South Carolina homeschool checklist for this year

Things to do, with their deadlines

• Before you start

  Choose your option. Option 1: apply to your district board of trustees, which must approve the program. Options 2 and 3: join the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools or another association of at least 50 members, which reports to the district by January 30.

  Source: S.C. Code Title 59 Chapter 65 (South Carolina Legislature)

All year

• All year

  Teach the subjects South Carolina names: reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, composition (grades 7-12), literature (grades 7-12).

  Source: S.C. Code Title 59 Chapter 65 (South Carolina Legislature)
• All year

  Keep count of the days and hours. Option 1: the instructional day is at least four and one-half hours, not counting lunch and recesses, and the year is at least 180 days. Options 2 and 3 (association standards): the law requires the instructional year to be at least 180 days. It sets no hours-per-day rule for them.

  Source: S.C. Code Title 59 Chapter 65 (South Carolina Legislature)
• This year

  Option 1: students take the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program for their grade, given by a certified school district employee, with public school students or at the place of instruction at the parent's option (the parent pays the test giver for a home test). First-grade-age students are tested for readiness in the first fifteen instructional days of the school year. The Department of Education says Option 1 students take part. The statute lists no state test for Options 2 and 3.

  Source: S.C. Code Title 59 Chapter 65 (South Carolina Legislature)
• All year

  Option 1: keep a plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work, and a record of evaluations. The district may inspect them on reasonable notice. Send the district a semiannual progress report with attendance and an assessment in each basic subject. Option 3 associations require the same kinds of records. The Department says the parent-teacher keeps the records.

  Source: S.C. Code Title 59 Chapter 65 (South Carolina Legislature)

Good habits (not in the law)

• Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.

• Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.