Georgia law refers to homeschools as home study programs. To operate a home study program in Georgia, you must follow the steps listed below.
Homeschooling under the homeschool statute
1. Ensure that the person or people homeschooling your child have the required qualifications.
You must be a parent or a legal guardian of a child before you can file a declaration of intent to homeschool that child. You may hire a tutor to help you homeschool your child. The teaching parent or guardian and any tutor in a home study program must have a high school diploma or a GED.
2. Submit an annual declaration of intent.
Within 30 days after you begin homeschooling, and every year thereafter by September 1, you must submit a “declaration of intent to utilize a home study program” to the Georgia Department of Education. You can access online and printable versions of the declaration of intent on the department’s website. Your declaration must include the names and ages of your students, the location of your home study program, the local school system in which your home study program is located, and the 12-month period that you consider to be your home study program’s school year.
3. Provide the required number of days of instruction.
During the school year, your home study program must provide the equivalent of 180 days of education with each school day consisting of at least four and one-half school hours, unless your child is physically unable to comply with this requirement.
4. Teach the required subjects.
Your home study program must provide a basic educational program that includes, but is not limited to, reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
5. Write annual progress reports.
At the end of every school year, you must write a report of the progress that your child made in each of the required subjects. You must keep this report in your records for at least three years. It does not have to be submitted to public school officials.
6. Test your child at least every three years after he or she completes 3rd grade.
Your child must be tested at least every three years, beginning at the end of the 3rd grade. You may administer the test if you do this “in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm reference tests.” Test results do not have to be submitted to public school officials. Click here to learn more about testing and evaluation options.
Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.