Homeschooling in Georgia

The homeschool rules in Georgia, from official sources: your options, any notice, what to teach and record, testing, official forms, the law and who to contact.

Homeschooling? Classfern Family keeps your plans, tutors’ lessons and records in one place – £40 (about $50) a year for your whole family. What’s in Family

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice – check your state’s official page: Georgia official page.

Broad level: Moderate regulation – our own rough summary, what the levels mean.

Your options

(1) Home study program (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690(c)), taught by a parent or a tutor. (2) Private school.

Notice or letter of intent

Declaration of Intent (DOI) to GaDOE within 30 days of starting, and by 1 Sept every year after. Online, by fax or by post. It gives the students' names and ages, the address and the school year dates.

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects: At least reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.
Days or hours: The equivalent of 180 days a year, at least 4.5 hours a day.
Testing or assessment: A nationally standardised norm-referenced test at least every 3 years, starting at the end of grade 3 (Georgia Milestones does not count). Results are kept by the parent, not submitted.
Records: An annual written progress report for each subject and student, kept for at least 3 years, plus test records. Monthly attendance reports are no longer required (since July 1, 2013).

Parent qualifications

The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED and may teach only their own children. A tutor also needs a high school diploma or GED.

Other rules

The DOI serves as proof for a driver's permit or license. Work permits come from the Georgia Department of Labor.

Official forms

Online DOI: https://apps.gadoe.org/home-study-doi ; DOI page gadoe.org/…

The law

O.C.G.A. 20-2-690, 20-2-690.1

Who to contact

Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) – Home Study (Declaration of Intent)[email protected] · 404-656-2800 · Official pageWho handles notices: State

Special education and public school classes and sports

Dexter Mosely Act (O.C.G.A. 20-2-319.6, GaDOE copy gadoe.org/…): home study students in grades 6-12 may join extracurricular and interscholastic activities at their resident school. Each semester they must take one qualifying course through the resident system (approved mechanism, dual credit or a required on-site course). Parents notify the principal and superintendent in writing at least 30 days before the semester, with the latest annual progress report and the instructor's verification of passing grades. The student must meet the same eligibility rules and try out. A student who leaves public school for home study is ineligible for 12 months. Special education was not stated.

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Georgia

To enroll your child in a public school in Georgia, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school. Ask how it decides grade placement and whether it accepts credits from homeschooling before your child starts, and bring the records you choose to share. We didn’t find a state rule on this for Georgia in the official sources we checked – see the Georgia official page and ask the district.

See going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.

Last checked: October 25, 2026. Report a change to this page

Official sources

Last checked against these sources: October 25, 2026.

This is general information, not legal advice – check your state’s official page. This page sums up official sources in our own words. Homeschool laws differ from state to state and can change. Check your state’s official page and your local school district’s guidance, and get qualified advice for your situation. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, any state education agency, school district, College Board, ACT, the GED Testing Service, HiSET, CLT or the Common App.