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Homeschool |
So You Want To Homeschool
For whatever the reasons, you want to homeschool your child with special needs. Before you make this decision you need to understand the laws in the state where you live. If you live in Tennessee you have four options:
Option #1
Be an independent homeschooler (registered with the state),
Option #2
Register with a church-related school,
Option #3
Register as a satellite school of a church-related
school (The Jeter Memo), and
Option #4
Enrollment in the distance learning program of an accredited private school as a means of complying with the compulsory attendance law (See New Option)
The number of days and hours to be taught depend on where you are registered.
An Overview Of The Tennessee Homeschool
(Much of this information comes from www.MTHEA.org)
The History Of Home Education
Home education is a tutorial method of education in which one or both parents assume the entire responsiility of schooling their own children. While many people think of home education as a relatively new concept, in truth, it has been the predominate form of education during 6,000 years of recorded history. Famount home schoolers include Benjmin Franklin, Daniel Webster, Winston Churchill, Alexander Graham Bell, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Pearl Buck, Agatha Christie, C.S. Lewis, Franklin D. Roosevelt...to name only a few!
The Benefits Of Home Education
A major benefit of home education is its academic superiority. Research shows that home educated children perform at a 75-90% average on nationally-recognized achievement tests. This can be attributed in part to the fact that in the home the quality of learning is held constant (until mastered) and the lesson time varied as needed from child to child, while in a classroom, the lesson time is usually held constant and the quality of learning varies from child to child. Also, the home educator can specifically design a program of study that will meet the needs of each child and allow for individual strengths and weaknesses. Each child can work at his or her own pace without wasting time for other students to finish their work. Due to this economy of time, the extremely low student-teacher ratio, and an environment that is relatively free from distraction, home schooling is a very efficient and productive form of education.
How To Get Started
1. Register your child(ren) with either the local superintendent or the church
related school of your choice.
2. Research and select curriculum for each child, or enroll in a specific home
study course.
3. Read and gther information on home schooling. Inform yourself as to
the educational, historical, political, and legal aspects of home education
so that you may adequately explain (or defend) your home school to
anyone who questions what you are doing.
4. Join a homeschool association such as MTHEA or THEA.
The Legality Of Home Education In Tennessee
In 1985, primarily as a result of the Tennessee Home Education Association and home educators across the state, Tennessee enacted its current home schooling law (T.C.A. 49-6-3050). In grades K-8, home schoolers have two options in order to be in compliance with the law:
1. Register with the local superintendent of public schools. You must
register by August 1, maintain attendance records, and instruct 4
hours per day for 180 days. The teaching paent must have a high
school diploma or G.E.D., and students must be tested when public
school students are tested in grades 5,7 and 9.
2. Register with a church related school that offers services to home
schoolers. You must meet the requirements of that particular school
and have your child tested whenever they test their students.
On July 1, 1994 a new law went into effect lowering requirement for parents who home teach grades 9-12 from a BA degree to a high school diploma. The law requires that the parent register their students with the local public school. For those families unable to comply with this new law there is still the possibility requesting a waiver from the Commission of the Department of Education.
Many home schoolers choose to join the Home School Legal Defense Association. While prosecution of home schoolers in Tennessee is relatively infrequent, it can and does happen. HSLDA provides experienced legal and representation by highly qualified attorneys to every member family who is challenged in the area of home schooling. Attorney's fees are paid in full by HSLDA.
Resource Information
Associations
Middle TN Home Educators Association
Tennessee Home Education Association
TNHomeED
Church-related Schools that Umbrella Home School Students
Aaron Academy
P.O. Box 2647
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phone: 615-826-2595
Email: staff@aaronacademy.com
Berean Christian School
2329 Prosser Road
Phone: 865-521-6054
Wade Ewing, Principal
Phone: 865-482-3261
Nancy Brown, Homeschool Coordinator
Christian Academy of Knoxville (K-12)
529 Academy Way
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 865-690-4721
Nancy M. Moore, Principal
Concord Christian School (K-8)
117 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: 423-966-8858
Contact: Ray Smith
Covenant Christian School
P.O. Box 5080
Sevierville, TN 37864
Phone: 865-429-4324
Contact: Dr. or Mrs. Douglas B. Mills
Email: drrdkng@att.net
Fax: 865-429-8808
Cross Creek Christian School
501 E. North Street
Sweetwater, TN 37872
Phone: 423-337-9330
Contact: Randy Nelson, President
Email: RNcrosscreek@bellsouth.net
Daniel One Academy
1654 Burgess Falls Road
Cookeville, TN 38506
Phone: 931-432-1496
Toll Free: 877-797-4860
Fax: 931-432-1498
Contact: Cindy Holman
Email: daniel1a@daniel1academy.org
Family Christian Academy
487 Myatt Drive
Madison, TN 37115
Phone: 615-860-3000
Contact: Ron Scarlata
Email: school@familychristianacademy.com
Gateway Christian Schools (K-12)
P.O. Box 280117
Memphis, TN 38168
Phone: 901-454-1606 CT (Mon-Fri)
Fax: 901-454-9814
Leo Crofford, Administrator
Greg Stablein, Home Education Coordinator
Email: gateway@bellsouth.net and home_ed@bellsouth.net
Heritage Covenant School (Franklin)
P.O. Box 1333
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: 615-790-1919
Contact: Reverend David O. Jones
Email: hcsmail@quixnet.net
Home Life Academy
P.O. box 34758
Memphis, TN 38184
Toll Free: 888-560-0774
Phone: 901-380-9220
Fax: 901-384-0731
Email: info@homelifeacademy.com
New System School (K-12)
8510 Three Points Road
Knoxville, TN 37924
Contact: Brenda Young
Phone: 423-932-7866
Maryville Christian School
P.O. Box 1122
Louisville, TN 37777
Phone: 865-681-3205
Contact: Steven R. Orr
Email: maryvillecs@netscape.net
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/maryvillecs/
Co-Ops, Enrichment and Tutorials
Davidson County
Bellevue Home School Enrichment
Bethel Family Academy
Cannon County
Hearth & Hearth
Coffee County
Hearth & Hearth
Franklin County
Hearth & Hearth
Grundy County
Hearth & Hearth
Lincoln County
Hearth & Hearth
Montgomery County
H.O.P.E. @ Home!
Moore County
Hearth & Hearth
Rutherford County
Hearth & Hearth
Home Education Association Rutherford Tennessee (HEART)
Shepherd's Heart Enrichment Tutorial
Warren County
Hearth & Hearth
Williamson County
Christian Youth Tutorial of Spring Hill
West Harpeth Christian Tutorial
Wilson County
The Francis Schaeffer Study Center
Legal Information
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
HSLDA - Tennessee Homeschool Information
State of Tennessee Department of Education
Tennessee State Legislature
The Tennessee Code
Miscellaneous
A to Z Homes Cool
The National Academy for Child Development
Special Education
For a listing of special education provisions in the 50 states and territories
click here.
NATHHAN (National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network)
Statewide Homeschool Organizations
Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association (CSTHEA)
Memphis-area Home Education Association (MHEA)
Mid-East Tennessee Home Education Association (METHEA)
Smoky Mountain Home Education Association (SMHEA)
Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA)
West Tennessee Home Education Association (WTHEA)
Support Groups
Williamson County Homeschool Group
Things To Do Around Tennessee
There are endless fun and educational opportunities in Tennessee. Check it out! Feel free to email beyondthelimits@comcast.net if you would like to make us aware of an activity. Thanks!
Adventure Science Center
Beech Bend Park
Belle Meade Plantation
Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art
Country Music Hall of Fame
Creative Discover Museum
Davidson County/Metro Nashville Parks
Deer Run Retreat
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Hendersonville Parks Department
Horton Haven Christian Camp
Nashville Praise
Nashville Predators
Nashville Shores
Nashville Sounds
Nashville Symphony
Nashville Zoo
Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary
Tennessee Aquarium at Chattanooga
Tennessee Titans
Traveller's Rest Plantation & Museum
Wave Country
Williamson County Parks and Recreation
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