Popular Accredited Online Private School No Longer Cat III Option in Tennessee
On Monday, August 11, 2025, the Tennessee Department of Education (TNDOE) released an updated list of approved Category III non-public accredited online schools families may use as a registration option, and the widely popular Abeka Academy is nowhere to be found. This change is one, which will affect many families in Tennessee, which chose the Abeka Accredited program option over its curriculum only Independent Study program to register their children for home school.
Using a State of Tennessee approved Category III non-public accredited online school is a home school registration option for parents to use. Currently, there are more than 50 approved schools which may be found on this list. The TNDOE regularly updates the list and sometimes more than once a month.
In August 2024, Penn Foster dropped off of the list of approved schools. Less than two weeks after that status change, Penn Foster received approval from Cognia, its accrediting agency, and was added back to the list. A representative from Abeka had no explanation as to why Abeka Academy is no longer approved in the State of Tennessee, but did share there are no plans, at this time by Abeka, for that status to change.
What is your responsibility when registering with a Category III school?
Just as parents are responsible for registering their child for home school each year, it is also their responsibility to ensure the accredited school is an approved registration option in Tennessee. Parents should regularly check the TNDOE Non-Public Schools page for updates on the Accredited Online Schools List. It is not the responsibility of the school to notify families of a change in its approval status.
Checking the Approved List of Non-Public Schools list is also a recommendation for families registered with umbrella schools.
What should families do if they are registered with Abeka Academy?
It was confirmed Abeka is still accredited by the Middle State Association (MSA) and has no issues. If your student is registered with Abeka Academy and you would like to continue with the school, you will need to also either register as an independent home school or with an approved Church-Related Umbrella School (Category IV) to continue homeschooling in Tennessee.
If a family registers as an independent home school, students will need to participate in TCAP testing in the required years, which are fifth, seventh, and ninth grades. They will also be required to turn in an attendance sheet by June 30, at the end of each school year.
If a family registers with a Church-Related Umbrella School (Category IV), they will be required to fulfill the requirements of that umbrella school as well as those of Abeka Academy.
Still looking for an accredited online home school option?
If an accredited online school is preferred to home school, families may choose one of the schools on the TNDOE Approved List of Non-Public Schools. Only the schools on that list may be used for online home school.
Learn more about Abeka’s return policy.
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