If you have Georgia “on your mind” as a state for homeschooling, I am here to offer encouragement and the basics to begin that journey. The University of Georgia was the first state-chartered university in the United States. Georgia is also home to Stone Mountain, a great field trip location, which is the world’s largest mass of exposed granite and features carvings of the faces of three Confederate leaders.

In 1992, the Georgia Home Education Association was established as a Christian organization to protect the rights of homeschool families, and it remains a wonderful resource to this day. I could go on about the many historical landmarks and the beautiful scenery of this one-of-a-kind state, but chances are you are here to learn more about the adventure of homeschooling and how Georgia makes that option appealing to many of its families.

According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are over three million homeschoolers in the United States, and roughly 91,000 of them are located in Georgia. Over the years, the percentage of homeschoolers in Georgia has increased significantly.

Are there really advantages to home education? Will homeschooling make it harder for my children to be accepted into college? What does Georgia require me to provide in order to homeschool? Is it difficult to homeschool in Georgia? How do I get started? These are all valid questions, some of which I have asked myself, and I am here to help you answer them!

Because of the ability to learn and develop at their own pace, homeschoolers are able to find and express their identity while learning in a fashion that fits their individual needs, rather than having to conform to a group of students in a classroom setting. Homeschoolers have also been shown to score above average on achievement tests compared to those in institutional schools (NHERI, Research Facts on Homeschooling).

I can personally attest to this. I was a homeschooled student who, due to life circumstances, had to start attending school in high school. I, along with my five younger siblings, excelled in the public school system, many of us graduating with the status of “Honor Graduate.” With the proper homeschool curriculum, your children have the potential to excel far beyond what they would achieve in an institutional setting.

The requirements for homeschooling in Georgia are minimal, making it quite simple to get started. The main requirements are as follows:

• Parents or hired instructors must have a high school diploma or a GED to teach the student.
• At a minimum, the student must study reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science.
• The student is required to have 180 instructional days.
• Parents are required to submit a Declaration of Intent to the Georgia Department of Education each year. This can be done online.
• Parents must write an annual progress report for each subject and keep it on file for three years.
• Standardized testing (achievement testing) must be conducted every three years, beginning at the end of third grade.

Getting started is as simple as choosing your curriculum and submitting your Declaration of Intent. After those initial steps are completed, you only need to ensure your children have completed their 180 instructional days by the end of the school year.

The BJU Press Homeschool Hub makes scheduling so much easier for our family. It conveniently provides the projected end dates of each course and a detailed, customizable calendar, making vacations and unexpected sick days easy to work around.

I also decided to keep a binder for each of my children, including progress reports (available to print from the Homeschool Hub), some tests, and their yearly transcript. Achievement tests go in the binders as well. I do this so that I have documentation of which subjects my children completed each year.

When it comes to achievement testing, I am so grateful that BJU Press Homeschool offers the testing my children need and that we can do it from our home as needed. There are both online and physical paper testing options. If you would like to dive deeper into the requirements, I suggest visiting the HSLDA website, which provides more thorough information.

Having spoken to many homeschool families, I have encountered a concern about whether their children will have difficulty being accepted into university after grade school. The short answer to this question is no. As long as your students have received a strong home education, they should have no problem applying to and attending university.

The requirements for homeschooled students in the college application process do not differ much from those of traditional students (Ivy Scholars, “College Admissions for Homeschooled Students”). Following your state homeschooling recommendations and requirements will greatly help the preparation process.

I like to encourage families, when they can, to connect with other homeschool families in their area. I was fortunate, as a child, to be part of a homeschool group where we gathered twice a week with other families for connection and, at times, took field trips.

There are several places in Georgia that would make fun field trips, whether you go with a group or as a family. The Biblical History Center in LaGrange, GA, is a museum that takes you through life during biblical times. They have tours and even a “Homeschool Day” on the calendar at times. For something simpler and more relaxing, Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, has a beautiful Botanic Garden along with a Wildlife Center that we have visited and really enjoyed.

YOU CAN do this! I am so thankful for the home education I received through BJU Press Homeschool and am blessed to be able to give my children the same type of education. Homeschooling provides a wonderful opportunity to be involved in your children’s education and to watch them develop into their unique selves. I have loved being able to observe each of my children’s strengths and help them lean into their interests more deeply.

For more helpful information on homeschooling or kind encouragement on your journey, I highly recommend working with a HomeWorks by Precept Consultant in your state to help take some of the load off your shoulders. The fact that you have read this far proves your commitment to the success of your children’s education. With the path clearly laid out and through prayer, I am confident that you can make the decision that is the right fit for your family.

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