Georgia's homeschool statute (the “home study program” law) gives parents broad authority to direct their student's education while requiring annual notification, basic recordkeeping, and periodic standardized testing.
Legal framework
Home study programs are governed by O.C.G.A. §20-2-690 et seq. The Georgia Department of Education publishes a current overview of the home study program requirements.
Notification & registration
Parents file an annual Declaration of Intent to Utilize a Home Study Program with the Georgia Department of Education, generally within 30 days of beginning the program and by September 1 each subsequent year.
Recordkeeping
Parents must keep attendance records, write an annual progress report retained for at least three years, and administer a nationally standardized achievement test every three years beginning in third grade. The instructional school year must include at least 180 days of at least 4½ hours each.
Graduation requirements
Georgia does not prescribe a credit list for home study students. The parent administering the program determines when the student has completed it. Many Georgia families align the high school transcript with the state's public school graduation units to keep things simple for in-state college admissions.
Who issues the diploma
The parent administering the home study program issues the diploma in the name of the family's home study program.
College & military recognition
Georgia public colleges and the University System of Georgia admit home study graduates, typically with a transcript, the diploma, and SAT or ACT scores. The HOPE Scholarship has specific provisions for home study graduates that families should review on the Georgia Student Finance Commission's site. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment when they present a diploma and transcript.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the Georgia Department of Education - Home Schools. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.