Supporting your homeschool journey while you stay in charge
Who this guide is for
Hidden Bee Learning serves a mix of families:
- Some are officially homeschooling under Tennessee law.
- Some have preschool-age children who are not yet school age.
- Some use Hidden Bee as enrichment while they handle academics at home or through another program.
This guide is meant to give families a simple overview of how our programs can fit with independent homeschooling in Tennessee, not to replace legal advice or official state resources.
If your child is only in preschool age (3–5) and not yet at compulsory school age, you may not need to file homeschool paperwork yet. Many of our Little Explorers families are not “official homeschoolers” and simply use our program as a structured preschool.
If your child is school age and you are homeschooling, the information below will help you understand how Hidden Bee can fit into your homeschool plan.
How Hidden Bee Learning fits with homeschool options
Hidden Bee Learning is not:
- A private school
- A church-related / umbrella school
- A Category III online school
We are a small, classroom-based program that works alongside your homeschool plan. Parents remain the primary educators and are responsible for registration and records.
Most of our school-age families either:
- Register as independent homeschoolers with their local district, or
- Register under a church-related / umbrella school, and treat Hidden Bee as enrichment.
We are always happy to talk with you about how our schedule can fit into whichever option you choose, but we do not file legal paperwork on your behalf.
Very simple overview of Tennessee independent homeschool requirements
If you choose to register as an independent homeschooler with your local school district, Tennessee generally expects that:
- You file an Intent to Home School form each year with your local school district.
- You provide at least four hours of instruction per school day, for 180 days during the school year.
- Time spent at Hidden Bee Learning can count toward those hours.
- You keep attendance and basic records and submit what your district requests at the end of the year.
- You keep records for at least three years.
- Your child completes standardized testing in grades 5, 7, and 9 if you are registered as an independent homeschooler with the district.
- If scores are low, the district may ask for a plan to support improvement.
Some families instead choose to register through a church-related school (umbrella school). In that case, the umbrella school will give you its own requirements for attendance, records, curriculum, and testing.
Because rules can change and can vary by district or umbrella school, always check:
- Tennessee Department of Education – Homeschooling Information
- Your local school district’s homeschool page (for you, often Maury County Schools)
- Any umbrella school or program you choose to work with
Use this guide as a friendly overview, not as a legal document.
Need help or have questions?
If you ever have questions about how Hidden Bee Learning can fit into your homeschool plan, or you’re not sure whether you need to register as a homeschooler yet, reach out. We cannot give legal advice, but we can:
- Share how other families use our programs
- Help you think through options
- Point you toward official resources and organizations that specialize in homeschool law
Our goal is to support your family’s learning journey, whether you are just starting preschool or fully committed to long-term homeschooling.
Helpful Homeschooling Resources
For current requirements and official guidance, we recommend checking:
- Tennessee Department of Education – Homeschooling Information
This is the official state homeschool page with up-to-date info on requirements and guidelines. - Maury County Schools – Homeschool Information
If you’re in Maury County or nearby, this district page explains how to file as an independent homeschooler and what they expect. - HSLDA – Tennessee Homeschool Law
A homeschool legal and advocacy organization that provides plain-language summaries of Tennessee homeschool law and updates when things change.
We always encourage families to confirm requirements directly with official or trusted sources, since laws and policies can change over time.