ChoiceFunded What your state pays

Homeschooling in Georgia: what the law requires and who pays

The Georgia Promise Scholarship handbook says a homeschool or home study program is one that meets the requirements of Georgia Code (O.C.G.A.) 20-2-690(c). One state program pays toward a homeschooled student’s costs here, by its official source: Georgia Promise Scholarship.

Quoted from official sources, read October 8, 2026. A law summary, not legal advice.

What Georgia’s law requires

The law that allows it

The Georgia Promise Scholarship handbook says a homeschool or home study program is one that meets the requirements of Georgia Code (O.C.G.A.) 20-2-690(c).

“Homeschool or home study is an educational program that meets the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c)” Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF)

The Department of Education's Declaration of Intent form says state law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690) requires the department to share a copy of the declaration with the local school system.

“is required by state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690) to make available to the local school system in which the home study program is located a copy of the Declaration of Intent” Georgia Department of Education, Home School Declaration of Intent

Telling the state or district

A declaration of intent to pursue home study goes to the Georgia Department of Education every year by September 1.

“Submit annually by September 1 a declaration of intent to pursue home study to the Department of Education.” Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF)

What and how long to teach

The program must cover reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.

“The home study program must provide a basic academic education program which includes reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.” Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF)

Instruction must equal 180 school days every 12 months, with each day at least four and a half school hours.

“The home study program must provide instruction to home study students equivalent to 180 school days of education each 12 months with each school day consisting of at least four and one-half school hours.” Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF)

Testing or evaluation

Home study students take a nationally standardized test at least every three years.

“Students will be subject to nationally standardized testing to evaluate their educational progress at least every three years.” Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF)

The instructor writes an annual progress report assessing the student's progress in each subject.

“The home study program instructor must write an annual progress assessment report which includes the instructor's individualized assessment of the student's academic progress in each subject area.” Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF)

The state’s own page for families: Georgia Department of Education, Home School Declaration of Intent (online form).

State money for homeschoolers in Georgia

Georgia Promise Scholarship

The Georgia Promise Scholarship funds nonpublic schooling, including private school and home study. (Georgia Promise Scholarship (Georgia Education Savings Authority))

One way a student meets the program's student type rule is being currently enrolled in, and previously enrolled in, a Georgia public school for the prior two full semesters. (Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF))

Home study students in the program are responsible for meeting the program's testing and reporting requirements themselves. (Georgia Promise Scholarship Family Handbook, updated 2026-08-12 (Georgia Education Savings Authority, PDF))

Georgia Promise Scholarship: amount and how to apply Private schools in Georgia

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Georgia next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Georgia?

A declaration of intent to pursue home study goes to the Georgia Department of Education every year by September 1.

Do homeschoolers in Georgia have to take tests?

Home study students take a nationally standardized test at least every three years. The instructor writes an annual progress report assessing the student's progress in each subject.

Can a homeschooler in Georgia get state money?

Georgia Promise Scholarship: The Georgia Promise Scholarship funds nonpublic schooling, including private school and home study. One way a student meets the program's student type rule is being currently enrolled in, and previously enrolled in, a Georgia public school for the prior two full semesters. Home study students in the program are responsible for meeting the program's testing and reporting requirements themselves.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

Homeschool law in other states

All states and the programs that pay homeschoolers

What your state pays Find schools