A comprehensive breakdown of the legal responsibilities and benefits of homeschooling in Georgia
Did you know that the Georgia Aquarium is the only place in North America where you can see a whale shark up close? Or that Springer Mountain in North Georgia is the start of the Appalachian Trail? (Although Maine would say it’s the end.) Whether you want to long-distance hike, learn about the Civil War right where it happened, or tour the world-famous Coca-Cola museum, Georgia has educational experiences for homeschoolers of every sort and size.
But if you want to homeschool in Georgia, there are a few legalities you need to take care of first. So, we’ve gathered all the pertinent information you need to know about homeschooling in the Peach State. That way, all you need to worry about is what to put in your backpack.
Many states have a few different legal options for homeschoolers. Georgia keeps it simple—one option for everyone. Fortunately, the requirements are fairly straightforward. Nevertheless, understanding and following them are critical to homeschooling successfully.
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Under Georgia law, parents or guardians may only teach their own children at home if they possess a high school diploma or a state-approved high school equivalency diploma like a GED.
The good news is that parents who don’t possess one may still homeschool by hiring a tutor who does. Whether you want to obtain the necessary diploma yourself or hire a qualified tutor, you should do that before proceeding to the next step.
Even if you exceed the qualifications for teaching your children at home, hiring a homeschool tutor—for a single subject or all of them—can provide enormous benefits and peace of mind.
In addition to freeing you from the need to instruct your child for 180 days a year, a tutor may help you:
Parents must file a Declaration of Intent with the Georgia Department of Education within 30 days of beginning a homeschool program. They must, then, continue to file one annually by September 1, for as long as they continue homeschooling.
This can be done by fax, mail, or electronically. Forms are available on the state’s website. The declaration must include, at a minimum, the following information:
If you are withdrawing your child from public school in order to homeschool them, you should be aware that Georgia public schools are required to have proof of a student’s enrollment in a homeschool program within 45 days of withdrawal. Otherwise, the school is required to refer the matter to the Division of Family and Children Services of the Department of Human Services. This department will then contact the family to conduct an assessment of the child’s enrollment status.
With this in mind, it is critical to be ready to begin your homeschool program and file your Declaration of Intent as soon as possible after withdrawing your child from public school.
The homeschool “instructor,” i.e. you the parent, or your tutor, must write an annual report that gives an individualized assessment of a child’s progress in each of the required subjects (below). You may also assess your child’s progress in other subjects or areas, but that is at your discretion.
You are required to keep these reports for at least three years, but, notably, you do not need to submit them to the state or anyone else. They are for your records only. Despite this, it is important to write these reports not only because it is required by law but also because you can use them to prepare high school transcripts, assign grades, or adjust your educational approach for the following year.
You are required, at a minimum, to provide “a basic academic educational program” in the core subjects: reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. You may also teach other subjects beyond these if you wish.
During the 12-month period you specified as your “school year” on your Declaration of Intent, you must provide the equivalent of at least 180 days of instruction. A “school day” is defined as at least four and a half hours. Exceptions are made for children who cannot physically comply with this requirement.
In Georgia, children must attend school from age 6 through age 16 unless they have completed all requirements for a high school diploma.
There is an exception for children under 6 who have been enrolled in public school for more than 20 days. These children must be enrolled continuously until graduation. For example, if you enrolled your child in kindergarten for more than 20 days and withdrew them, you must file a Declaration of Intent to homeschool even if they are not yet 6.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your child is over 16 but hasn’t graduated yet, you should continue to report that they are homeschooling to the Department of Education until they do. Otherwise, they are considered a drop-out.
Beginning at the end of third grade, parents must submit their child to a nationally standardized achievement test every three years. However, like progress reports, the test results do not need to be filed with the state. Parents should keep the results as part of their child’s permanent educational record.
Some test publishers allow parents to administer tests to their children. Others have different requirements or qualifications. Parents should contact the publisher of their test of choice for specific details about administration.
The purpose of testing is to allow parents to assess their child’s progress and make informed decisions about changes to their curriculum or educational plan.
There are no additional requirements for homeschooling children with special needs in Georgia. Home education programs that are in compliance with Georgia law are considered private schools for purposes of IDEA. Homeschooled students with special needs shall be provided with the same special education and related services as students in private schools. (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-159 )
Under most circumstances, homeschooled children do not have access to public school courses, activities, or facilities in Georgia. However, the law provides that children in grades 6 through 12 may have some access to extracurricular and interscholastic activities in their home districts by meeting these seven requirements:
In Georgia, you are required to keep your child’s annual progress reports for a minimum of three years and keep their assessments indefinitely.
Additionally, you should keep your Declarations of Intent and any other correspondence you have with the Department of Education or school district.
While it was previously a requirement that Georgia homeschoolers keep attendance records, that is no longer so. However, that is highly recommended especially since there is a minimum number of instructional days (180). Keeping attendance records ensures there will be no question that you are meeting those requirements.
However, these are not the only records that diligent homeschoolers should keep. Best practices suggest that you also maintain records such as:
Speaking of records, Georgia law gives homeschooling parents or guardians the authority to execute any document needed to show evidence of school enrollment, grades, or any other educational information. This includes the verification needed to obtain a driver’s license or work permit, receive state or federal public assistance, or any verification required by law, regulation, or policy.
While Georgia requires immunizations for children attending school, there is no such requirement for homeschoolers. The state even provides for medical and religious exemptions for public school students. So, Georgia is not a state adverse to those choosing to forgo vaccinations for their children.
In 2020, the percentage of Georgia parents pulling their children out of public school in order to homeschool them rose from 7% to 16%.
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