Homeschooling 3rd Option in SC

Here is what the Law requires of you:

According to the Third Option (South Carolina Code of Laws SECTION 59-65-47), a homeschool parent must meet the following:

• Have a high school diploma or GED (You should have a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college diploma.)

• Be the parent or legal guardian of the students they are homeschooling

• Be a member of a homeschool accountability association 

• Have an instructional year that is at least 180 days (You should document these days for your records. You can mark a calendar, keep up with days in your plan book, or use a record keeping sheet, like the one I send out once membership is active. You can have more than 180 days, and you can complete those days any time during the year. You do not have to follow a public school calendar. If you withdraw your child from public/private school to homeschool, the days earned in school count toward your 180 days.)

• Have a curriculum that includes reading, writing, math, social studies, science, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature. (You can teach more than these subjects, but you must teach these subjects each year. You do not have to teach specific courses within these subjects, however, when choosing your high school courses, you should consider what courses are needed to qualify for admissions at the college of your choice. I recommend, at a minimum, following the requirements for a South Carolina diploma.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Educational records are maintained by the parent. A homeschool parent is in charge of keeping up with the following:

• A plan book, diary, or other record that indicates what is taught (This can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose – just document what you are teaching or what your child is learning and include the dates that you conducted school.)

• A portfolio of samples of student work (A portfolio is defined as a collection of work. You can put your child’s work in a folder, make a digital collection, or you can create a beautiful keepsake of your child’s learning – it is up to you. The goal is to have proof of schooling in the required subjects for each child.)

• Semi-annual progress reports (Progress reports are usually made at 90 days and 180 days. These can be formal like a school would issue and have numerical grades for each subject, or they can be informal and simply state how the child is doing in each subject- ex: satisfactorily, at grade-level, needs improvement in                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

As your association, We offer: 

• Emailed acceptance letter and member card

• Low member fees that covers your entire family

• Record keeping is left up to the parents as stated in the law

• The freedom to choose your start and end dates of your school year

• The freedom to choose your own curriculum

• Member-only social opportunities

• Online application and End of Year form for easy processing

• Phone, text, and email support

• Monthly newsletters with encouragement, tips, reminders, and homeschool opportunities

• Access to members-only support groups

• Compliance letters for proof of homeschooling

• Online member handbook

• Free record-keeping sheets and high school graduation planning guide

• The freedom to homeschool as you see fit

• Annual Homeschool Formal (Prom)

• Annual Homeschool Graduation Ceremony

• Transcripts, report cards, and diploma services for an additional fee

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• For additional information, email info@gotoptionsllc.com