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

In Georgia, homeschool oversight falls to the local school district superintendent, not a state agency. Each family files paperwork with the superintendent of the school district where they live. There is no state-level homeschool registry.

The Annual Declaration

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

• Names and ages of the children being homeschooled
• Location of the home school
• A statement that the parent will provide 4.5 hours of instruction per day

The declaration is simple — most school districts have a one-page form or accept a brief written letter. Some districts have online submission options.

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

Parents must keep monthly attendance records showing instruction occurred. Georgia requires a minimum of 4.5 hours of instruction per day for the equivalent of a traditional school year (180 days). Records should be kept for 3 years in case of any audit or dispute.

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 that homeschooled students take an annual standardized achievement test starting at the end of 3rd grade and every year thereafter. The test must be administered by a qualified test administrator (not the parent). 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 are kept by the parent — they are not submitted to the district. However, if a truancy dispute arises, the test records serve as evidence 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 is more involved than for traditional school graduates. Homeschoolers must submit a Counselor Certification Form to the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) verifying the GPA, and that GPA must meet HOPE's 3.0 minimum (or 3.7 for the Zell Miller Scholarship).

The courses counted toward HOPE eligibility are limited to the 16 core academic courses — not electives or enrichment subjects.

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 local superintendent's office cannot help with — they only receive the annual declaration.

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 annual 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 allows high school students — including homeschoolers — to take community college or university courses tuition-free during their high school years, with the state funding the cost. This is one of the most generous dual enrollment funding programs in the country and provides externally verified college credit that strengthens any college application.

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.

Georgia Private School Accreditation Associations (GAPSA) 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. Applications go directly to the college hosting the dual enrollment student.