Two states, side by side

Florida vs Tennessee: Homeschool Laws Compared

Nine rules compared from each state's verified compliance data, then what changes for a family moving in either direction.

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The short answer

Florida is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Tennessee requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, and compulsory school ages.

Rules compared: 9
Differences: 5
Same in both: 4

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Rule	Florida	Tennessee
Notice of intent Differs	Required, filed with the local school district	Not required
Hours or days per year Differs	No minimum	180 days a year
Required subjects	None named	None named
Testing or evaluation Differs	Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually	None
Portfolio of work Differs	Required	Not required
Progress reports	Once a year	None
Compulsory school ages Differs	6-16	6-17
ESA or school choice funding	Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP)	Education Freedom Scholarship Act (EFS)
Public school sports access	Yes	Yes

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Florida to Tennessee

Once you are a Tennessee resident you homeschool under Tennessee's rules. These are the ones that change.

There is no notice to file in Tennessee. Before you leave, send Florida's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
Start logging from your first day: Tennessee counts 180 days a year, and Florida set no minimum.
Tennessee requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Florida's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
Tennessee does not require a portfolio. Bring Florida's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Tennessee against 6-16 in Florida, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

How to start homeschooling in Tennessee Moving to Tennessee checklist Withdrawing in Florida Florida withdrawal letter (free PDF) Tennessee hour log (free PDF)

Moving from Tennessee to Florida

Once you are a Florida resident you homeschool under Florida's rules. These are the ones that change.

File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Florida resident. Tennessee did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
Florida sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
Florida requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually. Tennessee had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Florida requires one and Tennessee did not.
Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in Florida against 6-17 in Tennessee, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

How to start homeschooling in Florida Moving to Florida checklist Withdrawing in Tennessee Florida letter of intent Tennessee withdrawal letter (free PDF)

What stays the same

Florida and Tennessee match on required subjects, progress reports, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Florida nor Tennessee takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Homeschool record keeping guide How to withdraw from public school

Sourced from each state's own published requirements. See the sources and verification dates on the Florida page and the Tennessee page.

Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.

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Take your records across the state line

Pick your new state once and Homeschool Fox applies its hours, subjects, and reporting rules to everything you have already logged.

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