Homeschool laws in Georgia
Checked Oct 11, 2026 against 6 sources · General information, not legal advice.
Your Georgia to-do
- Send the declaration of intent to the Georgia Department of Education First year
Within 30 days after the home study program starts. - Send this year's declaration of intent Every year after
By September 1 every year after the first declaration. - Write the annual progress assessment report Every year
Once a year for each student (the law sets no date); keep it for at least three years. - Give a nationally standardized test Every year Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
At least every three years, beginning at the end of the third grade.
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What Georgia asks
Georgia parents run a home study program by sending a declaration of intent to the Georgia Department of Education within 30 days of starting and by September 1 every year, and by teaching at least reading, language arts, math, social studies and science for the equivalent of 180 days of at least 4.5 hours each. The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalency, writes a yearly progress report kept for 3 years, and has each child take a nationally standardized test at least every 3 years from the end of grade 3, with nothing but the declaration sent to the state.
School age: Ages 6–15. School is required from the 6th birthday until the 16th birthday (the law says between the sixth and sixteenth birthdays), unless the child has finished all high school diploma requirements.
Home study program
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c); § 20-2-690.1 · Level 4: More involved
- Notice: declaration within 30 days of starting, then by Sept 1 yearly
- Time: 180 days, 4.5 hours a day
- Subjects: reading, language arts, math, social studies, science
- Assessment: a standardized test at least every 3 years from grade 3
- Records: yearly progress report and test scores, kept 3 years
All the details, deadlines
- Notice
- Every year: Within 30 days after starting the home study program, then by September 1 every year, a declaration of intent to the Georgia Department of Education (online or on paper). It lists the students' names and ages, the address of the home study program, the local school system and the 12-month period used as the school year.
The state's form - Time
- 180 days a year, 4.5 hours a day
The equivalent of 180 school days in each 12-month school year, each school day at least 4.5 school hours, unless the child is physically unable to comply. - Subjects
- reading
- language arts
- mathematics
- social studies
- science
- Assessment
- Standardized test: At least once every 3 years, starting at the end of grade 3 (the law does not name the grades)
An appropriate nationally standardized test at least every three years, beginning at the end of grade 3, given in consultation with a person trained in norm-referenced testing. Keep the results; they are not sent to public education officials. - Portfolio
- Not required
- Reports
- No reports to send
- Records to keep
- annual progress assessment report for each student, covering each required subject
- standardized test records and scores
- Teacher
- The parent or guardian may teach only their own children and needs at least a high school diploma or a state-approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma; they may hire a tutor with the same qualification.
Deadlines
- Send the declaration of intent to the Georgia Department of Education: Within 30 days after the home study program starts.
- Send this year's declaration of intent: By September 1 every year after the first declaration.
- Write the annual progress assessment report: Once a year for each student (the law sets no date); keep it for at least three years.
- Give a nationally standardized test: At least every three years, beginning at the end of the third grade.
How Homepen helps
Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Year-end summary, Report card, High-school transcript.
Sources
- Georgia General Assembly: HB 283 (2013, as passed, signed by the Governor), Section 23 revising O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c) (home study programs) · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- Office of the Governor: HB 530 (2019, signed), revising O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c)(1) (declaration of intent) · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- Office of the Governor: SB 397 (2022, signed), replacing GED with state approved high school equivalency (HSE) in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690 · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- Georgia General Assembly: HB 706 (2012, as passed, signed by the Governor), amending O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-690 and 20-2-690.1 · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- HSLDA: How to comply with Georgia's homeschool law · Secondary source · checked Oct 11, 2026
- Georgia General Assembly: HB 155 (2021, not enacted), showing the current wording of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1(a) · Secondary source · checked Oct 11, 2026
General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Georgia Department of Education.
Keep your Georgia records without the paperwork
Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Georgia asks for.
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