California vs Georgia: Homeschool Laws Compared

Georgia is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while California requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 6 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from California to Georgia

Once you are a Georgia resident you homeschool under Georgia's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. The annual target changes from 175 days a year in California to 810 hours over 180 days a year in Georgia.
2. Georgia's required list adds reading and drops visual/performing arts, health, and physical education compared with California's. Match Georgia's wording in your records.
3. Georgia requires standardized testing, at specified grade levels. California had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
4. Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in Georgia against 6-18 in California, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
5. Georgia runs Georgia Promise Scholarship. Check whether your family qualifies; California had no comparable program.
6. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Georgia the answer is yes, with conditions; in California it was no.

Moving from Georgia to California

Once you are a California resident you homeschool under California's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. The annual target changes from 810 hours over 180 days a year in Georgia to 175 days a year in California.
2. California's required list adds visual/performing arts, health, and physical education and drops reading compared with Georgia's. Match California's wording in your records.
3. California requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Georgia's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
4. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in California against 6-16 in Georgia, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
5. California has no ESA program. Georgia's Georgia Promise Scholarship is for Georgia residents, so budget without it.
6. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In California the answer is no; in Georgia it was yes, with conditions.

What stays the same

California and Georgia match on notice of intent, the portfolio, and progress reports. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither California nor Georgia takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Alabama vs Georgia 5 rules differ
• Arizona vs California 6 rules differ
• California vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• California vs Florida 8 rules differ
• California vs Idaho 5 rules differ
• California vs Illinois 5 rules differ
• California vs Nevada 4 rules differ
• California vs New York 6 rules differ
• California vs North Carolina 6 rules differ
• California vs Oregon 5 rules differ
• California vs Tennessee 6 rules differ
• California vs Texas 6 rules differ
• California vs Washington 6 rules differ
• Florida vs Georgia 6 rules differ
• Georgia vs New York 7 rules differ
• Georgia vs North Carolina 5 rules differ
• Georgia vs South Carolina 6 rules differ
• Georgia vs Tennessee 6 rules differ
• Georgia vs Texas 5 rules differ
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