How To Get Started

Okay, I understand the Georgia home school law and requirements, now I am ready to "get the ball rolling". HOW DO I GET STARTED?

NB: You should not report children under six (6) years of age unless they have previously been enrolled in a public school for at least 20 days.

  1. If you are taking your child out of a school, public or private, it is important to contact the school and let them be aware that you are removing your child from the school to home school. After 10 days of unexplained absences, your child will be considered truant, if they are not informed of your plans.
  2. Obtain the following documents from the GHEA website:
  3. Fill out the “Declaration of Intent” form, including your name, address, the names of your children you intend to home school, their ages and the dates you intend to school. No other information should be required, nor offered, on the Letter of Intent. Do NOT check any "optional" areas. Make a copy for your files.
  4. Contact your School Superintendent, (NOT the school board) by finding their number in your local phone book, or by checking out the Georgia Department of Education website at www.doe.k12.ga.us, where you will find a listing of School Superintendents. Call your School Superintendent’s office to find out if there is a home school “office” you need to address your Declaration form to; then send it, Certified, Return-Receipt Mail by September 1st, or within 30 days of the establishment of your homeschool program. Make sure you clarify that this is also the address to send your Monthly Attendance Forms to.
  5. On the first day of each month, send in your legible and completed Attendance Form to the correct address. In some counties, the Attendance Forms can be faxed in. Ask if that is an option. Keep a copy of each Attendance Form for your files.

Some Additional Suggestions:

  • When filling out the dates for your home school, be sure to give yourself a full 365 days, (i.e., Sept. 1 of the present year, until August 31 of the following year).
  • If you are withdrawing your child from a public or private school during the school year, find out how many days of school your child has attended when you withdraw him/her. On your Attendance Form, begin your record-keeping with that number of days, being sure to note that your child was a student at ________ school until ______________date. Begin your home school record-keeping with that number of days. Contact GHEA if you have unusual circumstances or questions concerning the Attendance Form.

We recommend you keep the following records for your use only (DO NOT send in):

  • Daily lesson plans and yearly goals
  • Records of educational activities (field trips, art, music, etc.)
  • Permanent folder for each child, including school records, attendance, health records, samples of work done, extra-curricular classes attended, etc.
  • Pictures of projects too big to keep

The Association will serve and assist any home schooling family or support group in Georgia, however, GHEA is a Christian organization and the counsel and direction of the organization will be Christian.

GHEA • 258 Sandy Lake Cir. • Fayetteville, GA 30214
Telephone: (770) 461-3657 • Fax: (501) 638-5264
E-mail: info@ghea.org