How to homeschool in Georgia

Options for homeschooling

: 1

Notification required

: Yes

Standardized testing required

: Yes

ESA Option

: Yes

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Georgia homeschooling laws and options

Georgia offers parents a legal homeschooling option through a straightforward legal process. Parents must submit a Declaration of Intent to the Georgia Department of Education within 30 days of beginning their homeschool program each year. This document officially registers the family as a homeschool under Georgia law.

Key legal requirements:

Parent education requirement: The teaching parent or guardian must have at least a high school diploma or GED.
Subjects required: Reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science must be included in the curriculum.
Required records: Additionally, parents are required to maintain accurate attendance records, ensuring a minimum of 180 instructional days per year, and prepare annual progress reports for each student. These records must be kept on file and made available upon request.

By meeting these requirements, homeschooling families can provide their children with a tailored and legally compliant education.

For more details on Georgia’s homeschooling laws, visit the Georgia Department of Education.

We have done our best to ensure the accuracy of this information, however it should not be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

How to homeschool with Time4Learning in Georgia

Homeschooling in Georgia offers families the freedom to create personalized learning experiences with minimal state regulations. Here’s how to get started:

Understand Georgia homeschooling laws. Ensure you cover basic subjects and maintain records like attendance and progress.
Notify your child’s school. If withdrawing from public or private school, inform the school to avoid truancy issues. You can submit a declaration online or print one out to mail or fax to the Georgia Department of Education.
Choose a method and curriculum. Select a teaching style and curriculum that fits your child’s needs. Time4Learning is popular for its flexibility and comprehensive subject coverage, including all of Georgia’s required subjects.
Create a learning plan. Set a schedule and plan lessons to ensure consistent progress and meet educational goals. Parents can plan out their homeschool schedule through our member-favorite tool, the Activity Planner.
Keep records. Since Georgia requires a submission of records, keeping work samples, attendance, and progress reports is important. Time4Learning offers tools like automated grading and recordkeeping, which can help satisfy Georgia’s portfolio documentation requirements.
Connect with homeschool communities. Join local or online groups for support, resources, and social opportunities!

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Georgia's high school graduation and diploma requirements

Georgia homeschooling families have the flexibility to set their own graduation requirements. While the state doesn’t mandate specific courses, it’s common for homeschoolers to follow the typical public high school model, which includes 23-25 credits across subjects like math, English, science, and social studies.

Homeschool parents issue their own diplomas, and Georgia recognizes these diplomas as valid. It’s a good idea to maintain comprehensive records, including course descriptions, grades, and a transcript, which may be required when applying to colleges or jobs.

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Georgia’s standardized test requirements for homeschoolers

Georgia requires homeschoolers to test every three years starting in third grade. These tests must measure achievement in reading, language arts, and math. Parents choose the test and administer it themselves or hire a qualified proctor. Common tests include the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) and the Stanford Achievement Test.

Test results don’t need to be submitted to the state but must be kept in your homeschool portfolio for at least three years.

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Applying to college as a homeschooler in Georgia

Homeschoolers in Georgia can apply to colleges and universities just like public or private school students. Many colleges even have dedicated admissions processes for homeschoolers.

To strengthen your student’s application, be sure to provide:

A clear and professional transcript showing grades and courses completed. As a Time4Learning member, you can download a transcript template directly from our parent portal.
A portfolio of student work, especially for advanced courses, volunteer work, passion projects, and dual enrollment. This is a great way to showcase your student's well-roundedness. As a Time4Learning member, you can easily print weekly reports from your parent dashboard and organize them in a binder.
Standardized test scores (if required by the school)

Local colleges such as the University of Georgia and Georgia State University are known for being homeschool-friendly. Check specific admission requirements on the university’s website.

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Using an ESA for homeschool financial aid in Georgia

Georgia recently launched an Education Savings Account (ESA) program that may cover some homeschooling expenses. ESAs allow parents to allocate state-provided funds toward qualifying educational costs, such as curriculum, tutoring, or online programs like Time4Learning.

Visit the Georgia ESA Program page to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

In Georgia, parents can apply for the Georgia Promise Scholarship and use those funds through Odyssey towards Time4Learning!