Homeschool benefits and savings in Jefferson County
Any Tennessee resident can get a free Jefferson County Public Library System card, which borrows unlimited books for two weeks at four branches and unlocks a Homeschool Curriculum Database. The libraries also lend donated homeschool curriculum kits and run homeschool programs such as Homeschool Academy at the Jefferson City Public Library.
Who qualifies
Lives in Tennessee
Any Tennessee resident or Carson-Newman University student can get a card free of charge.
Shows ID and address
Bring a valid photo ID, plus proof of address if the ID is from another state or does not show your current address.
Parent signs for children
A child under 18 comes with a parent or guardian, who brings their own ID and proof of address.
What the card gives you
The limits come from the Jefferson County Public Library System FAQ page.
- Books at once
- No limit
- Loan period for books
- 2 weeks
- Renewals with no hold
- Up to 3
- DVDs at once
- 4 for 1 week
- Homeschool Curriculum Database
- Free
- Replacement card
- $1.00
Unlimited checkouts hold only while you owe less than $5 in late fees, which run $0.25 a day for books and $1 a day for DVDs, and branches take only cash or checks.
How to get the card
- Online or at a branch
Apply for a card
Fill out the online form or a paper form at Dandridge, Jefferson City, Parrott-Wood in Strawberry Plains, or White Pine, and choose a home library.
- At the library
Show ID to activate it
Bring your photo ID and, if needed, proof of address to receive the card.
- After you have the card
Open the curriculum database
Use your card number to sign in to the Homeschool Curriculum Database through Education Station, and to TN READS for e-books.
- Each visit
Borrow kits and attend programs
Check out homeschool books, DVDs, and curriculum kits, and watch the events calendar for homeschool programs.
What it includes
Included
- Homeschool Curriculum Database
- Donated homeschool curriculum kits
- TN READS e-books and audiobooks
- Tennessee Electronic Library databases
- Homeschool programs such as Homeschool Academy
Not included
- Late fees
- Printing and copies
- Replacement cards
Who to contact about homeschool resources
Jefferson City Public Library, which hosts Homeschool Academy, answers questions about cards, the curriculum database, and homeschool programs.
jcpl@jcpls.org 865-475-9094 Homeschooling page
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 homeschool family get a Jefferson County library card even if we live outside the county?
- Yes. Any Tennessee resident can get a free card, and one card works at all four county libraries.
- What is in the Homeschool Curriculum Database?
- It is a collection of curricula across many subjects and grade levels, open to every Jefferson County card holder through Education Station.
- Can we borrow a full curriculum?
- Yes. The library collects donated homeschool curricula, including Abeka, Apologia, Saxon Math, Math-U-See, and The Good and the Beautiful, and lends them as complete kits.
- Can my child get a card?
- Yes. Children under 18 apply with a parent or guardian, who brings ID and proof of address.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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