AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to home school.
HB1152 revises Tennessee’s home school law by setting out what a parent-teacher must do to operate a home school and, just as importantly, what the state and local governments may not require. The bill requires notice to the local director of schools before each school year, along with reporting the names, ages, grade levels, and number of children being home schooled. It also requires the parent-teacher to provide a normed curriculum selected and approved by the parent-teacher.
The bill then limits government oversight of home schools. It prohibits the state, school districts, and local governments from requiring home school students to take standardized tests or other assessments, and from demanding documentation about curricula, textbooks, or instructional materials, except to the extent needed to confirm that a normed curriculum is being used. It also bars regulation or oversight of home schooling beyond what the section allows, while preserving the state’s ability to impose additional requirements when a family voluntarily participates in a state program or accepts state funds tied to separate standards.
HB1152 would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Section 49-6-3050, by tightening the statutory framework for home schools and expressly limiting state and local authority over parent-teachers. It would preserve basic notice and reporting obligations, but reduce the ability of education officials to require testing, curriculum disclosure, or other oversight measures for home school students. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025, and would affect home school families, local directors of schools, school districts, and any state programs or funding streams that carry additional compliance requirements.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to reflect a generally pro-home-school, parental-choice approach. Its structure suggests support for reducing government involvement in home education while maintaining a limited reporting requirement. Because no transcripts or vote history are included, there is no documented opposition or support to characterize beyond the bill’s clear policy direction.
The main point of contention is likely the balance between parental autonomy and government oversight. Supporters would favor the bill’s restrictions on testing, curriculum review, and regulatory control, viewing them as protections for home school families. Opponents, if any, would likely focus on the reduced ability of the state and local school systems to monitor educational quality or ensure accountability. A secondary issue is the exception for families receiving state funds or participating in state programs, which preserves some oversight and may create questions about when additional requirements can be imposed.