Homeschool benefits: Paulding County School District
Under Georgia's Dexter Mosely Act (Senate Bill 42, or SB42), a Paulding County home study student in grades 6-12 can play sports and join extracurricular activities at the zoned public school by taking one qualifying course there, in person, online, or through dual enrollment. Email the school's athletic director with the required documents at least 30 days before the semester starts.
Who qualifies
Is a home study student
The act is only for home study students. Students in online public schools such as Georgia Cyber Academy, Georgia Virtual School, or Acellus Academy do not qualify.
Is in grades 6-12
Your student participates at the Paulding County school zoned for your address.
Takes one qualifying course
Your student enrolls in one course at the zoned school, face to face, virtual, or dual enrollment. Some co-curricular activities require a specific course.
Meets school and GHSA rules
Your student follows the district's attendance and conduct codes and meets the same Georgia High School Association (GHSA) eligibility rules as full-time students.
What participation gives you
These rules come from Paulding County School District's Dexter Mosley Act page and its questions and answers.
- Activities open to your student
- Sports and extracurriculars
- Courses your student may take
- 1
- Course format
- In person, virtual, or dual
- Notice before the semester
- 30 days
- Paulding County graduation
- Not eligible
If your student is not selected for the team, they are withdrawn from the course unless they enroll full time, and a declaration covers only the activity it names.
How to join a team or activity
- 30 days before the semester
Email the athletic director
Send the SB42 Declaration Form, your latest annual progress report, a passing-grades letter, the date your home school began, a transcript with units earned, and this year's Declaration of Intent.
- Before the first school day
Register at Central Registration
Book a registration appointment, then upload enrollment documents through the district's Online Registration System from the confirmation email.
- After registering
Get scheduled and try out
A school counselor schedules the course. Your student cannot attend workouts, practices, or tryouts until fully registered.
- Each semester
Keep enrollment and redeclare
Maintain the course and complete a declaration for each new activity. A break in enrollment makes your student ineligible.
- Each new school year
Continue enrollment
Send the athletic director a new declaration form, an updated transcript or progress report, and a utility statement from the last 30 days.
What it includes
Included
- Interscholastic sports
- Extracurricular activities
- One course at the zoned school
Not included
- A Paulding County diploma or graduation
- School choice outside your zone
- Students in online public schools
- More than one course
Who to contact about participating
The district athletic director oversees SB42 participation, and each high school's athletic director receives the enrollment email and documents.
jneal@paulding.k12.ga.us 770-443-8000 Dexter Mosley Act page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Georgia
You must submit the Declaration of Intent within 30 days after establishing the home study program, then by September 1 each subsequent year.
Georgia sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science, for the equivalent of 180 school days each year with at least 4.5 hours per day.
- Testing: Use an appropriate nationally standardized test at least every three years beginning at the end of grade 3, administered in consultation with a person trained in norm-referenced testing. Retain the scores and assessment records.
- Records: The instructor writes an annual progress assessment for each student in each required subject. Keep these reports for at least three years and retain standardized-test scores and assessment records.
- Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or GED in Georgia.
Georgia also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Georgia Promise Scholarship pays up to $6,500 for 2026-27, but your child usually must have attended an eligible Georgia public school for two semesters, or be entering kindergarten, and withdraw before it is funded. It does not pay for a homeschool you already run.
Read the Georgia homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Georgia
Questions parents ask
- Does my student have to take the Dexter Mosely course on campus?
- No. Approved courses may be face to face, virtual, or dual enrollment.
- What if my student does not make a Paulding team?
- Your student is withdrawn from the course unless they choose to attend full time. To try out for a spring sport later, you start the SB42 process again for that activity.
- Will my student get a Paulding County diploma?
- No. SB42 students remain home study students and are not eligible to graduate from the Paulding County School District.
- Which athletic director do I email?
- Email the athletic director at your zoned high school: East Paulding, Hiram, North Paulding, Paulding County, or South Paulding. The district page lists each one's address, and other questions go to your zoned school's principal.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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