How to start homeschooling in South Carolina
The legal steps, in order, checked against South Carolina law.
Short answer: South Carolina offers three home schooling options. Parents can seek approval from their school district board, join the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools, or join another home school association with at least 50 members. Each option requires a parent with at least a high school diploma or GED, a 180 day year, and instruction in core subjects.
Checked against S.C. Code 59-65-40 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 5 to 17. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
South Carolina gives you 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick one and follow its steps.
Option 1: Option 1: District-approved home school
Families who want to home school under the oversight of their local school district.
Steps
- Apply through your district board of trustees' application process, describing your program, texts and materials, evaluation methods, and place of instruction.
- Attend the board meeting where your application is considered; you must be told the date, place, and time in advance and may be heard.
- Sign a written agreement holding the district harmless for educational deficiencies from home instruction.
- Keep the required records and send the district a semiannual progress report.
- Have your child take the annual statewide tests, given by a certified district employee.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Your school district board of trustees, through its home schooling application |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, plus composition and literature in grades 7 to 12. |
| Time | At least 4.5 hours per instructional day, not counting lunch and recess, and at least 180 days per year. |
| Parent qualifications | A high school diploma or GED, or a bachelor's degree. The statute also refers to a basic skills examination for parents without a bachelor's degree. |
| Testing or evaluation | Participation in the annual statewide testing program and Basic Skills Assessment Program for the child's grade, given by a certified school district employee, with the district or at the place of instruction at the parent's option and expense. Children eligible for first grade take a readiness test within the first 15 instructional days. |
| Records to keep | A plan book, diary, or other written record of subjects and activities; a portfolio of the student's work; and a record of evaluations, all open to district inspection on reasonable notice. A semiannual progress report with attendance and assessments in each basic area goes to the district. Students must have access to library facilities. |
The law: S.C. Code 59-65-40
Option 2: Option 2: South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools
Families who want to home school under SCAIHS rather than the district.
Steps
- Become a bona fide member of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools.
- Follow the association's academic standards on a continuing basis.
| Notice to the state | No notice required |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, plus composition and literature in grades 7 to 12. |
| Time | At least 180 days per year. |
| Parent qualifications | At least a high school diploma or GED. |
| Testing or evaluation | None set by statute. The association's academic standards apply. |
| Records to keep | None set by statute. The association's standards apply. SCAIHS reports the number and grade level of its students to their districts by January 30 each year. |
The law: S.C. Code 59-65-45
Option 3: Option 3: Home school association with at least 50 members
Families who join another home school association that meets the statute's requirements.
Steps
- Join a home school association with no fewer than 50 members that meets the statute's requirements. The Department of Education posts a yearly Option 3 list.
- Follow the association's academic standards on a continuing basis.
- Keep the required educational records.
| Notice to the state | No notice required |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, plus composition and literature in grades 7 to 12. |
| Time | At least 180 days per year. |
| Parent qualifications | At least a high school diploma or GED. |
| Testing or evaluation | None set by statute. The association's academic standards apply. |
| Records to keep | A plan book, diary, or other record of subjects and activities; a portfolio of the student's work; and a semiannual progress report with attendance records and documentation of progress in each basic area. Associations report the number and grade level of students to their districts by January 30 each year. |
The law: S.C. Code 59-65-47
Leaving public school mid-year
A Department of Education memo tells districts which documents show a student has left for home school: the district's approval letter (Option 1), SCAIHS membership documentation (Option 2), or membership documentation from a qualifying association (Option 3). The memo says other documentation will not be accepted.
Public school sports and activities
Yes. A home school student taught under any of the three options for a full academic year may not be denied participation in interscholastic activities, including athletics, music, and speech, if the student meets district eligibility rules other than attendance and enrollment rules, lives in the school's attendance zone, and notifies the superintendent in writing before the season begins (S.C. Code 59-63-100).
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in South Carolina?
Yes, under the option 1: district-approved home school route, you notify your school district board of trustees, through its home schooling application.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in South Carolina?
Participation in the annual statewide testing program and Basic Skills Assessment Program for the child's grade, given by a certified school district employee, with the district or at the place of instruction at the parent's option and expense. Children eligible for first grade take a readiness test within the first 15 instructional days.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in South Carolina?
Reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, plus composition and literature in grades 7 to 12.
What ages must be schooled in South Carolina?
Ages 5 to 17, per state law.
Sources
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.