Homeschool funding & ESAs in Georgia

Can I get paid to homeschool in Georgia?

Not as a salary. Georgia has the Georgia Promise Scholarship — an account or award spent on approved education costs, not a payment for teaching. Long-time independent homeschoolers generally do not qualify unless newly entering school — verify the public-school-attendance rule before relying on it. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. It runs the other way too: Georgia's homeschool rules require a test or an evaluation every 3 years, in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. The accepted options, and who administers each, are in the testing line below. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it.

Georgia scholarships, grants & tax credits

What does Georgia require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Georgia requires a test or an evaluation every 3 years, in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. That is the part of the year a family arranges ahead of time. Which options Georgia accepts — and who administers each one — is in the testing line below, in the reviewed rules' own words. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it. What Georgia asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. Georgia requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Georgia Department of Education (online; the DOE shares a copy with the local school system). How: Declaration of Intent submitted online (also accepted by mail/fax). When: Within 30 days of establishing the program, then annually by September 1. The DOI lists student names/ages, the parent address, the local school system, and the 12-month school year.

Testing or evaluation

Yes. Georgia requires a standardized test. How often: Every 3 years (from grade 3). What is accepted: Nationally norm-referenced standardized test (parent-administered). Testing every 3 years beginning at the end of grade 3 (grades 3, 6, 9, 12). No minimum score; results are kept on file, not submitted. Families using a Georgia Promise Scholarship account are the exception: that program requires an approved nationally norm-referenced test or the state assessment every year, with the scores reported to the Georgia Education Savings Authority.

Days and hours

Georgia's rule: 180 days/year; at least 4.5 instructional hours/day (~810 hours).

Records

Georgia requires these records: annual progress report in the five required subjects and standardized test results. How long, or where they go: Test results retained (no statutory period specified). The progress report and test results are kept by the family — not submitted to the state.

Full Georgia homeschool requirements →

Common questions about homeschool funding in Georgia

Does Georgia have an education savings account (ESA) for homeschoolers?

Yes — the Georgia Promise Scholarship. Long-time independent homeschoolers generally do not qualify unless newly entering school — verify the public-school-attendance rule before relying on it. Georgia's Promise Scholarship (SB 233, 2024; O.C.G.A. § 20-2B-20 et seq.) funds nonpublic schooling including home study — up to $6,500 per student for 2026-27, for Authority-approved curriculum, tutoring and other qualified expenses. Eligibility is narrow: the child must be currently enrolled in a Georgia public school across two consecutive enrollment counts, or be entering kindergarten; must live in the attendance zone of a school on the state's lowest-25-percent list; and the parent must have lived in Georgia at least a year. A child already homeschooling does not qualify unless entering kindergarten. Participants who are not at a participating school must take an Authority-approved nationally norm-referenced test, or the state assessment, every year and report the scores — yearly, where the home study rule is every three years. Eligibility and current status for it are listed on this page, and both can change from year to year.

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →