South Carolina State Laws

Homeschooling under the homeschool statute.

1. Obtain approval from your local public school district board of trustees by submitting an application that includes assurance that you have completed or will complete the required steps (see below).
2. Teach the required subjects for the required time, which is at least 4.5 hours per school day, for 180 days per school year. The required subjects include:

• Reading
• Writing
• Math
• Science
• Social studies
• Composition and literature (for grades 7-12)

3. Maintain records for inspection upon reasonable notice by a representative of the school district. These records include:

• A plan book, diary, or other written record indicating subjects taught and activities in which you and your child participate
• A portfolio of samples of your child’s work
• A record of your child’s academic progress assessment

4. Submit a semiannual progress report that includes attendance records and assessments of your child’s progress in each of the required subjects to your school district.

5. Ensure your student has access to library facilities.

6. Test your child annually through the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program. The tests must be administered by a certified school district employee.

Homeschooling with the South Carolina Association of Independent Homeschools (SCAIHS).

You may homeschool by enrolling in SCAIHS and following the rules and policies for homeschooling that SCAIHS requires. Information about SCAIHS can be found here.

Homeschooling with a homeschool association (known as a “third option” group).

1. Enroll in a homeschool association that has at least 50 member families.
2. Comply with your homeschool association’s requirements. South Carolina state law requires homeschool associations to maintain the following minimum requirements for homeschooling parents:

• You must have at least a high school diploma or GED.
• You must teach your child for at least 180 days per school year.
• Your curriculum must include reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and composition and literature (grades 7-12 only).
• The educational records you keep must include: a plan book or other record of subjects taught and activities; a portfolio of samples of your child’s academic work; and a semiannual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of your child’s academic progress in the required subjects.

Here you’ll find websites for any questions you may have about education or requirements for homeschooling in South Carolina.

• South Carolina Department of Education: https://ed.sc.gov/
• South Carolina State Board of Education: https://ed.sc.gov/state-board/
• South Carolina School Boards Association: https://scsba.org/
• U.S. Department of Education – South Carolina: https://www.ed.gov/category/location/south-carolina
• List of South Carolina school districts: https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_school_districts_in_South_Carolina

Whether you already homeschool in South Carolina or are looking to do so, these resources are quite useful if you’re searching for support, co-ops, or answers to questions about homeschooling in your state.

• Carolina Homeschooler: https://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/
• South Carolina Home Educators Association (SCHEA): https://schea.net/
• Central Savannah River Area Home Education Association: https://www.csrahea.org/
• Greenville Homeschoolers Directory: https://www.facebook.com/groups/305377626226939/?ref=br_rs
• Group for the Myrtle Beach Homeschooler: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MBHomeschoolgroup/?ref=br_rs
• Homeschool Hangouts – Columbia, SC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeschoolhangoutscolumbia/?ref=br_rs
• Homeschoolers of Pickens County: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255343441307907/?ref=br_rs
• Homeschooling in Aiken: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hsina/?ref=br_rs
• Lancaster Area Homeschoolers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1843860772528419/?ref=br_rs
• Lowcountry Homeschoolers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lowcountryhomeschoolers/?ref=br_rs
• Palmetto Independent Educators (PIE): https://palmettoindependenteducators.com/
• Parents’ Association for Christian Education in SC (PACESC): https://www.pacesc.com/
• Piedmont Home Educators Association: https://www.phea.org/
• South Carolina Homeschooling Connection: https://www.homeschoolingsc.org/
• South Carolina Association of Independent Homeschools (SCAIHS): https://schomeschooling.com/
• Sumter Area Family Educators (SAFE): https://www.homeschool-life.com/sc/safe/
• The South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association (TSCHAA): https://www.tschaa.com/
• Upstate Homeschool Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/groups/upstatefieldtripfriends/

One of the many benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility to explore! Here are some ideas for amazing–and educational–field trips around the great state of South Carolina!

• Bee City Honeybee Farm and Petting Zoo: Cottageville, SC

• BMW Zentrum Plant and Museum: Spartanburg, SC

• Brookgreen Gardens: Murrells Inlet, SC

• Carolina Safari Jeep Tours: Myrtle Beach, SC

• Charles Pinckney National Historic Site: Sullivan’s Island, SC

• Charles Towne Landing: Charleston, SC

• Charleston Museum: Charleston, SC

• The Children’s Garden at Linky Stone Park: Greenville, SC

• Children’s Museum of South Carolina: Myrtle Beach, SC

• Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry: Charleston, SC

• Children’s Museum of the Upstate: Greenville, SC

• Coastal Discovery Museum: Hilton Head Island, SC

• Columbia Museum of Art: Columbia, SC

• Cowpens National Battlefield: Cowpens, SC

• EdVenture Children’s Museum: Columbia, SC

• Gibbes Museum of Art: Charleston, SC

• Greenville Zoo: Greenville, SC

• Hollywild Animal Park: Wellford, SC

• John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center: Spartanburg, SC

• Kings Mountain National Military Park: Blacksburg, SC

• Living History Park: North Augusta, SC

• Museum of York County: Rock Hill, SC

• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum: Mount Pleasant, SC

• Ripley’s Aquarium: Myrtle Beach, SC

• Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: Columbia, SC

• Roper Mountain Science Center: Greenville, SC

• Rose Hill Plantation State Historical Site: Union, SC

• The Sandbox: An Interactive Children’s Museum: Hilton Head Island, SC

• ScienceSouth: Florence, SC

• South Carolina Aquarium: Charleston, SC

• South Carolina Cotton Museum: Bishopville, SC

• South Carolina Railroad Museum: Winnsboro, SC

• South Carolina State Museum: Columbia, SC

• Waccatee Zoological Farm: Myrtle Beach, SC

• Woodrow Wilson Family Home: Columbia, SC

• World of Energy: Seneca, SC