child's school and follow procedures to properly withdraw your child from Knox County Schools. If your child has a KCS issued computer, you must return the computer prior to your child enrolling into home school.
Independent Home School
The parent or legal guardian is required to complete the Intent to Home School Form. All materials are purchased by the parent or guardian and curriculum is provided by the parent. The student is required to have four (4) hours of instruction per day during the 180-day instructional calendar . The Tennessee Attendance Calendar is located in the Forms section of the Knox County Schools Home School website.
The State of Tennessee requires ALL 5th and 7th grade Independent Homeschool students to complete Spring Assessments. If you are properly registered with Knox County Schools, you will be notified by mail or email in late March and early April regarding scheduling information and location of the required Spring Assessment.
The State of Tennessee requires ALL 9th grade Independent Home School students to take End-of-Course (EOC) tests. If you are properly registered with Knox County Schools, you will be notified by mail or email regarding scheduling information and location of the required EOC.
Registering for an Independent Home School
Please follow the steps below to enroll your child as a new independent home school student.
STEP 1: Intent to Home School Form
Print, complete and submit an Intent to Home School Form annually.
STEP 2: Proof of Education
Submit Proof of Education for the parent or legal guardian (at least a high school diploma or GED). Proof of education can be a copy of the parent or legal guardian's high school diploma/GED or a copy of the parent or legal guardian's college diploma or transcripts. Proof of education is only required for initial enrollment in the program.
Step 3: Mail All Required Forms
For new students, all required paperwork (Intent to Home School Form and proof of education) must be emailed at the same time to homeschool@knoxschools.org. Incomplete applications including the Intent Form and proof of education will not be processed.
STEP 4: Attendance Calendar
Download the Tennessee Department of Education Attendance Calendar. You must document daily attendance by placing an "x" in the box for each day you provide four hours of instruction. Submit the completed calendar to Knox County Schools after completion of 180 instructional days. Attendance Calendars are due at the end of each school year by June 30. We recommend submitting your Attendance Calendar at the same time as you submit your Intent to Home School Form if you plan to home school the following year.
After 180 Days of Instruction, Attendance Calendars must be submitted to homeschool@knoxschools.org.
Athletics
TSSAA/Sanction Sport (Optional - only for students interested in a TSSAA athletic team):
If your child(ren) desires to participate in a TSSAA/Sanction sport, the following must take place:
- Students must be enrolled in a church-related or independent home school program by August 1st of the current school year.
- The parent or guardian must make an application for participation in athletics to the principal of the school in which the home school athlete wishes to try out and possibly participate by August 15th of the current school year.
- Follow all TSSAA Home School Rules. You can find the TSSAA rules and form under the Forms section. If you have questions regarding TSSAA requirements, please contact your zoned school's athletic director or the KCS Athletic Department.
Returning Students
All independent homeschool students are required to register with Knox County Schools home school office at the beginning of EACH school year. If your child has previously been enrolled as an independent home school student with KCS, only the Intent to Homeschool Form is required. We do not need proof of education after the initial enrollment.
Please email homeschool@knoxschools.org the Intent to Home School Form annually prior to beginning home school instruction and the Attendance Calendar when 180 days of instruction has been provided.