Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
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| State Laws |
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Read the laws regulating home education in Tennessee and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
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| Forms |
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Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in Tennessee.
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| Legal Support |
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If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
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| Lobbying Groups |
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A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
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| Attorneys |
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When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
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| Legal Issues |
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Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
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| Government Resources |
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A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
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How Rulings in Homeschooling Custody Cases Affect Us All |
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Larry and Susan Kaseman |
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Homeschooling sometimes becomes an issue for a divorced homeschooling parent whose ex-spouse opposes it. Homeschoolers who turn such conflicts over to attorneys and the courts find that most attorneys and judges know little about homeschooling and many are biased against it. Judges often rule that parents can only homeschool if they agree to do more than is required by the state homeschooling law. This can be a serious blow to families. It also sets legal precedents that give the state greater control over homeschooling and undermine the homeschooling freedoms of all of us. Fortunately, homeschoolers involved in custody disputes and their supporters can work to prevent this from happening. We can minimize such precedents by working to ensure that court cases are decided on the basis of the law and not the biases and prejudices of attorneys and judges. |
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Stand for Freedom |
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Brenda Dickinson |
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Some veteran home educators seem to take a firm stand on principles that others don't even recognize as issues. Is it that they are just stubborn, rebellious, or cantankerous? Probably not. |
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Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) |
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The Home School Legal Defense Association is a non-profit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. HSLDA offers annual memberships and fully represents member families when they are in need of legal assistance. HSLDA also participates in legislative advocacy and research. |
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