Free · Updated June 2026

Georgia homeschool requirements

What Georgia requires to homeschool — instruction time, testing, and the exact legal citation, in plain English. A starting point to help you stay compliant.

Last verified June 2026 · A starting point, not legal advice — Georgia sets the rules and they change.

Instruction requiredSee your state rule below
Standardized testingYes — standardized testing/assessment required
Legal citationO.C.G.A. 20-2-690

The rule, in plain English

Georgia: 180 days of at least 4.5 hours each (there is no statutory total-hours number). Declaration of intent; nationally-normed test every 3 years from grade 3.

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Laws change — always confirm the current rules for Georgia yourself before relying on them. See Georgia's official requirements on HSLDA →

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This is a plain-English summary for your convenience, not legal advice. Cultivate helps you store, organize, and produce your homeschool records — it isn't the authority on what your state requires. Homeschool laws change; always confirm current rules with your state or a homeschool legal resource (e.g., HSLDA) before relying on them.

How to start homeschooling in Georgia

The general path most families follow. Georgia's specific requirements are in the summary above — confirm the exact steps and deadlines with your state before relying on them.

  1. 1

    Withdraw from public school first (if your child is enrolled)

    If your child is currently in public school, you'll typically send a written withdrawal or notice to the school before you begin — check your district's process. If your child has never been enrolled, this usually doesn't apply.

  2. 2

    Check whether Georgia requires notice or paperwork — and by when

    Some states require a notice of intent, affidavit, or registration with a filing deadline; others require nothing. Georgia's specific rule is summarized above — confirm the exact form and deadline with your state or HSLDA before you start.

  3. 3

    Teach the required subjects on a schedule that fits your family

    Choose your curriculum and teach, staying within any instruction-time rule shown above. Most states let you school year-round or in the evenings — the hours and days are what matter, not when you do them.

  4. 4

    Keep records as you go

    Keep a simple log plus samples of your child's work from the start — it's far easier than reconstructing it later. See "What records to keep" below.

  5. 5

    Complete Georgia's required testing or assessment

    Georgia requires a standardized test or evaluation (see above). Confirm the grades, timing, and accepted tests with your state, and keep the results with your records.

What records to keep in Georgia

Even where Georgiadoesn't require it, keeping these from day one protects you and makes any future review — or a college application — painless:

  • Attendance — a simple log of days or hours taught
  • Samples of your child's work (writing, math, projects)
  • The curriculum and materials you used
  • Test or evaluation results, if Georgia requires them
  • Grades and a transcript — especially for high school

This is exactly what Cultivate keeps for you — log your homeschool day in plain English and it tracks attendance, hours by subject, work samples, and assessments, then produces a print-ready report or transcript for Georgia whenever you need it.

Georgia homeschool requirements — FAQ

What does Georgia require to homeschool?

Georgia: 180 days of at least 4.5 hours each (there is no statutory total-hours number). Declaration of intent; nationally-normed test every 3 years from grade 3.

Does Georgia require standardized testing for homeschoolers?

Yes — standardized testing/assessment required. Confirm the details with Georgia or HSLDA.

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Georgia?

It varies by state. Georgia's specific rule is summarized on this page — confirm the exact form and any deadline with your state or HSLDA before you start.

What records should I keep when homeschooling in Georgia?

Even where it isn't legally required, it's good practice to keep an attendance log, samples of your child's work, the curriculum you used, any test or evaluation results, and grades/transcript for high school. Good records make any future review — or a college application — far easier.

Do I need a teaching certificate or college degree to homeschool in Georgia?

Most states don't require the teaching parent to be a certified teacher; a few require a high-school diploma or GED. Check Georgia's rule and confirm with your state or HSLDA.

What is the legal citation for homeschooling in Georgia?

Georgia's homeschool law: O.C.G.A. 20-2-690. Always confirm the current rules with Georgia or a homeschool legal resource such as HSLDA.

Stop tracking this on paper

Cultivate keeps your records — and produces the documents.

Georgia sets the rules. Cultivate handles the rest: log your homeschool day in plain English, and it stores it, organizes it by subject, tallies your hours and days, reminds you before filing deadlines, and produces print-ready transcripts and compliance reports for Georgia on demand. One place to keep it all — homeschool and home life.

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