Georgia Homeschool Requirements (2026)
Georgia is a moderately regulated homeschool state. You have flexibility in curriculum choice and teaching methods, but you must file annual paperwork, meet minimum school day requirements, keep monthly attendance records, and complete an annual assessment. Understanding these steps upfront makes compliance simple.
📋 Step 1 — File a Declaration of Intent
- File a Declaration of Intent with your local school superintendent by September 1 each year
- If starting homeschooling mid-year, file within 30 days of beginning
- The declaration must include: the name and age of each child being homeschooled, the subjects to be taught, and the name of the teaching parent
- The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED to legally homeschool in Georgia
- File a new Declaration of Intent each year to continue homeschooling
📚 Required Subjects
- Reading, Language Arts, and Literature
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Science
Georgia law requires instruction in these four subject areas. 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
- Monthly attendance records must be kept and submitted to your local school superintendent
- Attendance records must be maintained and available for inspection for three years
- Georgia's monthly attendance submission requirement is stricter than most states — plan for this in your routine
📊 Annual Assessment (Required)
- Georgia requires an annual assessment of your child's educational progress
- Option 1: A nationally standardized achievement test administered by a qualified evaluator
- Option 2: A portfolio review conducted by a Georgia-certified teacher
- Assessment results must be kept for three years and made available to the superintendent upon request
- You do not submit assessment results to the district unless specifically requested
📁 Record-Keeping Requirements
- Monthly attendance records must be kept and submitted to your superintendent — this is a firm legal requirement in Georgia
- Annual assessment results must be retained for three years
- Maintain samples of your child's work across required subjects for portfolio documentation
- 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, file your Declaration of Intent with the local superintendent 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 monthly attendance requirement and annual assessment make record-keeping essential. Lumi generates the documentation Georgia families need automatically — no manual tracking, no spreadsheets.
📅
Monthly Attendance Tracking
Georgia requires monthly attendance records submitted to your superintendent. Lumi's built-in attendance tracker logs every session automatically and is printable anytime.
📚
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.
📄
Report Cards for Annual Assessment
Auto-generated printable report cards by subject and grading period help support Georgia's annual assessment requirement and document three years of records.
📋
Lesson Activity Logs
Complete timestamped records of every lesson, subject, and score — perfect for Georgia's portfolio assessment option and three-year record requirement.
📓
Printable Workbooks
Six grade-level workbooks with standards-aligned exercises. Print pages as portfolio work samples for Georgia's certified teacher portfolio review option.
👪
Flat Family Price
$39.99/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 every month in Georgia?
Yes — Georgia is one of the few states that requires monthly attendance submission to your local school superintendent. This is a legal requirement, not optional. Lumi's built-in attendance tracker logs every school session automatically, making it easy to generate and submit monthly records.
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 assessment options does Georgia allow?
Georgia allows two options: (1) a nationally standardized achievement test administered by a qualified evaluator, or (2) a portfolio review by a Georgia state-certified teacher. Many Georgia families choose the portfolio review because it is flexible and can be done by a local certified teacher. Results must be kept for three years.
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 a minimum of 180 school days per year with at least 4.5 hours of instruction per day. This is comparable to what public schools operate and is a firm legal requirement. 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 all of Georgia's required subjects, auto-tracks attendance for monthly submission, generates printable report cards for annual assessment documentation, and maintains timestamped lesson logs for three-year record requirements. 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. No credit card required.
Try Lumi Free →