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
Include: student names, student ages, program location, school year period
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)
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires a high school diploma or GED.
Deadline: Before you start
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 810 hours/year, 180 days/year, 4.5 hours/day. You must track and document hours.
Show your child's progress
Standardized test — every three years. At grades: 3, 6, 9, 12.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
Submit annual progress reports
Submit annual progress reports to your school district. Annual renewal also required by September 1.
More details
Submit: written progress assessment.
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.
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
Your notice must include:
- •student names
- •student ages
- •program location
- •school year period
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓language arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓social studies
- ✓science
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program: "general_list"; Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment: "none"
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program: true; Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment: false
- Days per year:
- 180
- Hours per year:
- 810
- Hours per day:
- 4.5
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program: [3,6,9,12]; Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment: null
- Accepted types
- Standardized test
- Frequency
- every three years
- At grades
- 3, 6, 9, 12
See our full assessment guide for Georgia for details.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program: "3 years"; Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment: null
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program: ["written_progress_assessment"]; Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment: null
- Progress reports
- annual reports to your school district
- Annual renewal
- Required by September 1
O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c)
Instructor qualifications
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program: "hs_diploma"; Private School / Umbrella School Enrollment: "none"
The instructor must have a high school diploma or GED.
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
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