South Carolina
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 5 (before September) and 17 or graduated from high school . Any parents whose child is "not six years of age on or before the first day of September of a particular school year may elect for their child" not to attend kindergarten, and then must sign a written document with the school district. (§ 59-65-10)
• Required Days of Instruction: 180 days. S.C. (§ 59-65-40(A)/§ 59-65-45/§ 59-65-47)
• Required Subjects: Reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; (grades 7-12) composition and literature. (§59-65-40(A)/§ 59-65-45/ § 59-65-47)
• Teacher Qualifications: Parents must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Standardized Tests: All students complying with § 59-65-40 (Option "1" below) must participate in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program, and if they do not perform well enough on the test to meet the public school promotion standard for advancing to the next grade, the school district will decide if they should be put in a public school, receive special handicapped services, or have instructional support for home schooling at the parents' expense. § 59-65-40(D). The tests must be administered by a "certified school district employee." Those who enroll in SCAIHS (Option 2) or another home school association (Option 3) are exempt from state testing.
• There are three options to legally home school:
Option 1. (§ 59-65-40. Parents "may teach their children at home if the instruction is approved by the district board of trustees." The boards "shall approve" (they have no discretion) if:
1. the parent has either: (a) at least a high school diploma or GED (the basic skills exam was struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court-see below); (b) or earned a baccalaureate degree;
2. the instructional day is at least four and one-half hours, and the year at least 180 days;
3. the curriculum includes the required subjects listed above;
4. the parent presents a system of maintaining records as evidence of regular instruction including: a) a plan book or other record of subjects taught and activities, b) a portfolio of the child's work, and a record of academic evaluations, with a semiannual progress report to be submitted to the school district;
5. the student has access to library facilities;
6. the student participates in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program;
7. and the parents release the district from liability regarding their child's education.
Parents may appeal school district decisions to the State Board of Education within ten days. They may appeal State Board decisions to the Family Court within 30 days.
Option 2. Parents may teach their children at home by becoming members of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS) under § 59-65-45 (effective April 8, 1992). "In lieu of the requirements of § 59-65-40, parents or guardians may teach their children at home if the instruction is conducted under the auspices of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools. Bona fide membership and continuing compliance with the academic standards of South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools exempts the home school from the further requirements of § 59-65-40." Under this option parents or guardians must meet the following requirements: (1) hold at least a high school diploma or GED; (2) the instructional year is at least 180 days; and (3) the curriculum includes the required subjects listed above. Home schoolers who become members of SCAIHS are exempt from all other requirements listed in Option 1 above.
Option 3. Parents may teach their children at home by becoming members of an association for home schools which has no fewer than fifty members under § 59-65-47 (effective June 20, 1996). "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." Under this option parents or guardians must meet the following requirements:
1. hold at least a high school diploma or GED;
2. an instructional year of at least 180 days;
3. the curriculum includes the required subjects listed above; and
4. educational records maintained by the parent include:
a. a plan book or other record of subjects taught and activities;
b. a portfolio of the child's work; and
c. a semiannual progress report.
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South Carolina State High School Graduation Requirements
- English units: 4
- Math units: 4
- Social studies units: 3. 1 unit U.S. History and Constitution; .5 unit each of economics and U.S. government; 1 unit "other social studies."
- Science units: 3
- P.E./Health units: 1. (1 unit P.E. or Junior ROTC)
- Arts: 0
- Foreign language: 1 unit either foreign language or "career and technology education." Students in a college preparatory program must complete a unit of foreign language; students in a technology preparation program must complete a unit of Career and Technology Education.
- Electives units: 7
- Other units: 1 unit computer science (including keyboarding) and 1 unit either foreign language or "career and technology education." Students in a college preparatory program must complete a unit of foreign language; students in a technology preparation program must complete a unit of Career and Technology Education.
Other diploma options: State does not offer differentiated diploma pathways. State does not have policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.
Technical notes and citations: Students "must demonstate computer literacy before graduation."
S.C. CODE ANN. § 59-39-100, 59-30-10, 59-29-160, 59-26-70; 43 S.C. CODE ANN. REGS. § 259, 262
Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.
A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.
Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in South Carolina
Colleges in South Carolina