Georgia Homeschool Requirements: What the Law Actually Requires

Georgia is considered a moderately regulated homeschool state. The requirements are straightforward if you know what they are, but families who miss the annual declaration deadline or skip required subjects can face unnecessary complications. Here's a clear summary of what Georgia law actually requires.

Who Oversees Homeschooling in Georgia

Georgia's Declaration of Intent is filed with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), which makes a copy available to the local school system. The state filing is the central notification step for a home study program.

The Annual Declaration

Georgia Code § 20-2-690 requires parents to file a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool with GaDOE each year by September 1 (or within 30 days of establishing the program). The declaration includes:

• Names and ages of the children being homeschooled
• The home-study address
• A declaration of a 12-month school year

The declaration is simple — GaDOE provides the form and filing process.

Missing the September 1 deadline does not void your right to homeschool, but it can create friction if the district contacts you about truancy. File on time to avoid complications.

Required Subjects

Georgia law specifies that homeschool instruction must cover these subjects:

• Reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science
• Any other subjects the parent deems appropriate (optional additions)

There is no required curriculum. You choose how to cover these subjects. The state does not evaluate your curriculum choices or conduct home visits.

Attendance Records

The home study program must provide at least 180 days of instruction during a 12-month period, with at least 4.5 hours per instructional day unless the child is physically unable to comply. At the end of each school year, the parent or guardian must write an annual progress report for each subject and retain it for at least three years.

What counts as instruction is broadly defined. Reading, discussion, experiments, field trips, co-op classes, and structured self-study all qualify. You don't need to document every activity — just maintain a log confirming instruction occurred on the days your records show.

Annual Assessment Requirement

Georgia requires a nationally standardized achievement test at least every three years, beginning at the end of 3rd grade. Use a person trained in administering and interpreting standardized tests. Options include:

• Tests administered by a private school
• Tests offered by local homeschool co-ops with a certified teacher overseeing administration
• Tests available through national testing services

The test results and annual progress reports are retained by the parent — they are not routinely submitted to the district. However, if a truancy dispute arises, these records help document that instruction is occurring.

Common tests used by Georgia homeschool families include the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Stanford Achievement Test, and CAT/5.

High School Credits and Diplomas

Georgia does not regulate how families assign high school credits or issue diplomas. Parents create their own transcripts and award their own diplomas. There is no state diploma for homeschoolers — the parent-issued diploma is the credential.

For college admissions, this parent-issued diploma is legally valid. However, for SUNY/CUNY-style public universities in other states or for specific Georgia programs, additional documentation may be needed. Georgia's own public university system (University System of Georgia) accepts homeschool graduates with parent-issued transcripts and diplomas.

Georgia HOPE Scholarship for Homeschoolers

High school students who graduate from a Georgia homeschool and enroll in a Georgia college or university may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, but the pathway depends on the program's accreditation status and GSFC evaluation. For an accredited home study program, GSFC lists a minimum 3.0 calculated HOPE GPA and four full rigor credits. For an unaccredited home study program, initial eligibility uses a qualifying ACT 24 or SAT 1160 plus manual evaluation and supporting-document upload. Check GSFC for current HOPE and Zell Miller requirements.

HOPE's calculated GPA uses designated core and rigor courses; not every elective or enrichment course automatically counts.

Connecting to College Preparation

Georgia's homeschool law gives families significant flexibility, but the college preparation burden is entirely on the parent. Creating a transcript, writing a school profile, and navigating the Common App counselor account are all steps that the state filing office does not provide — admissions documentation remains the family's responsibility.

Homeschool Co-ops and Support Groups in Georgia

Georgia has a well-developed homeschool community with co-ops throughout the state. The Georgia Home Education Association (GHEA) is the primary statewide advocacy organization and hosts an annual convention that includes used curriculum sales, workshops, and legislative updates.

Regional co-ops and cottage schools operate in metro Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and most other population centers. Co-ops provide socialization, shared teaching of specialized subjects (chemistry labs, art, foreign language), and community. Some co-ops in Georgia have credentialed teachers who can administer the required standardized test — a practical benefit if you need to find a testing option.

For high school students, Georgia's thriving dual enrollment landscape is worth noting. Georgia's Move On When Ready (MOWR) program, now called Dual Enrollment, can allow eligible high school students, including homeschoolers, to take courses at participating colleges and technical colleges with state funding. Homeschool parents/guardians use the required GAfutures education-professional account and state application steps; confirm current eligibility with the program and college.

If your Georgia homeschooler is heading toward college, especially competitive colleges, the US University Admissions Framework covers the documentation process from transcript creation through the Common App submission — tailored to the parent acting as school administrator.

Georgia's Accreditation Landscape

Georgia does not require homeschools to be accredited. However, for students applying to the University System of Georgia (USG) institutions — Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Georgia State, etc. — the admissions requirements include standardized test scores and a transcript review.

Georgia Tech and UGA both admit homeschool students on a holistic basis. For Georgia Tech in particular, SAT/ACT scores and AP exam scores (especially in math and science) are the primary validators for homeschool applicants.

The Georgia Private School Accreditation Council and Georgia Accrediting Commission provide accreditation to private schools in the state, and some Georgia homeschool umbrella schools have pursued this accreditation. However, it's not required for USG admission.

Move On When Ready (MOWR) Dual Enrollment

Georgia's Move On When Ready (MOWR) program — now officially called Dual Enrollment — allows eligible high school students, including homeschoolers, to take courses at Georgia colleges and technical colleges with tuition paid by the state. This is an extraordinary resource for Georgia homeschoolers:

• State pays tuition, fees, and a book allowance
• Credits earned count for both high school and college
• Available at community colleges, technical colleges, and four-year universities including UGA and Georgia State
• Significantly strengthens the college application with external college-level grades

Eligibility for homeschoolers requires a minimum GPA and test score; specific requirements vary by institution. Homeschool parents/guardians must complete the required GAfutures account and state application steps before working with the college hosting the dual enrollment student.

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