South Carolina

“The district board of trustees shall provide for an application process which elicits the information necessary for processing the home schooling request, including a description of the program, the texts and materials to be used, the methods of program evaluation, and the place of instruction. Parents must be notified in advance of the date, place, and time of the meeting at which the application is considered by the board and parents may be heard at the meeting.” See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(B).

The parent must have either a high school diploma or GED or have earned a bachelor’s degree. The law states that parents with high school diplomas or GEDs must to attain a passing score on a basic skills examination developed by the South Carolina State Department of Education. However, this exam was found invalid in Lawrence, et al. v. S.C. State Board of Education (1991). See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(A)(1).

180 days, for 4.5 hours per day. See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(A)(2).

Reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, and, in grades 7 through 12, composition and literature. See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(A)(3).

The parent must maintain the following records “for inspection upon reasonable notice by a representative of the school district”: “(a) a plan book, diary, or other written record indicating subjects taught and activities in which the student and parent engage; (b) a portfolio of samples of the student’s academic work; and (c) a record of evaluations of the student’s academic progress.” See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(A)(4).

Parents must have their children tested annually using the same Basic Skills Assessment Program used in the public schools. “The tests must be administered by a certified school district employee either with public school students or by special arrangement at the student’s place of instruction, at the parent’s option. The parent is responsible for paying the test administrator if the test is administered at the student’s home.” See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(A)(6).

If a student scores below the minimum for promotion to the next grade, “the district board of trustees shall decide whether or not the student shall receive appropriate instructional placement in the public school, special services as a handicapped student, or home schooling with an instructional support system at parental expense.” See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(D).

(1) “If a parent is denied permission to begin or continue home schooling by a district board of trustees, the decision of the district board of trustees may be appealed, within ten days, to the State Board of Education. Any appeal from the decision of the State Board of Education must be taken, within thirty days, to the family court.” See S.C. Code § 59-65-40(E). (2) In order to homeschool a foster child, parents must have approval from the Department of Social Services or other agency having custody of the child. See See S.C. Code § 59-65-46.