Georgia Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Georgia, based on O.C.G.A. 20-2-690(c). Georgia is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home Study Program, the most common of Georgia's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to Georgia Department of Education. Deadline: Within 30 days of establishing the home study program, and by September 1 of each subsequent year.
Deadline: Within 30 days of establishing the home study program, and by September 1 of each subsequent year
More details
Declaration of Intent must include per statute: student name(s) and age(s), program address, local school system, and 12-month school year period. One-page form, no fee.
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to school principal or attendance office.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
Not legally mandated but strongly recommended to prevent truancy proceedings. File Declaration of Intent and withdraw simultaneously or within a short timeframe. Ensure the school records the child as withdrawn, not absent/truant.
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires a high school diploma or GED.
Deadline: Before you start
More details
O.C.G.A. 20-2-690(c)(3) requires the teaching parent/guardian to hold at least a high school diploma or GED. Teaching parent must be the child's legal parent or guardian. No teaching certification required. Parent may hire a tutor but remains the legally responsible party.
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science
More details
State-mandated minimum subjects. Georgia does not mandate specific curricula, textbooks, or additional subjects such as PE, art, or music.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 810 hours/year, 180 days/year, 4.5 hours/day. You must track and document hours.
More details
Statute requires the equivalent of 180 school days with at least 4.5 hours of instruction per day (excluding breaks, lunch, non-instructional time). Attendance records should be maintained but the statute does not explicitly mandate attendance record submission.
Show your child's progress
Standardized test — every three years. At grades: 3, 6, 9, 12.
More details
Nationally standardized achievement test required every 3 years, beginning at end of 3rd grade. Acceptable tests include ITBS, CAT, Stanford Achievement Test, TerraNova, Woodcock-Johnson, or other nationally normed tests. No minimum score requirement. Test must be administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm-referenced tests. Results retained by parent and made available to superintendent upon request but not routinely submitted.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
More details
Must maintain attendance records (showing 180-day compliance), standardized test results (every 3 years), and copies of annual Declarations of Intent. Superintendent may request records but cannot compel production outside legal proceedings. No portfolio or daily lesson plan requirement. Retain records for at least 3 years per statute.
Submit annual progress reports
Submit annual progress reports to your school district. Annual renewal also required by September 1.
More details
Annual progress assessment retained by parent for at least 3 years per statute. NOT submitted to any authority. Must include student name and age, address where instruction took place, and written summary of subjects taught and student's progress. Declaration of Intent must be renewed annually by September 1. Monthly attendance reports are NOT required (common misconception).
Good news
Education savings: Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA)
Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA): ~$6,500/student — Primarily for students zoned for bottom-25% performing schools. Income limits apply (household income at or below 400% FPL). Must be Georgia resident for at least 1 year. Additional priority categories: students with special needs (IEP/504), foster care, active-duty military children.
More details
Enacted 2024, signed by Governor Kemp. Funds deposited into parent-managed ESA for approved educational expenses (private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, etc.). Participating families must comply with additional reporting and accountability requirements beyond standard homeschool law, including approved vendor lists and financial accountability. May require annual standardized testing. Implementation details continue to evolve.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- Georgia Department of Education
- Deadline
- Within 30 days of establishing the home study program, and by September 1 of each subsequent year
- How often
- annual
Declaration of Intent must include per statute: student name(s) and age(s), program address, local school system, and 12-month school year period. One-page form, no fee.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓language arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓social studies
- ✓science
State-mandated minimum subjects. Georgia does not mandate specific curricula, textbooks, or additional subjects such as PE, art, or music.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 180
- Hours per year:
- 810
- Hours per day:
- 4.5
Statute requires the equivalent of 180 school days with at least 4.5 hours of instruction per day (excluding breaks, lunch, non-instructional time). Attendance records should be maintained but the statute does not explicitly mandate attendance record submission.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Testing and assessment
- Accepted types
- Standardized test
- Frequency
- every three years
- At grades
- 3, 6, 9, 12
Nationally standardized achievement test required every 3 years, beginning at end of 3rd grade. Acceptable tests include ITBS, CAT, Stanford Achievement Test, TerraNova, Woodcock-Johnson, or other nationally normed tests. No minimum score requirement. Test must be administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm-referenced tests. Results retained by parent and made available to superintendent upon request but not routinely submitted.
See our full assessment guide for Georgia for details.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
Must maintain attendance records (showing 180-day compliance), standardized test results (every 3 years), and copies of annual Declarations of Intent. Superintendent may request records but cannot compel production outside legal proceedings. No portfolio or daily lesson plan requirement. Retain records for at least 3 years per statute.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Reporting
- Progress reports
- annual reports to your school district
- Annual renewal
- Required by September 1
Annual progress assessment retained by parent for at least 3 years per statute. NOT submitted to any authority. Must include student name and age, address where instruction took place, and written summary of subjects taught and student's progress. Declaration of Intent must be renewed annually by September 1. Monthly attendance reports are NOT required (common misconception).
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Instructor qualifications
The instructor must have a high school diploma or GED.
O.C.G.A. 20-2-690(c)(3) requires the teaching parent/guardian to hold at least a high school diploma or GED. Teaching parent must be the child's legal parent or guardian. No teaching certification required. Parent may hire a tutor but remains the legally responsible party.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)(3)
What you don't need to worry about
Education savings: Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA)
Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA): ~$6,500/student — Primarily for students zoned for bottom-25% performing schools. Income limits apply (household income at or below 400% FPL). Must be Georgia resident for at least 1 year. Additional priority categories: students with special needs (IEP/504), foster care, active-duty military children.
Other ways to homeschool in Georgia
This checklist covers Home Study Program, the most common pathway. Georgia offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home Study Program(this checklist) : You file a Declaration of Intent with the Georgia Department of Education by September 1, teach five core subjects for 180 days (4.5 hours/day), and administer a standardized test every three years starting at 3rd grade. You retain an annual progress assessment (not submitted). No minimum test score required.
- •Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment : You enroll in a private or umbrella school that handles filings and compliance with the state on your behalf. No state-mandated testing, no required subjects from the state, and no personal Declaration of Intent. Best for families who want administrative simplicity or prefer having a formal school affiliation.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Georgia
Education savings available
Georgia offers Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA). Learn about ESA programs
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Georgia checklistRequirements sourced from O.C.G.A. 20-2-690(c). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026