Two states, side by side

Illinois 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

Illinois and Tennessee sit in the same tier: both require no notice to homeschool. They still differ on 4 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, ESA funding, and public school sports access.

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

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	Illinois	Tennessee
Notice of intent	Not required	Not required
Hours or days per year Differs	No minimum	180 days a year
Required subjects Differs	7 named: language arts, math, science, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education	None named
Testing or evaluation	None	None
Portfolio of work	Not required	Not required
Progress reports	None	None
Compulsory school ages	6-17	6-17
ESA or school choice funding Differs	No program	Education Freedom Scholarship Act (EFS)
Public school sports access Differs	Yes, with conditions	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 Illinois to Tennessee

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

Start logging from your first day: Tennessee counts 180 days a year, and Illinois set no minimum.
Tennessee names no required subjects. Illinois's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
Tennessee runs Education Freedom Scholarship Act (EFS). Check whether your family qualifies; Illinois had no comparable program.
Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Tennessee the answer is yes; in Illinois it was yes, with conditions.

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

Moving from Tennessee to Illinois

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

Illinois 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.
Illinois names 7 required subjects (language arts, math, science, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
Illinois has no ESA program. Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship Act (EFS) is for Tennessee residents, so budget without it.
Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Illinois the answer is yes, with conditions; in Tennessee it was yes.

How to start homeschooling in Illinois Moving to Illinois checklist Withdrawing in Tennessee Tennessee withdrawal letter (free PDF)

What stays the same

Illinois and Tennessee match on notice of intent, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, progress reports, and compulsory school ages. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Illinois 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 Illinois 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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