Last verified: October 2026
How many homeschool umbrella programs are there in Knox, Blount and Sevier counties?
TDOE's 2026-27 directory, updated October 30, 2026, flags 22 schools in the four counties as homeschool umbrellas: 18 that serve only homeschoolers and 4 that run an umbrella alongside a regular program. Together they report 2,880 K-12 students.
Several large campus schools, including Christian Academy of Knoxville, Concord Christian, First Baptist Academy and The King's Academy, run a separate umbrella record next to their EFS-registered day school.
Can the Education Freedom Scholarship pay for homeschooling in Knoxville?
No. Umbrella programs are Category IV church schools, and EFS dollars move only while a child is enrolled in a registered school in Categories I-III. A homeschooler can still apply; the award simply sits unused until the child enrolls somewhere registered.
A hybrid that is itself a registered Category I-III school is different: Revolution Christian Academy in Maryville, for example, has an EFS-registered day program and a separate Category IV hybrid umbrella.
Which Tennessee program pays for homeschooling?
Only the IEA, and only when the child's IEP qualifies. For those families it covers umbrella fees, curriculum TDOE approves, online courses, tutors and therapists; the next application window is expected February 16, 2027.
Without an IEP, home education in Tennessee is family-funded.
Are online schools an option for East Tennessee homeschool families?
Some are, but the label matters. TDOE approves certain full-time online schools as Category III, such as Cumberland Christian Academy's online high school in Knoxville, while simply using an online curriculum counts as home schooling. EFS still requires a school with a physical Tennessee campus.
Families comparing online Christian options sometimes include American Faith Academy (AmFaith) on the list; whichever provider you pick, get TDOE's confirmation that your program can pay it.
| Option | What it is | Can state money pay? |
|---|---|---|
| Independent home school | Registered with the local district; parent teaches | IEA only |
| Category IV umbrella | Church-related school that enrolls homeschoolers | IEA only |
| Category III online school | Full-time, accredited, teacher-led online school | IEA; EFS needs a Tennessee campus |
| EFS-registered day school | Category I-III campus school | EFS or IEA |
Where does a Knoxville family go from here?
Send us five answers in the funding check. A counselor then tells you, for your child specifically, which Tennessee program to apply for, how much it should pay and the very next deadline.