Rather your child is ready to enter kindergarten or your child has been in public or private school for a year or more and is struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or spiritually, and you wonder if bringing her home would help. Maybe you have a child that is doing great in school now and loves it, but you are wondering if there is other education options out there for you that would be better for you and your families needs. You could just be curious and want to know all your options.
Homeschooling has come a long way. The days are long gone that one could assume that someone who homeschooled fit a social, religious, or political profile. We all homeschool for different reasons. Here in my area we have numerous opportunities to engage our children into whatever their interests may be. There are groups that meet for social events, park playdates, academic classes, teacher/parent let classes, field trips, clubs, etc. (See my other posts with options in the area) http://theoverachieverhomeschoolmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Homeschool%20Resources
It has grown It is no longer confined just to your home and with your family. We get out and do a lot of other things to tie into our studies and adjust the way we school our children based on each individual child. They all have different learning styles and we have to adjust the way we teach them so they will learn to their potential. My child for instance is a hands on learner and thrives off doing a lot of things during the week. We choose to learn in all different forms of learning instead of being here at home every day. Homeschooling has grown rapidly in popularity among all kinds of families. With all the things going on around us and in schools, we change our opinions on what is best for our families and what we want to be influenced on our children.
Your “Options” for Homeschooling in South Carolina
Here are some steps to take if you are debating on if it is for you, and, if so, how to do it.
In South Carolina, there are three legal “options.” You can get additional information on https://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/ and on https://hslda.org/content/hs/state/SC/default.asp (has information for the other 49 states as well)You can also read the actual law here: https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/state-accountability/home-schooling/https://hslda.org/content/hs/state/SC/default.asp
If you are elsewhere, you can get good information on homeschooling laws across the country at https://hslda.org/content/
The rules for homeschooling in South Carolina are in https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/state-accountability/home-schooling/
Please note: The summary below is NOT legal advice, but my understanding of the law as stated in the South Carolina Department of Education link above.
There are three options for homeschooling in South Carolina. All three options require:
- Parents to have a high school diploma or GED
- Instruction in math, science, reading/literature, writing/composition, and social studies
- 180 days of schooling
- Records demonstrating attendance, instruction, and progress
The primary differences are summarized below:
Option 1
Submit an application to homeschool through your local school district. If you choose this option, your curriculum must be approved by your school district and your child will participate in state testing, administered by a state employee. You must maintain records of what is taught, and these records may be requested by school officials with reasonable notice. A semiannual progress report must be submitted to the school district for review. If at any time the district believes a homeschool is not operating the according to what is spelled out in the legislation, they can give the parents 30 days to correct any deficiencies before withdrawing their approval. You must teach your children for 180 school days, and your school day is expected to be four and a half hours long (not counting lunch and recess).
Option 2
Sign up to homeschool through http://www.scaihs.org/ the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools. There is an annual fee per family ranging from $350 to $450, depending on how many children you are enrolling. (If your child is in kindergarten, though, the fee is only $45, and there is a 5% discount for military, police, firemen, missionaries, and full time pastors.) If you choose this option, your curriculum choices must be approved by SCAIHS, your child is required for annual testing, and you are accountable to SCAIHS to demonstrate that you are fulfilling all legal requirements of homeschooling, including finishing 180 instructional days by May 31. They also provide many services to parents. SCAIHS must report the number and grade levels (but not names) of homeschooled children to local school districts.
Option 3
Sign up to homeschool through an “Option 3 accountability group,” which is an association of homeschooling families of no fewer than 50 member. These accountability groups then report the number and grade levels (but not names) of homeschooled children to local school districts by the end of January. Generally, Option 3 accountability groups are less expensive than SCAIHS. The amount of support they offer parents varies from group to group, so check into which one fits your families needs. Some accountability groups I have tried are through https://reachgroup.org/ and https://www.tschaa.com/
Your curriculum must include reading, writing, math, science, social studies. In addition to that, grades 7–12 you will include composition and literature, but there is no set curriculum that must be followed. You have more flexibility with Option 3. You must keep educational records, including a plan book, a portfolio of samples of academic work, and a semi-annual progress report that shows attendance. I buy a lesson plan book that has a calendar in the back of it so I can keep it all in one.
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