How to Homeschool in Georgia

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If you're trying to decide if homeschooling in Georgia is right for you and your family, you've come to the right place! Georgia has relatively few regulations for homeschooling, but it is still important for you to know all the requirements. Read on for the following:

An overview of Georgia homeschool laws,
An introduction to homeschool groups in Georgia and a
Description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started.

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

Georgia Homeschool Laws

Before you start homeschooling, you should be sure that you meet the following requirements:

Parents must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
The curriculum you use must include instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
Your program's school year must include 180 days with at least 4½ hours of instruction per day.

Every July 1, you must submit a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool. This process is very simple and can be completed online here.

Once you have submitted this document, you can withdraw your children from their current public or private school (note this only needs to happen during your first year). After submitting the DOI, you become responsible for your children's education. Although it is not required, it is suggested that you maintain records of your children's education, including the following:

Work samples in all subjects
Notes on student progress
Attendance records
Standardized test scores

Beginning in third grade and then at least every 3 years after (e.g., 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade), your child must take a nationally standardized test. Most homeschool associations offer these at the end of the school year. The following section should help connect you to homeschool groups and resources in your area.

Homeschool Groups in Georgia

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Georgia to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Georgia Home Education Association (GHEA)

http://www.ghea.org

This Christian-based group serves the whole state with resources, guidance, and an annual homeschooling conference in May.

Central Georgia Christian Home Educators (CGCHE)

http://www.cgche.org

This group serves families throughout Central Georgia with resources, meet-ups, and enrichment opportunities.

Southwest Georgia Homeschool Association

http://www.homeschool-life.com/ga/swgha

This Christian group is open and welcoming to families of all faiths. They provide bi-weekly classes, annual events, and club opportunities for families in Southwest Georgia.

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NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Georgia

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Georgia. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Georgia legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.