ByA Lazy Man’s Guide to Homeschooling in SC
Withdrawing your child from a public school in South Carolina to homeschool them can turn out to be an excellent decision, but you must arm yourself with dedication and patience. Home-based education has many benefits but requires some serious prep work due to various state laws and regulations you must consider.
To help you get a better understanding of the matter, we created a straightforward guide explaining the basics of homeschooling in SC. You will find out:
- What homeschool methods are available in this state
- What requirements you must meet to start homeschooling
- Which organizations and associations to contact for help and support
- How to create a top-notch letter of intent to homeschool with
SC Homeschool Options
There are three homeschool options for South Carolina parents:
- Homeschooling under the homeschool statute—This option includes sending a notice of intent to the board of trustees, notifying them that you want to have your child homeschooled. The board members must approve your request before you set up your homeschool. If you choose this approach, your child must have access to the library and participate in specific state assessment programs, including:
- Annual Statewide Testing Program
- Basic Skills Assessment Program
- Homeschooling through the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS)—Once you become a member of this organization, you can teach your child at home, but the service isn’t free—it costs $36 per month. The association will assist you in all situations related to homeschooling and help you get the necessary materials and support
- Homeschooling as a part of another homeschool association—You choose this method by joining an organization with 50 or more members. Before doing it, you must ensure you comply with all basic homeschool requirements proposed by the state
South Carolina Homeschool Requirements in Brief
Regardless of the option you choose, complying with South Carolina homeschool laws is mandatory. The following table shows the essential criteria you must meet with brief explanations:
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Are teaching qualifications necessary? | No—parents can homeschool their children as long as they have a GED or high school diploma. They can also hire a teacher or someone else for this purpose |
| What’s the minimum homeschool age? | Five |
| What’s the maximum homeschool age? | 17 |
| Is sending a letter of intent to homeschool to the district board of trustees necessary? | Only when homeschooling under the homeschool statute |
| Are there any immunization requirements for this education type? | No |
| Are homeschool records required? | Yes |
| Do homeschooled students need to have their knowledge assessed? | Only when homeschooling under the homeschool statute |
| Is it possible to start homeschooling in the middle of the year? | Yes |
| Are there any mandatory subjects in the homeschool curriculum? |
|
| How many days per year should the homeschooled student attend classes? | 180 |
| What’s the minimum number of homeschool hours per day? | Four and a half hours |
As per South Carolina homeschool laws, students taught from home can also:
- Participate in regular or extracurricular activities provided by public schools if they fulfill all state requirements
- Get a high school diploma only through an individual organization
- Apply for colleges by submitting their homeschool records and transcripts
- Get college scholarships if they provide homeschool evidence
The Most Popular SC Homeschooling Groups and Associations
Besides SCAIHS, you can join many other homeschool support groups and organizations, including:
- Carolina Homeschooler
- Grace Homeschool Association
- Homeward Education Association
- Palmetto Homeschool Association
- Hometown Homeschool Association of South Carolina
- South Carolina Home Educators Association (SCHEA)
- Christian Homeschoolers’ Association of South Carolina (CHASC)
- South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association (SCHAA)
Home-based education is demanding and requires dedication and hard work. If you are new to the process, getting advice and support from more experienced homeschooling families can make it easier and more effective.
From a Blank Page to a Perfect Letter of Intent To Homeschool With DoNotPay
South Carolina isn’t the easiest state for homeschooling, and some phases of the transition process are pretty demanding. Home-based education comes with extensive paperwork, and getting some help with basic administration is advisable.
DoNotPay can assist in writing the notice of intent to homeschool, so you can focus on more relevant aspects of teaching at home. After collecting a few essential pieces of information from you, we can:
- Process your details right away
- Generate a notice of intent with all the necessary details
- Provide a PDF version of the document or send it to the school officials on your behalf
- Connect you with an online notary and help you get the document notarized if necessary
Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the Notice of Intent to Homeschool section
- Choose your district
- Answer several questions about your family
Your document will be ready in no time!
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