State laws change from time to time and though we try to keep the laws up-to-date at all times please check with the department of education for any changes that may have occurred.
There are many reasons to seriously consider homeschooling: you’re in control of what your children are learning, you get to decide how much time you want to spend on different subjects, you can adapt the material to suit your children’s needs, and you don’t have to worry about your children dealing with schoolyard bullies.
Whether you’ve already made this decision or you just plan to, we’re here to show you how to start homeschooling in South Carolina. We’ll help you make full use of the educational potential of South Carolina, we’ll let you in on the South Carolina homeschool requirements, and we’ll offer you a diverse range of useful online homeschool resources that will guarantee your homeschooling success. Use the infographic and video below to create a homeschool that thrives.
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The Palmetto State
This beautiful South-Eastern state is a great place to start homeschooling your children, with plenty of hands-on learning opportunities. From nature parks to science museum, South Carolina has it all.
There are plenty of state parks in South Carolina for you and your family to go hiking or camping. You’ve got the Falls Park on the Reedy, in Greenville, the Brookgreen Gardens, in Murrells Inlet, and the Hunting Island State Park, in Beaufort. Wildlife lovers can also watch the lions and koalas at the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, and the crocodiles at the Edisto Island Serpentarium.
History lovers will love exploring the Fort Sumter National Monument, the McLeod Plantation, and the Old Slave Mart Museum.
If art’s what your children like, you can visit the Franklin G. Burroughs - Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, the Columbia Museum of Art, and the Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery. South Carolina also offers some dedicated children’s museums, such as the The Children's Museum of the Upstate, the Kazoo Factory, in Beaufort, and the EdVenture Children's Museum, in Columbia.
South Carolina Homeschool Laws
You’ve got three options if you plan to homeschool in South Carolina: you can apply for approval directly to the local district board of trustees, you can opt for a membership in the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools, or you can join a homeschool association with at least fifty members.
If you go for the first option, you’ll need to undergo an approval process, in which the local district board of trustees will assess your instruction plan, evaluation procedures etc. You can read more about it here.
You’ll need a high school diploma or GED in order to start homeschooling, and you’ll need to provide at least 180 days of 4.5 instruction hours per day, covering social studies, reading, writing, math, science, composition and literature.
You’ll have to keep a record of your children’s work and assessment, and your children will have to undergo annual testing using the Basic Skills Assessment Program of the public schools. The state may intervene, if the children aren’t making adequate progress.
If you opt to homeschool under the supervision of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools, or a different homeschool association, you’ll still need a high school diploma or a GED, but there won’t be any legal assessment requirements. However, you’ll still need to do the same basic bookkeeping if you go for the third option (another association other than South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools).
Part-time enrollment in the local public school, participation in extracurricular activities, and special needs services are all available to homeschooled children.
South Carolina Homeschool Friendliness Grade: C
While the South Carolina homeschool laws may seem a bit restrictive, you still have some liberty in choosing which way you want to go about homeschooling. We’re giving South Carolina a C in terms of homeschool friendliness – there’s really nothing wrong with the legal system, and the variety of options allow you to get all the support you need.
Conclusion
Homeschooling in South Carolina shouldn’t be too difficult, even though you’ll need a bit of work to get started. However, the friendly community and the multitude of online resources will help you along the way, so you can offer your children the best home-based education possible.
If you have any questions on the homeschool laws in South Carolina, don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always here to help you.
Resources
http://www.scaihs.org/ - the official webpage of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools offers news and support to homeschooling families throughout the state
http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/ - this is another homeschooling association where you can find plenty of ideas and resources
http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/sc/ - the official HSLDA website is a great place to find information on the South Carolina homeschool laws and news related to homeschooling in SC