TN State Homeschool Organization
Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA)
THEA was formed in 1984 to help preserve and defend the rights of Tennessee Homeschool Families.
TN Homeschool Law
Tennessee families have 3 options to homeschool. Option 1 – independent homeschool, option 2 – church related school, and option 3 – Category III distance learning school. More information can be found at the Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Home Education Association, or Home School Legal Defense Association.
TN Homeschool Events and Field Trip Destinations
Homeschool classes bring hands-on, minds-on explorations of chemistry, physics, and meteorology. Each lesson builds on the foundation laid during the previous class.
American Museum of Science and Energy
The American Museum offers wonderful hands-on experiential learning opportunities in a variety of educational events for all ages. Check the site for the latest information about group events, outreach programs, and outreach education. They also have a nice video library for exploring from home!
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Right next to the Nashville Farmer’s Market with restaurants and shops with a wide variety of offerings and cuisines, Capitol Mall State Park features ranger-led guided tours, picnic tables, and a 2,000-seat amphitheater that provides dramatic views of the Nashville skyline. Composed of terraced lawns, the amphitheater was designed after the Greek theater at Epidaurus. Visitors also enjoy standing in the midst of bell towers ringing for an immersive musical experience.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities including the junior ranger program and other activities designed for kids.
Multi-sensory, educational, fun programs designed to be a resource for your homeschool community and provide a space to never stop learning.
Look for Homeschool Lab Days in the fall for hands-on exploration with other families.
You can also take advantage of their new drop-off program for children ages 8-12 that explore different STEM themes.
East Tennessee Historical Museum
History is important; pass it on.
Enthusing students with the joy of learning is a primary mission of the East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS). A national study reveals that history education not only helps students understand the world around them but contributes toward the development of practical, measurable skills, such as better test performance, critical thinking, writing clarity, and a more mature perspective on current events and civic engagement.
ETHS serves a variety of creative programs for both students and teachers.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Get ready to tour a Civil War Fort, drive along battlefield grounds, visit a Surrender House, and stroll through a National Cemetery. Fort Donelson offers countless opportunities for discovery. Remember to pick up your Passport to Your Parks stamps and Junior Ranger Handbooks!
Fort Loudon State Historic Park
The fort was one of the earliest British fortifications on the western frontier and now boasts 1,200 acres of preserved parkland with youth education programs, volunteer opportunities, and countless outdoor activities.
The home of Elvis. Need we say more? Reach out to the museum to schedule your guided king of a field trip for a group of 15 or more. Adults and children of any age will find plenty to enjoy.
McMinn County Living Heritage Museum
McMinn County Living Heritage Museum houses more than 10,000 artifacts in 30 exhibits that represent the culture and history of Southeast Tennessee the 1700s to the present.
Only 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, Bell State Park features 3,850 acres, 3 lakes, beaches, boating, camping, cabins, lodge rooms, and a restaurant.
On the first Friday of each month, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum hosts FREE educational programs for elementary and middle school students. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes. These fabulous programs have limited availability, so see the site for details.
Special events throughout the year to interest the whole family. Check the site for the annual summertime Farm Fun Day Festival
features live music, farm animals, craftsmen, and The Nashville Puppet Truck;
Also check the calendar for the annual Christmas Open House and enjoy the Tennessee Agricultural Museum in holiday attire, and music, plus ham biscuits, holiday music, spiced cider, and purchase gifts made by local artists. Displays include the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.
Is homeschooling for you?
The community of homeschool families is diverse. One study reports that 41% of homeschool students are Hispanic, Black, Asian, or other non-White/non-Hispanic groups (2). Homeschoolers come from all faiths – Christians, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists. Teaching parents have a range of formal education, from high school diplomas to graduate degrees, and cover the array of household incomes.
How do you homeschool?
While laws regulating home education vary from state to state, homeschooling IS legal in all 50 states. Many states offer more than one option. One of the first steps in your family’s homeschool journey is to become familiar with the laws in your state. Then the fun begins!
Click on your state below for resources on homeschool regulations, state homeschool organizations, homeschool conventions in your area (here’s why these are amazing for new and experienced homeschool parents), as well as other homeschool perks in your state.
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Disclaimer: Please note that the information on this page is provided for your convenience as a research tool and resource as to where to find the information you need to homeschool in your state. The team at 3 Moms Blog are not attorneys. This content has not been reviewed by an attorney. It is not legal advice.
Brian D. Ray. (2017) A systematic review of the empirical research on selected aspects of homeschooling as a school choice, Journal of School Choice, 11:4, 604-621, accessed April 7, 2023 at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15582159.2017.1395638
US Department of Education. (2019) Homeschooling in the United States: Results from the 2012 and 2016 Parent and Family Involvement Survey (PFINHES: 2012 and 2016). Accessed 4/7/2023 at https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020001.pdf