Georgia is widely considered a homeschool-friendly state, offering a straightforward legal path for families to direct their children’s education. The state operates under a ‘moderate’ regulatory framework, meaning while there are notification and testing requirements, the government does not actively oversee or approve your daily curriculum choices.

The Primary Pathway: The Home Study Program

Most families in Georgia homeschool under the Home Study Program statute (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c)). This pathway provides the legal framework for parents to teach their own children at home.

1. The Declaration of Intent (DOI)

To begin homeschooling, you must submit a ‘Declaration of Intent to Utilize a Home Study Program’ to the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE).

• Timeline: File within 30 days of starting your program, and then every year by September 1.
• Process: Most families file electronically via the GaDOE website, which provides an immediate digital confirmation. This confirmation is your legal proof of homeschooling and is often required to obtain driver’s licenses or work permits for teens.

2. Teacher Qualifications

The person providing instruction must hold at least a high school diploma or a GED. Parents may also hire a tutor to provide instruction, provided the tutor meets the same educational requirement.

3. Required Subjects and Instruction

Georgia law requires that your home study program include the following subjects:

• Reading
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science

Your program must provide the equivalent of 180 days of instruction, with each day consisting of at least 4.5 hours, unless the student has met all graduation requirements.

4. Testing and Assessment

Georgia requires standardized testing to ensure academic progress, but with a degree of privacy:

• Timing: Students must take a nationally standardized achievement test every three years, beginning at the end of the 3rd grade (e.g., grades 3, 6, 9, and 12).
• Submission: You do not submit these scores to the state. You must keep them in your personal records and provide them only if requested by the local superintendent or in specific legal situations.
• Progress Reports: At the end of every school year, the parent must write an annual progress report for each student. Like the test scores, this is not submitted to the state but must be kept for three years.

Compulsory Attendance

In Georgia, children must be enrolled in school from age 6 until their 16th birthday. If your child is 16 and wishes to withdraw from school, a formal conference and parental consent are required. If a child is enrolled in public school before age 6 and remains for more than 20 days, they also fall under compulsory attendance rules.

The Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA)

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, Georgia will implement the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act (SB 233).

• What it is: An Education Savings Account (ESA) providing $6,500 per year for tuition, tutoring, and curriculum.
• Eligibility: Students must live in the attendance zone of a public school ranked in the bottom 25% for academic performance and meet specific family income requirements (under 500% of the federal poverty level).
• Implications: Families using the ESA are subject to additional accountability measures, including specific testing requirements and financial audits, which differ from the standard home study laws.

Step-by-Step Compliance

1. File the DOI: Submit your Declaration of Intent online to the GaDOE.
2. Plan your Curriculum: Ensure you cover the five mandatory subjects. You have full autonomy over which textbooks or methods you use.
3. Track Your Days: Keep a log showing you have met the 180-day/4.5-hour requirement.
4. Test Every 3 Years: Arrange for standardized testing in the appropriate years.
5. Write Annual Reports: Summarize your child’s progress at the end of each academic year.

Resources and Links

• Georgia Department of Education - Home Study Page
• Online Declaration of Intent Form
• HSLDA Georgia State Page
• Coalition for Responsible Home Education - Georgia