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Planning to home school your youth while assigned to Fort Jackson? Contact the School Liaison Officer at 751-6150 for information on home school requirements in South Carolina.
Looking for support in home schooling your child/youth? Child, Youth & School Services is capable of providing the following types of support to home schooled youth:
· Open recreation opportunities
· Sports/fitness opportunities
· Use of the Youth Center during school hours
(gymnasium, technology lab)
· Information on support groups in the Columbia area (see listing)
· Space for support group meetings and/or support group events
Contact the Middle School & Teen director at 751-3977 for details.
South Carolina Law
Compulsory Attendance Ages: “five years of age before September first until . . . seventeenth birthday or” graduation 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. S.C. Code § 59-65-10.
Required Days of Instruction: 180 days. S.C. Code § 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. S.C. Code § 59-65-40(A)/ § 59-65-45/ § 59-65-47
Home School Statute: There are three options to legally home school:
Option 1. S.C. Code § 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:
- 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;
- the instructional day is at least four and one-half hours, and the year at least
180 days;
- the curriculum includes the required subjects listed above;
- 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 evaluation,
with a semiannual progress report to be submitted to the school district;
- the student has access to library facilities;
- the student participates in the annual statewide testing program and the
Basic Skills Assessment Program;
- 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. Or parents may teach their children at home by becoming members
of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS)
under S.C. Code § 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. |
Option 3. Or parents may teach their children at home by becoming members of an
association from home schools which has no fewer than fifty members under S.C.
Code § 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; an instructional year of at least 180 days; and
2. the curriculum includes the required subjects listed above; and
3. 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.
South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools
Links for more
information on SC homeschooling regulations:
South Carolina—A Legal Analysis
http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/South_Carolina.pdf
Home School Legal Defense
http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=SC
If You Home School on Fort Jackson:
Fort Jackson Homeschoolers- Contact person-Bethany Storlazzi tel.
(803) 419-0760 Email address:johnlazzi@yahoo.comm
Group email address: ftjacksonhomeschoolers@yahoo.com
Group page address is: p://groups.yahoo.com/group/FortJacksonHomeSchoolers/
Home Schooling Organizations
South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools
http://www.scaihs.org/
Homeward Education Association
http://www.homewarded.com
Christian Homeschooler's Association of
South Eastern South Carolina
http://www.chasesc.com/
Carolina Homeschooler
http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/
East Columbia Home Educators
6015 Cedar Ridge Rd.
Columbia, SC 29206
803-738-1464
Forest Acres Christian Educators (FACE)
1806 Edgemore Rd.
Columbia, SC 29223
803-782-9190
Home Educators of Richland/Lexington District 5 (HERALD 5)
P.O. Box 1743
Irmo, SC 29063
803-732-2839
Home Educators of Richland District 1 (HERO)
1312 Denny Road
Columbia, SC 29203
803-735-0493
Northeast Educators Division (NEED)
545 Great North Road
Columbia, SC 29223
803-736-29223
REACH
2417 Pine Tops Rd.
Columbia, SC
803-798-0567
Southeast Family Educators
101 Caughman Park Dr.
Columbia, SC 29209
803-783-5914
Supporting Home Instruction Encompassing the Lexington Districts (SHIELD)
128 Morningshore Ct.
Lexington, SC 29072
803-957-6244
The Nike Group
4021 Ensor Avenue
Columbia, SC 29203
803-754-2427
West Columbia/Lexington Area Home Educators
119 Maple Shade Lane
Lexington, SC 29073
803-957-8487
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