If you want the most control and freedom over what your children learn and how they learn it, homeschooling is the best fit for you.

THE SEVEN STEPS OF HOMESCHOOLING

  1. Connect with parents who are homeschooling

  2. Understand your state’s homeschool law

  3. Learn about teaching styles, learning styles, and educational philosophies (approaches)

  4. Choose curriculum

  5. Decide where you will homeschool and create a schedule

  6. Enjoy the learning process & reevaluate to change as needed

  7. Celebrate and highlight achievements

WHAT IS HOMESCHOOLING?

  • FREEDOM: 

    • It all boils down to freedom. 

    • If you want the most control and freedom over what your children learn and how they learn it, homeschooling is the best fit for you.

  • STATE GOVERNED: 

    • SC’s homeschool law governs homeschoolers.

  • PARENT-FUNDED: 

    • We pay for everything ourselves 

    • We have the freedom to choose our own curriculum, resources, methods of assessment, and schedule.

  • CUSTOMIZED: 

    • Our children are not considered public school students

    • They can learn at their own pace

    • They don’t have to answer to outside teachers

    • They aren’t required to take standardized tests

SO, YOU WANT TO HOMESCHOOL: NOW WHAT?

  • ESTABLISH

    • LEGAL: You have three options.

      • OPTION 1: 

        • Public school at home

      • OPTION 2: 

        • South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools

*Options 1 and 2 are considered more restrictive, requiring curriculum approval, more documentation, and testing.*

  • OPTION 3: 

    • The vast majority of families choose an Option 3 association. 

  • OPTION 3 LAW

    • ASSOCIATION: 

      • You don’t have to join one in your local area

      • Choose one that offers your desired services. 

      • Research and narrow it down to three associations and email questions

    • EDUCATION: 

      • Parent must hold a High School Diploma or GED or higher degree

    • YEAR: 

      • 180 days - order is your choice 

    • CURRICULUM: 

      • Reading (aka Literature in grade 7+)*

      • Writing (aka Composition in grade 7+)*

      • Math 

      • Science

      • Social Studies

*Some families just document these subjects as Reading/Literature and Writing/Composition regardless of grade level, and in high school, these subjects are covered as part of the normal English 1, English 2, etc. sequence.)

  • WITHDRAWAL

    • SC is not a “notification” or “letter of intent” state (contrary to what some will tell you).  You’re not required to send any letter of intent or withdrawal to a school, district, or other organization. 

    • If you’ve already registered with your local school district, or you were enrolled in public school the previous year, you’ll need to withdraw your students officially. Take a copy of your homeschool association membership letter with you.

    • If you children have never attended the public system, simply register with an association.

    • If you’re transferring from another state, simply register with an association.

    • If officials from the local school district ask why your children aren’t in school, politely tell them that you are homeschooling. If they ask for proof, mail them a copy of your membership letter with tracking so that you have proof that you sent it.

  • RECORDS

    • PLAN BOOK

      • Plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught

      • This includes activities in which you engaged the student

      • Daily, weekly, or somewhere in between

      • Objectives can be planned in advance or written down after the learning is completed

    • SAMPLES

      • Portfolio of samples of student’s academic work

      • You don’t need to keep everything - just representation of different subject areas

      • Some areas are more difficult than others, but all are doable

    • PROGRESS REPORT

      • Semi-annual report

        • Attendance

        • Documentation of progress in each academic area

          • Report card or

          • Non=graded summary of topics studied and progress made

        • By 1/30 of each year, associations report the # and grade of children homeschooled to respective districts

      • Testing: most associations leave testing decisions up to parents.

  • OTHER RULES TO KNOW

    • KINDERGARTEN

      • COMPULSORY AGE

        • The compulsory attendance age is 5 years old (or 6 years old with a kindergarten waiver) before September 1 until the child reaches 17 or graduates from high school. 

        • In other words, the child must attend kindergarten somewhere if turning 5 before September 1st or 

        • Parents may sign a waiver excusing their child from kindergarten if the child does not turn 6 on or before September 1st

      • WAIVER

        • Simple statement that releases the school district from any educational deficiencies that occur due to the absence of your child from kindergarten

        • If you sign the waiver, you must honor it.

        • If you’re homeschooling only a kindergartener and complete the waiver, you do not need to register with a homeschool association for oversight.

        • However, most choose oversight by a homeschool association in order to avoid contact with the school district.

    • FOSTER CHILDREN

      • Must meet all requirements

      • Must be approved by Social Services or other custody agency

    • JURY DUTY

      • Students may postpone duty until school term does not conflict with duty

      • A person primarily responsible for the education of a chld must, upon request, have duty postponed to a date that does not conflict with the school term (generally from Sept 1-May 30)

      • When requesting postponement, you must provide evidence of your educational responsibilities coinciding with dates of duty.

    • INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES

      • ONE YEAR

        • Students must be homeschooled for one academic year to be eligible for interscholastic activities.

          • Athletics

          • Music

          • Speech

          • Other extracurricular activities

      • MEET REQUIREMENTS

        • Students must meet school district attendance, class, and enrollment requirements

          • Reside in attendance boundaries of school

          • Notifies the superintendent of district in writing of intent to participate 

        • Public schooled students who became ineligible to participate may not participate the next semester as a homeschooled student

        • Students must fulfill the same responsibilities, standards of behavior, and practice requirements of other students participating in the activity.

  • HOMESCHOOL FREEDOM

    • YOU CAN START ANYTIME

      • You can begin even after school starts

      • Speak with your association who will help with a seamless transition

      • Count the days your child was in public school as part of your 180 days of attendance

    • MAKE YOUR OWN SCHEDULE

      • Traditional

      • Year-round

      • 3 weeks on, 1 week off

      • 4 days per week

      • Include weekends

      • 2nd or 3rd-shift schedule

      • Learning happens 365 days a year, but you’re only legally required to document 180 of those days

    • FLEXIBILITY WITHIN SUBJECTS

      • Base requirements are reading/lit, writing/comp, math, science, social studies. What you teach within those subject areas are up to you. (there are required base classes for high school)

      • You’ll find different standards in every state, district, school, county, country, and classroom. Don’t worry about meeting other’s standards. (with that being said, there are great places to find solid guidelines)

      • You don’t have to do every subject every day. There’s no daily hourly requirement. 

    • ALL LEARNING COUNTS

      • Remove the mindset that learning only happens if it’s planned, directed, scheduled, or approved. 

      • Traditional schools can’t allow for this flexibility due to red tape and time/cost constraints

      • Be sure to count educational parts of a vacation, field trips, STEM activities, and more.

    • YOU ARE NOT ALONE 

      • You are responsible for your child’s education, choosing curriculum, and documenting it. 

      • But you are not alone. You can:

        • Hire tutors

        • Ask family to help

        • Join co-op classes

        • Outsource a specific subject

        • Try online courses

        • You choose what learning looks like for your family

  • IS IT HOMESCHOOLING?

    • SC PUBLIC VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS: 

      • If you want to enroll your children with one of SC’s public virtual charter schools (Connections, SCVCS/K12, Odyssey Online Learning, SC Whitmore School, whatever), they will be public school students. 

      • The state will pay for their curriculum, but your students must follow public school requirements (curriculum, testing, schedules, etc.). 

    • ONLINE PRIVATE SCHOOLS:

      • If you want to enroll your children in an online private school that serves homeschoolers, you’ll likely still have to register with a homeschool association. 

      • You have to be “counted” somewhere in a public school, private school, or homeschool association that reports to the South Carolina Department of Education, and most online schools don’t. 

      • The online school is providing your curriculum, but you’re still homeschooling because you’re paying for it, and you have the freedom to choose a different curriculum at any time.

    • VIRTUAL SC

      • This confuses people because they think it’s a SC public virtual charter school, but it’s not a school at all. 

      • The state of South Carolina provides free virtual classes to public, private, and homeschooled students in grades 6-12 through VirtualSC. 

      • These classes are for all SC students who may not otherwise have access to certain subjects. They also provide credit recovery classes for public school students who failed a class in their local school and must retake it to get the credit. (You have to be legally registered as a public, private, or homeschool student to take these classes.)

    • NOT SURE?

      • If you’re paying for it and can change it at any time, you’re likely homeschooling. 

      • It all boils down to freedom. If you want to have the most control and freedom over what your children learn and the way they learn it, then homeschooling is the best fit for you. 

      • If the state pays for it, you’re likely not homeschooling. If you’re more comfortable with someone else taking the reins, and don’t mind following their scheduling, course requirements, and testing, then a virtual public charter school may be a fit for you.

    • CO-OPS

      • Co-ops provide support and resources, but you are still responsible for educating your child. 

      • If you’re paying for the co-op services, and you’re still responsible for their education, then it is homeschool.

      • Co-ops are a fantastic way to establish community connections, friendships, social skills, support, and find classes that may be difficult to offer at home. 

      • Co-ops can also offer other benefits such a prom/dances, graduation, camps, student council, recitals, theatre, and other activities homeschoolers worry about missing.

  • WHAT’S NEXT

    • LEARN HOW YOU LEARN: https://www.learntogetherlowcountry.org/learning-quiz

      • Homeschool philosophy

      • Learn how you learn

      • Learn how your child learns

    • HOMESCHOOL GPS: HSLDA https://hslda.org/post/ready-set-your-homeschool-gps

      • GOALS: WHAT

        • Safe and Nurturing

        • Stretching & encouraging

        • Positive peer influences

        • Customized curriculum for special needs or interests

        • Flexible schedule

        • Specific worldview

      • PURPOSE: WHY

        • Inspire a love for learning

        • Academic excellence

        • Cultivate specific values

        • Nurture religious faith

        • Family, identity, connections

        • Freedom

        • Intentional experiences

        • Interest driven

        • Learning pace

      • SYSTEM (METHOD): NAVIGATE

        • Help evaluate goals & purpose

        • Make adjustments as needed

  • BEYOND 101: Time to do your Research and Ask Questions

    • High School

    • Special Needs

    • Curriculum

    • Work Permit Laws

    • CO-OPS

    • HSLDA

    • QUESTIONS