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Georgia Homeschool Funding

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Last updated: October 8, 2025

Georgia Homeschool Funding

Promise Scholarship ESA, special-needs vouchers, and tax-credit scholarships.

GA
Funding guide
State programs

Main program

Program name: Georgia Promise Scholarship (Education Savings Account)

Admin: Georgia Education Savings Authority (GESA) with oversight by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA)

Typical award

Amount: Approximately the state “base” per-pupil amount (around $6,500 per student/year; set annually)

Disbursement: Funds deposited to a family ESA; purchases must meet qualified-expense rules

Who qualifies

  • Residency: Georgia resident K–12 student
  • Eligibility: Assigned to a school on the state’s low-performing list or in priority categories (e.g., foster children, certain military families), per program rules
  • Education setting: May use funds while homeschooling or attending a private provider, if expenses are qualified

Timeline

  • Applications: Open ahead of each school year via the ESA portal
  • Funding: Accounts funded on the state schedule (minus a small admin fee)
  • Purchases: Submitted and approved in the ESA portal/marketplace

Overview

Georgia’s main option for families seeking help with home-education costs is the Promise Scholarship ESA. Eligible students receive an annual state deposit—managed in an online account—usable for approved educational expenses (curriculum, tutoring, online programs, testing, therapies, certain services, and more per rulebook). Georgia also has the Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) and a tax-credit scholarship program through Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs). Those two generally fund private-school tuition rather than homeschool purchases.

Programs

Georgia Promise Scholarship (ESA)

  • Type: Education Savings Account (ESA)
  • Award: State base amount (about $6,500/student/year; set annually)
  • Uses: Curriculum/materials, tutoring/instruction, online courses, testing & college exams, special-needs therapies, contracted services with postsecondary institutions, and other items listed as qualified expenses
  • Admin: GESA (policy oversight by GOSA)

Family overview & portal · Official rules (qualified expenses & eligibility)

Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS)

  • Type: Voucher to participating private schools
  • Award: Amount varies; applied to private-school tuition/fees
  • Uses: Tuition/fees at approved private schools (not a homeschool ESA)
  • Admin: Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE)

Statute: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2114 (GSNS)

Qualified Education Expense Credit (Tax-Credit Scholarships)

  • Type: Donor tax credit funds scholarships via SSOs
  • Award: Set by SSOs; typically applied to private-school tuition
  • Uses: Private-school tuition/fees (generally not available for homeschool purchases)
  • Admin: Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) & registered SSOs

DOR: Important Tax Updates (program references)

Eligibility

  • Promise Scholarship (ESA): Georgia resident; K–12; assigned to a public school on the state’s low-performing list or qualifies under priority categories (foster, certain military, etc.) as defined in rules; expenses must be qualified
  • GSNS: Student meets special-needs criteria in statute; awards paid to participating private schools
  • Tax-credit scholarships: SSO-based awards for private-school tuition; generally not for homeschool purchases

How to apply

  1. Create your family account in the Promise Scholarship portal and verify identity/residency.
  2. Complete the ESA application and confirm assignment/eligibility per program rules.
  3. Once approved, browse approved providers/vendors and submit purchase requests (curriculum, tutoring, services, etc.).
  4. Track approvals and spending in the portal; keep receipts and documents per the rulebook.

Go to application portal

Covered expenses

  • Curriculum & educational materials
  • Tutoring / instruction (approved providers)
  • Online courses & programs
  • Special-needs therapies (approved vendors)
  • Tests & college entrance exams
  • Devices & accessories (as allowed)
  • Contracted services with postsecondary institutions
  • Approved fees & services listed by GESA
  • Only purchases meeting “qualified expense” rules will be approved
  • Always check the current rules/handbooks before purchasing.

Deadlines

MilestoneDateNotes
Application window opensAnnually (before school year)Dates posted in ESA portal
Application deadlineVaries by yearLate applications may be waitlisted
Account fundingOn GESA scheduleMinus small admin fee per rules

Docs & forms

Official sources

FAQs

Can Promise Scholarship funds be used for homeschooling?
Yes—eligible families may spend ESA funds on qualified expenses like curriculum, tutoring, online programs, testing, and approved services through the portal/marketplace.
How much is the award?
The ESA deposits the state’s base per-pupil amount (about $6,500 in recent years). The exact amount is set by Georgia and may change annually.
Can I stack GSNS or an SSO scholarship with the ESA?
No. Families generally cannot receive Promise Scholarship funds while also receiving GSNS or an SSO tax-credit scholarship for the same student.
Can homeschoolers join public-school extracurriculars?
Georgia’s “Dexter Mosley Act” lets eligible home-study students in grades 6–12 participate in extracurricular/interscholastic activities at their zoned public school (local procedures apply).

Contacts

Promise Scholarship / ESA Support

Portal: mygeorgiapromise.org
Rules & guidance: Program rules
Marketplace login (Odyssey): Sign in

Georgia Department of Education

GaDOE website
Home Study (homeschool) page

Law & regulations