Homeschool benefits and savings in Greene County
The Greene County Scholarship Fund gives a $2,100 one-year award, paid to the college, to Greene County students with financial need who plan to enroll full time. Homeschooled Greene County residents are invited to apply through the East Tennessee Foundation common application, open December 15 to March 15.
Who qualifies
Lives in Greene County
The fund serves residents of Greeneville and Greene County, either graduating seniors or current college students.
Homeschooled or a Greene County graduate
Graduates of a Greene County high school need at least a 2.5 GPA.
Plans to attend full time
Your student must plan to enroll in college full time.
What it is worth
The terms come from the East Tennessee Foundation's Greene County Scholarship Fund page and its student FAQ.
- Award
- $2,100
- Length
- One year
- Paid to
- Your college
- Application fee
- $0
- Minimum GPA, county high school graduates
- 2.5
- Decision by
- July 1
Award amounts on the foundation's website are subject to change, so confirm the amount when your student applies.
From applying to keeping it
- Before December 15
Prepare the FAFSA
File the FAFSA so you can upload the Submission Summary, or use the Federal Student Aid Estimator if it is not processed yet.
- December 15 to March 15
Complete the common application
Create an account, answer every question in the East Tennessee Foundation Common Scholarship Application, and answer the extra questions for each scholarship you are matched with. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted.
- By July 1
Watch for a decision
The foundation tries to notify every applicant. If you hear nothing by July 1, assume your student was not selected.
- Start of the school year
Payment goes to the college
The foundation mails a check payable to the school, which credits your student's account.
What it pays for
Covered
- College costs credited to your student's account
- Costs Tennessee Promise leaves, such as books and supplies
Not covered
- Cash paid to the student
- Part-time enrollment
- Late or incomplete applications
Who to contact
The East Tennessee Foundation grantmaking team answers questions about the Greene County Scholarship Fund and the common application.
865-524-1223 Apply for scholarships
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Tennessee
For independent homeschools, file a notice with the local education agency before each school year. A first-time filing may be made at any time during the school year; there is no fixed August 1 deadline.
Tennessee sets these rules:
- Subjects: Independent homeschool parents select and identify their curriculum and provide at least four hours of instruction per day for 180 days each year. Church-related schools set their own program requirements.
- Testing: Testing in grades 5, 7, and 9 for registered independent homeschools.
- Records: Independent homeschool parents keep attendance records, permit inspection, and submit them at year end. Maintain grades, transcripts, student records, and copies of final diplomas; provide required test results to the recipients specified in the current testing rule.
- Teachers: An independent homeschool parent-teacher needs a high-school diploma or equivalent. Church-related umbrella schools set their own enrollment and parent requirements.
Tennessee also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Individualized Education Account pays a student with a qualifying disability and an active IEP the state and special-education funding for their district, including an independently homeschooled student. Most students must have spent the prior year in a Tennessee public school, and 2026-27 applications are closed.
Read the Tennessee homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Tennessee
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschooled student apply to the Greene County Scholarship Fund?
- Yes. The fund says homeschooled Greene County residents are also encouraged to apply, alongside graduates of Greene County high schools and GED holders.
- Does my homeschooled student need a 2.5 GPA for the Greene County award?
- The fund does not say. It sets the 2.5 GPA minimum for Greene County high school graduates and lists homeschooled residents separately, so ask the foundation how it reviews a homeschool transcript.
- Can we use it with Tennessee Promise?
- Yes. Tennessee Promise covers tuition and mandatory fees, and an East Tennessee Foundation award can go toward other costs such as books, supplies, non-mandatory fees, or room and board.
- Do we get the check?
- No. The foundation mails payment directly to your student's school, made payable to the school, and the account is credited.
- We missed March 15. Can we still apply?
- No. The foundation does not accept late or incomplete applications, so plan for the next December 15 to March 15 window.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Each grant limits the expenses it covers. Where curriculum is eligible, it can pay for the teaching and feedback your child receives in our courses.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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