As a result of COVID-19, homeschooling is on the rise. For some, this is a short-term arrangement, and others have discovered that homeschooling is perfect for their family. In case you don’t know, homeschooling is simply the practice of educating your kids from home. Some families choose to collaborate through homeschooling cooperatives and extracurricular leagues to enrich the home school experience.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia. When exploring the homeschooling route, please be aware that the laws and policies that govern homeschooling differ by state. If you wonder if homeschooling is a good fit for your family, you probably have questions about how to begin the process and what resources are available. Because of this, we created a series entitled, How to Start Homeschooling. In each installment, we will discuss homeschooling rules and resources for each state. In today’s installment, we will discuss homeschooling in South Carolina.
What you need to know:
- The state of South Carolina requires you to receive approval from your school district’s Board of Trustees. A homeschool application can be found on your school district’s website.
- If your kid needs to be removed from school, you must register with the school district and fill out any paperwork that they have.
- Homeschool teachers are required to have a high school diploma, GED, or baccalaureate degree.
- Homeschool learners must attend at least 4.5 hours per day and 180 days per year of instruction.
- There are five required subjects for grades K-6: reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. Grades 7-12 add composition and literature.
- The state of South Carolina requires you to keep records of the subjects you teach, a portfolio of your kid’s work samples, and a record of evaluations.
- Homeschool learners must participate in yearly testing and take the state-approved testing for all public school learners.
- If you re-enroll your kid in a public school, grade placement will vary by the school district.
Resources
You can learn more at the South Carolina Department of Education’s Homeschooling page, Home School Legal Defense Association – South Carolina, the South Carolina Home Educators Association, the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools, and the Grow & Learn on Weekdays (GLOW).
