Florida vs Georgia: Homeschool Laws Compared
Side-by-side comparison of homeschool regulations. See what changes if you're moving between these states.
At a Glance
| Requirement | Florida | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | Moderate regulation |
| Notification | Required — county school district superintendent Within 30 days of beginning the home education program | Required — Georgia Department of Education Within 30 days of establishing the home study program, and by September 1 of each subsequent year |
| Testing | Required | Required |
| Required subjects | None specified | 5 subjects |
| Instructional time | No requirement | 180 days/yr, 810 hrs/yr |
| Instructor qualification | No requirement | a high school diploma or GED |
| Recordkeeping | portfolio | attendance |
| Annual renewal | Not required | Required by September 1 |
Moving Between These States
Moving from Florida to Georgia
Grace period: 30 days after establishing program (O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c))
What changes:
- ~Notification: Florida (Required — county school district superintendent Within 30 days of beginning the home education program) → Georgia (Required — Georgia Department of Education Within 30 days of establishing the home study program, and by September 1 of each subsequent year)
- +Georgia requires instructor qualification (a high school diploma or GED). Florida does not
- +Georgia requires required subjects (5 subjects). Florida does not
- +Georgia requires instructional time (180 days/yr, 810 hrs/yr). Florida does not
- ~Recordkeeping: Florida (portfolio) → Georgia (attendance)
Transition checklist
Before you leave Florida:
- ▢Notify child's current school principal or registrar: File written notice of termination with county superintendent within 30 days of termination, along with annual evaluation if due.
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in Georgia:
- ▢Submit Declaration of Intent to GA DOE within 30 days of establishing home study program. Online filing available.
- ▢Prepare qualification evidence (a high school diploma or GED)
Within 30 days of starting:
- ▢File within 30 days of starting (O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c))
- ▢After first year, DOI due by September 1 annually. Public schools must receive proof of homeschooling within 45 days of withdrawal to prevent DFCS referrals.
Moving from Georgia to Florida
Grace period: 30 days from establishing program (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(a))
What changes:
- ~Notification: Georgia (Required — Georgia Department of Education Within 30 days of establishing the home study program, and by September 1 of each subsequent year) → Florida (Required — county school district superintendent Within 30 days of beginning the home education program)
- -Good news: Florida has no instructor qualification requirement
- -Good news: Florida has no required subjects requirement
- -Good news: Florida has no instructional time requirement
- ~Recordkeeping: Georgia (attendance) → Florida (portfolio)
Transition checklist
Before you leave Georgia:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in Georgia
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in Florida:
- ▢File Notice of Intent with county superintendent within 30 days of establishing home education program.
Within 30 days of starting:
- ▢File within 30 days of starting (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(a))
- ▢Superintendent must accept immediately and may not require additional info. Moving between FL counties requires new NOI with new county superintendent.
Military families
Neither Florida nor Georgia has military-specific homeschool provisions. MIC3 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children) does not apply to homeschoolers — it covers public schools only. Your School Liaison Officer can help with the transition.
Planning a move?
Enter your move date to get a timeline with specific deadlines.
Common questions
What are the differences between homeschooling in Florida and Georgia?
Florida and Georgia have different homeschool regulations covering notification requirements, testing, required subjects, instructor qualifications, and recordkeeping. See the comparison table above for the exact differences.
What do I need to do to move my homeschool from Florida to Georgia?
When moving from Florida to Georgia, you must comply with Georgia's homeschool laws from scratch. See the transition checklist above for step-by-step guidance.
Data sourced from state statutes and administrative codes. Comparison based on default homeschool pathway for each state. This is compliance guidance, not legal advice. Terms · How we verify