How to Homeschool Legally in Georgia (2025 Update)

If you live in the state famous for its peaches, and you are considering homeschooling, you’ve come to the right place! The path to homeschooling in Georgia is fairly straightforward. While there are a few rules and requirements, Georgia gives parents freedom of choice in their children’s education.

Whether you’ve homeschooled before or are making the switch for the first time, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to homeschool in GA!

Homeschooling in Georgia at a Glance

Georgia – The Peach State

Required Age	6-16
Standardized Testing	Yes
Subjects	Math, science, ELA, social studies, reading
Time Requirements	4.5 hours per day for 180 days
Graduation Requirements	Determined by parent
Special Requirements	Parent must have high school diploma or equivalent
Financial Resources Available	Yes

Parent Qualifications

GA homeschool laws require parents to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Parents may also hire a tutor to instruct their child, provided the tutor fulfills this requirement.

Declaration of Intent

Withdrawing your child from school and filing a Declaration of Intent (DOI) will be your first step in your homeschooling journey. You must submit your completed DOI within 30 days of beginning homeschool and renew it by September 1st annually. The Georgia Department of Education recommends submitting the form online, but you may also fax, mail, or email it.

This form will include:

• The names and ages of your students
• The location of your home study program 
• The name of your local school district
• The 12-month period that you consider to be your home study program’s school year.

Attendance

To homeschool in Georgia, parents must provide instruction at least 180 days a year for a minimum of 4.5 hours per day. If a child is physically unable to do so, they are exempt from this requirement.

Homeschool Curriculum

There are five required subjects:

1. Math
2. Science
3. English language arts
4. Social studies
5. Reading

You may also add other subjects or electives to your curriculum.

There are no restrictions on which curriculum or format you may use.

Record Keeping

The only record you must submit to the state is your DOI. 

However, you do need to create and keep annual progress reports, although you won’t submit them to anyone. These progress reports should include each subject for each student and need to be kept for a minimum of three years. Having a thorough homeschool portfolio can make these reports a breeze! 

When creating your portfolio, be sure to include: 

• A copy of your DOI and any school correspondence
• A list of subjects studied
• All report cards or grades earned
• All standardized test scores
• Any work from, or a list of, extracurricular activities

Testing

Beginning in third grade, you must give at least one nationally normed standardized test to your child every three years. The test must be taken in the presence of a trained testing administrator. You can register for testing through a local homeschool association or by contacting a third-party testing service.

Graduation Requirements

In Georgia, parents can decide when their child is ready to graduate and are responsible for providing a homeschool diploma. 

To determine student readiness, many parents look to the Georgia public school graduation requirements to help them make the decision.

Financial Resources

If you’re looking for financial aid to cover the cost of homeschooling, you’re in luck! The Georgia Promise Scholarship is offering up to $6,500 per student for the 2025-26 school year to cover qualified educational expenses. In addition, families may claim a tax credit for donating to private school scholarships through the Georgia Private School Tax Credit, or claim the PEACH Education Tax Credit.

Other Tips & Resources

For further information about homeschooling requirements in Georgia, check out:

• Georgia Homeschool Association
• Georgia Department of Education

Miacademy’s online accredited K-8 program and 9-12 programs can help you homeschool in Georgia with ease! If you have any questions about whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, please reach out to our customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.