Resources

 In Tennessee, homeschooling is legally recognized and offers families three primary options: independent homeschooling, enrolling in a church-related "umbrella" school, or participating in an accredited online school. Independent homeschoolers must submit an annual notice of intent to their local school district, maintain attendance records, and ensure their children receive instruction for at least 180 days per year, with a minimum of four hours per day . Additionally, students under this option are required to participate in standardized testing in grades 5, 7, and 9.

 The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights of homeschooling families in the United States. It provides legal support, educational resources, and legislative advocacy to protect and promote the freedom to homeschool. 

 Tennessee Promise is both a scholarship and mentoring program focused on increasing the number of students who attend college in our state. It provides students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. Students may use the scholarship at any of the state’s 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institution offering an associate degree program.

The TN Promise Application opens on August 1 each year. The application is accessed through the TSAC Student Portal. To create a Student Portal account, you will be asked to provide the following:

• Student’s First Name and Last Name (as it appears on the Social Security Card)
• Student’s Social Security Number 
• Student’s Date of Birth
• Student’s Personal Email Address (Not School Email)