Homeschool benefits and savings in Williamson County
Williamson County Public Library cards are free for county residents and residents of the seven bordering counties, and the library runs free homeschool programs: a monthly Monday Homeschool Hangout and a monthly Homeschool STEAM Club in Franklin. Learning Kits and other children's materials are in the Children's Department at the Main Library.
Who qualifies
Lives in or near Williamson County
Cards are free for Williamson County residents and for residents of Davidson, Rutherford, Maury, Marshall, Hickman, Dickson, and Cheatham counties. Other Tennessee residents pay $25 a year.
Brings photo ID and address proof
Apply online or in person, then visit a branch with a valid photo ID and proof of address to pick up the card.
Parent signs for children 4-17
A parent or legal guardian must sign and be present for a child's card application.
What the card gives you
The terms come from the library's card page and its fall 2026 event calendar.
- Card for Williamson County residents
- Free
- Card for the seven bordering counties
- Free, no devices
- Card for other Tennessee residents
- $25 a year
- Homeschool Hangout, first Mondays
- 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- Homeschool STEAM Club, one Tuesday a month
- 2-3:30 p.m.
- Holds kept for pickup
- 5 days
STEAM Club needs registration, which opens a few weeks before each session, so watch the calendar for the opening date.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Start the application
Fill out the library card application online, or plan to complete it at a branch.
- At the branch
Pick up the card
Bring a photo ID and proof of address. For a child's card, the parent or guardian must come along and sign.
- First Monday of the month
Join Homeschool Hangout
Families meet for crafts, STEM activities, book talks, puzzles, and games. The November 2 session is at the Fairview Branch Library, 2240 Fairview Boulevard.
- When registration opens
Sign up for STEAM Club
The November 17 club on sewing basics meets in the Children's Activity Room, 1314 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, and registration opens November 5.
What it includes
Included
- Books, DVDs, and audio materials
- Learning Kits and children's educational materials
- Homeschool Hangout
- Homeschool STEAM Club
Not included
- Electronic devices on bordering-county and fee cards
- Free cards for out-of-state visitors, who pay $35 a year
Who to contact about the card
The Circulation Department explains how to get, renew, or update a library card. The Children's Department answers questions about homeschool programs at 615-595-1244.
615-595-1277 Library card 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 my homeschooled child join Williamson County Public Library's homeschool programs?
- Yes. Homeschool Hangout and Homeschool STEAM Club are planned for homeschool families. Hangout welcomes all ages, with activities aimed at ages 5-12.
- We live in Davidson or Rutherford County. Do we pay for a Williamson library card?
- No. Residents of the seven bordering counties get a free card with full access to books, DVDs, and audio materials, but they cannot check out electronic devices.
- Can my child get their own card?
- Yes. Children 4 to 17 can have a card when a parent or legal guardian signs the application in person.
- Do we need to register for Homeschool Hangout?
- Not as far as the listings show. STEAM Club does require it, and each listing gives the date registration opens.
- How long are Learning Kits checked out for?
- The library does not list it. Call the Children's Department at 615-595-1244 before you borrow.
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.
Find benefits for your ZIP code