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Frequently Asked Questions

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I am searching for truth among even the most popular answers.
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Do I need to register to homeschool in South Carolina?
You have three legal options to choose from in order to home school in South Carolina.

1st option: Establish and operate a home school as approved by your local school district. Review section 59-65-40 from South Carolina's State House Website.

2nd option: Establish and operate a home school under the membership auspices of South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). Review section 59-65-45 from South Carolina's State House Website.

3rd option: Establish and operate a home school under the membership auspices of an association for home schools with no fewer than fifty members. Review section 59-65-47 from South Carolina's State House Website.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Can we choose to homeschool mid-year?
Yes, the office of PIE recommends the following to avoid any confusion concerning the compulsory attendance laws: Do not remove your student from the public school until you have completed all the necessary steps for transferring the student to the home school setting. Make contact with the option of your choice to find out the essential steps if you are not sure. You will ultimately combine public school days with home school days to achieve 180 days.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Which subjects am I required to teach?
Under the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd options, the curriculum includes, but is not limited to, the basic instructional areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Am I required to maintain educational records?
Under the 3rd option, educational records shall be maintained by the parent-teacher and include:

(1) a plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught and activities in which the student and parent-teacher engage;

(2) a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work; and

(3) a semiannual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of the student's academic progress in each of the basic instructional areas specified.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Can my child participate in the public schools interscholastic activities?
Section 59-63-100 describes participation in interscholastic activities of the public school district by home-school, charter school, and Governor's school students include, but is not limited to, athletics, music, speech, and other extracurricular activities.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
How many days a year are we required to home school?
Under the 1st option, the instructional day is at least four and one-half hours, excluding lunch and recesses, and the instructional year is at least one hundred eighty days.

Under the 2nd and 3rd options, the instructional year is at least one hundred eighty days.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Can I homeschool my sisters son?
It is possible to home school your sister's son if you obtain legal guardianship. Writing a statement that you and your sister would sign is not enough. To do this legally, you would have to contact a lawyer. However, there's nothing wrong with you helping your sister home school her son as long as she remains the primary instructor. Please keep in mind, the office of PIE requires a copy of guardianship documentation to be maintained in the members' files located here at the office of PIE.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Who do I contact regarding the September age requirement deadline?
According to Section 59-65-10 of the compulsory attendance laws, a parent or guardian whose child turns six years old after September 1st of a given school year may choose to not send their child to kindergarten. The parent will have to sign a written document provided by the school district in which the parent resides. According to the Department of Education, the office of PIE is not authorized to provide this document. The directory for the school districts is maintained at the department of education’s Website:
https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/schools/school-directory/.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Are we required to test each year?
Under the 1st option, students must participate in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program approved by the State Board of Education for their appropriate grade level. The tests must be administered by a certified school district employee either with public school students or by special arrangement at the student's place of instruction, at the parent's option. The parent is responsible for paying the test administrator if the test is administered at the student's home.

Under the 2nd option, testing is required according to South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS) guidelines.

Under the 3rd option, you are not required to test. However, opportunities for testing using the Stanford 10, CAT, and Iowa standardized tests are available. The 2nd and 3rd option home schoolers will not have access to the PACT, which is a test for public school students.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php
 
 
 
Can I homeschool my sisters son?
It is possible to home school your sister's son if you obtain legal guardianship. Writing a statement that you and your sister would sign is not enough. To do this legally, you would have to contact a lawyer. However, there's nothing wrong with you helping your sister home school her son as long as she remains the primary instructor. Please keep in mind, the office of PIE requires a copy of guardianship documentation to be maintained in the members' files located here at the office of PIE.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t59c065.php