Declaration of Intent to Home School and Attendance forms can be printed at the Ga Dept. of Education's website:  http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/askdoe.aspx?PageReq=ASKHome

Georgia Law

Requirements for Private Schools and Home Study Programs
(O.C.G.A. § 20-6-290 et seq.)

Every parent, guardian, or other person residing with this state having control or charge of any child or children between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays shall enroll and send such child or children to public school, a private school, or a home study program (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1).

Private Schools

1.  The institution must provide a basic academic educational program that includes, but is not limited to:  reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.

2.  The institution is privately controlled and operates on a continuing bas
sis and provides instructions each 12 months for the equivalent of 180 days of education with each school day consisting of at least 4 ½ hours of instruction. 

3.  Within 30 days after beginning of each school year, it shall be the duty of the administrator of each private school to report the names, ages, and residence of each student enrolled to the local superintendent of the district in which the student resides. 

4.  Changes in enrollment should be reported each month to the superintendent of the district in which the student resides.

5.  Any building used must meet all health and safety standards under state law and local ordinances.

Home Study Program

1.  Parent or guardian must annually submit to the superintendent of the local school district in which the program is located a Declaration of Intent to Utilized a Home Study Program by September 1 or within 30 days after program is established.  The local school superintendent will provide a form upon request for this purpose to be returned to that office.

2.  The declaration must include the names and ages of students, the address where the program is located, and the dates of the school year.

3.  Parents or guardians may teach only their children in the home study program provided the teaching parent or guardian possesses at least a high school diploma or general education development (GED) equivalency diploma, but the parents or guardians may employ a tutor who holds at least a baccalaureate college degree to teach such children.

4.  The home study program must include, but is not limited to, instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.

5. The school year must include an equivalent of 180 days of at least 4 ½ hours of instruction per day unless the child is physically unable to comply with this requirement.

6.  Monthly attendance reports must be sent to the local superintendent at the end of each month.   The local school superintendent will, upon request, provide the reporting forms.

7.  Students in home study programs shall be subject to an appropriate nationally standardized testing program administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm referenced tests.  The student must be evaluated at least every three years beginning at the end of the third grade.  Records of such tests shall be retained.

8.  The instructor shall write an annual progress assessment report in each required subject area for each student.  These reports shall be retained for at least three years.