When to file...

The Declaration Of Intent must be submitted to the Georgia Department of Education within 30 days of beginning your homeschool program and EVERY year after by September 1st. What this means is, if you decide to start your homeschooling on June 1 then by July 1 you should be submitting your DOI, but no later than September 1 each year. If withdrawing from a public school, you will need to submit a DOI within 45 days of withdrawal,

What is the DOI?

The Declaration of Intent, also called the DOI for short, is the crucial first step and single handedly the MOST IMPORTANT FORM, in your homeschool journey each year. The DOI is an official document submitted to the Georgia Department of Education every year to begin or continue a home school study. In fact, in the state of Georgia, it's the only official document that is to be submitted to the state. By submitting your DOI the parent/guardian is letting the state know that their child/children will be homeschooling for the upcoming school year. This form will be used to obtain such things like your child's driving permit/license, work permit, military enlistment, college admission and any other entities that would require proof of educational enrollment.

What information is on the DOI?

The Declaration of Intent form can sound a little intimidating but don't let the big name scare you. The DOI is a simple form that wouldn't hurt a fly! When filling out the DOI, you'll be asked basic info such as your children's/student's name, age, dates of school year and the address and name of the home school. This is where you get to have a little fun by naming, if you wish, your homeschool. I.E. Camden's Academy or Jaxson's University. Make it your own!

How to submit your DOI.

There are several ways submit your Declaration Of Intent, with the easiest being the GDOE online application. This has always been my choice of submission as it's the quickest. However, you a can also choose to submit a hard copy of your DOI by either faxing or mailing it to GDOE. After you hit the submit button located at the button of your form you will receive a screen that will show a 36 character parent signature line, this is your "signature" your electronic submittal.

Georgia Dept of Education
Homeschool Division
1562 Twin Towers East
2​05 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive
Atlanta, GA 30334

Fax: (770) 344-4623​​

Click link below to take you to the GDOE website to submit your DOI electronically.

https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Pages/Home-Study-DOI.aspx

After you submit your DOI...

After submitting your DOI electronically, you will want to save and print out a copy for your records. The website does not save this information therefore you will not be able to retrieve the form at a later date. The Declaration of Intent is the most important paper in your homeschool journey so you will want to keep a printed out copy each year. You can also choose to have this emailed, but again, this option is only available right after you hit the submit button.

Once your child is officially registered as a homeschool student, you as the parent have similar rights and responsibilities as the local District office. The parent is considered the superintendent, principal, teacher, and you can create and sign any document that relates to the educational needs of your child/children.

Please visit the GDOE for all official rules and regulations by