The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced a formal review of how it supports military families who choose to homeschool their children—a move that could significantly benefit Georgia’s large and growing population of service members.
The review signals a broader recognition in Washington of what military families have known for years: homeschooling is a valuable, flexible and stabilizing education option, particularly for families whose lives are often marked by relocation and deployment.
Georgia is uniquely positioned to lead in this area. With more than 100,000 active-duty personnel, National Guard members and reservists stationed across the state—from Fort Benning near Columbus to Fort Stewart near Hinesville, and Robins, Moody and Kings Bay bases throughout Georgia—our communities are deeply connected to those who serve. And thanks to new policy developments like the Georgia Promise Scholarship, the Peach State is now poised to offer military families some of the strongest homeschool support in the country.
Why Military Families Are Turning to Homeschooling
Nationally, homeschooling rates have risen in the past few years, particularly following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While about 6% of American families now homeschool, that number is twice as high—around 12%—among military families, and for good reason: Constant moves, changing school systems and irregular schedules make it difficult for military children to experience consistency and stability in their education.
Homeschooling offers a solution. It allows parents to customize learning to their child’s needs, preserve continuity across state lines and maintain a stable environment amid the unique challenges of military life. These families are not only seeking academic rigor and safety but also peace of mind.
And it’s not just active-duty service members who are opting for homeschooling. National Guard and Reserve families—who face fewer relocations but still navigate periods of deployment, weekend training and the unpredictability of balancing civilian and military life—are increasingly making the same choice. According to recent data, homeschooling participation among these groups is nearly as high as among active-duty families.
Military families, like many others, are also turning away from traditional public schools amid growing cultural and political battles over curriculum content, school governance and parental rights. Homeschooling offers an off-ramp—allowing families to focus on education, not fights over ideology.
A Boost from the Department of Defense
The announcement from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, issued in a May memorandum, acknowledged these realities. “Homeschooling offers an individualized approach for students and highlights the significant role parents play in the educational process,” the memo states. The Department will now conduct a department-wide review of how it supports homeschooling among military-connected families, including exploring options like providing access to on-base facilities and learning resources.
The review stems from a January executive order from President Donald Trump that directed the Department of Defense to consider ways military families could use education funds for alternatives to traditional public schools, including private, faith-based, charter and homeschool options.
This could mark a significant shift in how the federal government approaches education for military children—and it complements key reforms happening at the state level in Georgia.
The Georgia Promise Scholarship: A Game-Changer for Military Families
Last year, Georgia lawmakers created the Georgia Promise Scholarship program, which will begin this fall. This initiative gives eligible families access up to $6,500 per child per year to use on approved educational expenses—including homeschooling.
This funding can cover a wide range of costs:
- Homeschool curricula and textbooks
- Online courses and virtual learning platforms
- Tutoring and specialized therapies
- Testing, assessments, and educational materials
- Part-time enrollment in accredited programs or learning pods
For military families—especially those navigating frequent moves or the pressures of service—this financial support could be life-changing. Rather than being forced to adjust to a new school system with every reassignment, families can continue a consistent homeschool plan no matter where they are stationed in Georgia or beyond.
Georgia lawmakers worked to expand this program for military families this year, regardless of other eligibility requirements in the original law. Legislation that would allow all military families to qualify for the Promise Scholarship advanced out of the Senate and will return next year.
Georgia’s Opportunity to Lead
If Georgia takes steps to align state programs with evolving federal support, the state can become a national model for how to serve military families through educational freedom. That could include coordination with on-base resources, additional outreach to eligible families and ensuring that military parents know they can use Promise Scholarship funds even while homeschooling.
This isn’t just about good governance. It’s about honoring those who serve by giving their children the best shot at success—through stability, flexibility and choice.
At a time when parents across the country are seeking more control and clarity in their children’s education, Georgia has the tools and the opportunity to support the families that have already sacrificed so much for us.
