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Board approves homeschool testing policy changes; members raise concern about reduced oversight
Summary
The board approved revisions to policy 6.202 to comply with public chapter 912, which removes the district’s prior authority to follow up on homeschool students’ academic progress. Members warned that the change reduces district oversight of students who may be struggling.
The Murfreesboro City Schools Board on July 28 approved revisions to board policy 6.202 to bring the district into compliance with new state law (public chapter 912) changing homeschool testing and oversight requirements.
Staff explained the new statutory pathway requires homeschool students to take a nationally normed, proctored assessment (in lieu of the prior requirement to take the district’s TCAP in certain grades) and to register either as an independent homeschool or under an umbrella school. “Under the new law, there is no requirement for us to track that assessment,” staff said. The district will continue to accept home‑school assessments and families may choose to test with the district, but officials said the district can no longer require reenrollment or initiate the same follow‑up steps it could under prior law.
Board members expressed concern about students who are falling behind and the loss of a district mechanism to require return to public school when progress is insufficient. One board member asked whether “the kid really has no one kinda looking out for them outside of the home,” and staff acknowledged that statutory changes limit district authority to intervene while confirming the district will continue to collect registration and attendance data and encourage diagnostics when students return.
The board approved the policy changes on first reading. Staff said they will provide the underlying public chapter citation and continue to adapt district procedures (including how proctoring and assessment logistics will be handled) as more guidance is provided.
