Georgia has straightforward homeschool requirements — a Declaration of Intent, required subjects, minimum school days, an annual progress report and periodic testing. Here is everything you need to know to start legally and stay compliant in 2026.
Georgia Homeschool Requirements (2026)
Georgia is a moderately regulated homeschool state. You have flexibility in curriculum choice and teaching methods, but you must file a Declaration of Intent each year, meet minimum school day requirements, write an annual progress report, and test your child at least every three years. Understanding these steps upfront makes compliance simple.
📋 Step 1 — File a Declaration of Intent
Submit a Declaration of Intent to the Georgia Department of Education (online or by printable form) by September 1 each year
If you start homeschooling mid-year, submit it within 30 days of beginning
The declaration includes: the names and ages of the students, the location of the home study program, the local school system, and the 12-month period you treat as the school year
The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED to legally homeschool in Georgia
Submit a new Declaration of Intent each year to continue homeschooling
📚 Required Subjects
Reading
Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies
Science
Georgia law requires a basic educational program that includes these five subjects. You choose the curriculum, teaching method, and materials. Most families cover additional subjects such as Art, Music, Coding, and Health.
📅 School Hours & Attendance
Minimum 180 school days per year required by Georgia law
Minimum 4.5 hours of instruction per school day
Keep attendance records for your 180 days. HSLDA's current Georgia summary does not list sending attendance to the district, but ask the Georgia Department of Education or your district whether it expects monthly attendance reports
📊 Progress Report & Testing (Required)
Each year, write a report of your child's progress in each required subject and keep it for at least three years. You do not submit it to the district
Test your child with a nationally normed achievement test at least every three years, starting at the end of 3rd grade
You may give the test yourself if you do it in consultation with a person trained in giving and interpreting norm-referenced tests
You do not submit test results to the district
📁 Record-Keeping Requirements
Keep attendance records for your 180 days
Keep each year's written progress report for at least three years
Keep samples of your child's work across the required subjects to support your progress reports
Keep records of books, curriculum materials, and educational activities used throughout the year
⚠️ Always verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Education (gadoe.org) or HSLDA (hslda.org). Requirements can change and this page is for general reference only. The Georgia Home Education Association (ghea.org) is also a valuable state-specific resource.
Withdrawing from Public School in Georgia
If your child is currently enrolled in a Georgia public school, notify the school in writing that you are withdrawing your child to homeschool. Once withdrawn, submit your Declaration of Intent to the Georgia Department of Education within 30 days. Keep copies of all correspondence. Georgia school districts vary in how they handle withdrawals, so calling your school in advance to ask about their process can save time.
How Lumi Helps Georgia Homeschool Families
Georgia's 180-day requirement and yearly progress reports make record-keeping essential. Lumi generates the documentation Georgia families need automatically — no manual tracking, no spreadsheets.
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Attendance Tracking
Keep a record of your 180 school days. Lumi's built-in attendance tracker logs every session automatically and is printable anytime.
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All Required Subjects Covered
Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science — all of Georgia's required subjects — plus 11+ more including Coding, Art, Music, and US History.
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Report Cards for Progress Reports
Auto-generated printable report cards by subject and grading period help support your yearly written progress report in each required subject.
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Lesson Activity Logs
Complete timestamped records of every lesson, subject, and score — a helpful base for your yearly progress report and three-year record keeping.
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Printable Workbooks
Six grade-level workbooks with grade-level exercises. Print pages as work samples to support your progress reports.
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Flat Family Price
$9.99/month covers all your kids — up to 8 learner profiles on one account. Georgia families never pay per child.
Frequently Asked Questions — Homeschooling in Georgia
Do I need to send attendance records to my school district in Georgia?
Georgia expects you to run 180 days of instruction, so keep attendance records. HSLDA's current summary does not list sending attendance to the district, but requirements can change, so ask the Georgia Department of Education or your district whether it expects monthly reports. Lumi's built-in attendance tracker logs every school session automatically, so records are ready if anyone asks.
Does the teaching parent need to have a college degree in Georgia?
No college degree is required. However, Georgia does require that the teaching parent have at least a high school diploma or GED. This is one of the few states with a minimum parent education requirement for homeschooling.
What testing and progress reports does Georgia require?
Georgia requires a written progress report from you each year in every required subject (kept for at least three years, not submitted) and a nationally normed achievement test at least every three years starting at the end of 3rd grade. You may give the test yourself if you do it in consultation with a person trained in giving and interpreting norm-referenced tests, and you do not submit the results to the district.
Can my homeschooled child participate in public school activities in Georgia?
Georgia does not have a statewide law guaranteeing homeschool students access to public school extracurriculars. Some districts allow it on a case-by-case basis. Contact your local school district directly for their policy on homeschool student participation in sports, clubs, or other activities.
How many days per year must I homeschool in Georgia?
Georgia requires your home study program to provide the equivalent of 180 days of education, with each school day at least four and one-half hours. Lumi's attendance tracker helps you stay on track and meet this minimum throughout the year.
What is the best homeschool curriculum app for Georgia families?
Lumi Academy covers Georgia's five required subjects, auto-tracks attendance, generates printable report cards that support your yearly progress report, and maintains timestamped lesson logs for three-year record keeping. The full K–8 curriculum runs on any device for up to 8 kids at a flat family price.
Start Homeschooling in Georgia with Lumi
free 48-hour trial. Full K–8 curriculum with built-in attendance tracking, monthly logs, and report cards from day one.