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TENNESSEE

Sullivan accepts satellite program

The Sullivan County Department of Education has acknowledged in a letter to Home School Legal Defense Association that enrollment in a satellite or extension program of a church-related school complies with Tennessee's compulsory attendance requirements.

The question of compliance arose when an HSLDA member family was investigated by county officials and told that they had to complete and file certain forms with the local school district before they would be considered to be legally homeschooling, even though they were enrolled in a church-related school. In response to this, HSLDA Senior Counsel Dewitt Black provided county officials with a copy of the Tennessee State Department of Education memorandum dated February 18, 1999, recognizing that children attending a church-related school through its satellite or extension program in their home and being taught by a parent are in compliance with the compulsory attendance law. Black pointed out that this does not constitute homeschooling as it is defined in Tennessee law, because the church-related school is not being conducted by parents or legal guardians. Instead, the school is operated by a denominational, parochial, or other bona fide church organization as required by § 49-50-801 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. Under this option, there is no need for parents to comply with any provisions of the homeschool law, such as notice to public school officials, registration with the school district, or testing through the public school.

Parents desiring to know more about this option for complying with Tennessee's compulsory attendance law may contact HSLDA for assistance.