Georgia · Promise Scholarship
Georgia Promise homeschool curriculum: what you must teach vs. what Promise funds can pay for
Georgia’s Promise Scholarship governs eligible students and qualified expenses, including qualifying curriculum. It does not replace Georgia’s home study programrequirements. For homeschoolers, the real question is not just “what can Promise pay for?” but also “what does Georgia law require me to teach?”
The two-rule system you need to know
When families say “Georgia Promise homeschool curriculum,” they usually mean two different things at once:
- Georgia homeschool law: what you must teach and how you must run your home study program.
- Georgia Promise Scholarship rules: what the ESA can pay for if your child is eligible.
Those are separate. Promise does not erase Georgia’s homeschool rules, and Georgia’s homeschool rules do not tell you exactly how Promise funds must be spent. First meet the home study program rules, then check whether a purchase fits the qualified expense rules for Promise.
| Topic | Georgia home study program | Georgia Promise Scholarship ESA |
|---|---|---|
| What it governs | Legal homeschool requirements | Eligible students and allowed expenses |
| Required subjects | Yes — 5 areas | Home study law still applies; Promise governs eligible expenses |
| Time rules | Yes: 180 days, 4.5 hours/day | Time requirements governed by Georgia's home study program |
| Testing | Yes — standardized testing every 3 years from grade 3 | Do not assume ESA rules mirror homeschool testing rules |
| Curriculum spending | Your choice, as long as you comply with homeschool law | Must fit qualified expense rules, including qualifying curriculum |
What Georgia requires homeschoolers to teach
Under Georgia’s home study law, a homeschool must include instruction in five core areas:
- Reading
- Language arts
- Mathematics
- Social studies
- Science
Georgia does not require one brand, one package, or one teaching style. It requires coverage of the subject areas themselves. You can mix and match — but your plan needs to cover those areas.
Georgia homeschool days, hours, testing, and records
- Time: 180 school days per 12 months, at least 4.5 hours per school day
- Testing: Nationally standardized testing at least every three years, beginning at the end of third grade
- Records: Parent-retained annual progress assessment report kept for at least three years; statute also requires test records to be retained
A record system that includes a yearly attendance log, weekly lesson notes, reading lists, test dates and scores, progress reports, and curriculum receipts helps with both homeschool compliance and Promise expense documentation.
What the Georgia Promise Scholarship can pay for
The program site says Promise can pay for qualified education expenses, including qualifying curriculum and supplemental materials. The program regulations define curriculum as a complete course of study. That definition matters because it shows how the program uses the term — not because it removes the need to check whether a specific purchase fits the rules.
A parent-friendly rule of thumb
If you cannot explain how a purchase fits a subject area, pause before buying it with Promise funds. A helpful test:
- Is it part of a full course of study?
- Is it tied to a subject Georgia requires?
- Can I keep records that show what it was for?
Georgia Promise Scholarship amount and timing for 2026–2027
For 2026–2027, the Georgia Promise Scholarship site says eligible students may receive up to $6,500. The funds are paid in four quarterly installments.
The final two student application windows for the 2026/27 academic year are:
- August 1–31, 2026
- November 1–30, 2026
How to choose curriculum for a Georgia Promise homeschool family
A good Georgia Promise homeschool curriculum should do two jobs at once: (1) help you teach the Georgia-required subjects, and (2) fit the program’s allowed expense rules if you plan to use ESA funds.
A simple planning method
Start with the Georgia subject list — reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science — then choose materials that clearly match those subjects.
- Reading: phonics, reading passages, literature
- Language arts: writing, spelling, grammar
- Math: lesson-based math program, practice workbooks
- Social studies: history, geography, civics
- Science: lab kits, experiments, textbook units