HOMESCHOOLING IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Parents or guardians may choose to home school their children instead of enrolling them in a public, private, or parochial school. South Carolina statutes provide parents or guardians with three different options for home schooling their children. 

1. Option One allows the parents to home school their children under the auspices of a school district, if approved by the board of trustees. 

2. Option Two, parents may home school their children with the support of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools.  

3. Option Three, parents may choose a home school association which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the home school requirements. The parents or guardians select the particular home schooling option that is best for the children. 

S.C. Department of Education, Home Schooling - South Carolina Department of Education 

 Upcountry Homeschool Association, LLC is recognized as a South Carolina Option 3 Homeschool Accountability Association, 

operating under S.C. Section 59-65-47

SECTION 59-65-47. Associations for home schools; requirements.

In lieu of the requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45, parents or guardians may teach their children at home if the instruction is conducted under the auspices of an association for home schools which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the requirements of this section. Bona fide membership and continuing compliance with the academic standards of the associations exempts the home school from the further requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45.

The State Department of Education shall conduct annually a review of the association standards to ensure that requirements of the association, at a minimum, include:

(a) a parent must hold at least a high school diploma or the equivalent general educational development (GED) certificate;

(b) the instructional year is at least one hundred eighty days;

(c) 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; and

(d) 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 in item (c) above.

By January thirtieth of each year, all associations shall report the number and grade level of children home schooled through the association to the children's respective school districts. 

If you would like more information about Option One or Option Two, please visit the S.C. Department of Education, Home Schooling - South Carolina Department of Education  or Home School Legal Defense Association, HSLDA - Making homeschooling possible .  

Regardless of SC Option choice or state of homeschooling, we recommend that homeschooling families join HSLDA. Even if you never experience legal trouble yourself, your HSLDA membership will help enable other homeschooling families to get the legal help they need and will help defend our right to homeschool. Membership in HSLDA also gives you personal access to the legal staff; HSLDA's experienced high school, special needs, and Toddlers to Tweens consultants; and discounts.  (For more information about HSLDA's many benefits, see www.hslda.org.) Upcountry Homeschool Association, LLC members SAVE $15 on the HSLDA membership price when you enter our Discount Group code on the HSLDA membership form.

Registration is open, please complete the online application

Should you have any questions or require additional information, feel free to contact us.

upcountryhomeschoolassociation@gmail.com