Under the third option, state law requires the following:
1. The primary educator must be the parent or legal guardian of the student.
2. The primary educator must have at least a high school diploma or GED.
3. Each student must complete at least 180 instructional days per school
year.
4. The curriculum for each student must include reading, writing, math,
science, social studies, and in grades 7–12, composition and literature.
5. You must keep educational records for each student, including:
- a plan book or other record of subjects taught and activities;
- a portfolio of samples of your child's academic work;
- a semiannual progress report including attendance records and
individualized documentation of your child's academic progress
in the required subjects.
Ninja 3Op is a statewide third-option legal accountability association under SC Law § 59-65-47. Our accountability coverage is available to any homeschooling family living in South Carolina. We require that you keep your own records for each of your students, and that you email us your attendance records for each student twice a year (January 15 and June 15).
South Carolina Homeschool Law
South Carolina law provides three legal options for homeschooling:
Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute
This option entails teaching, maintaining records, and testing under the auspices of the local public school district.
Option 2: Homeschooling under SCAIHS
This option entails homeschooling under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools.
Option 3: Homeschooling under an accountability association
(“third option group”)
This option entails enrolling in an independent homeschool association that has at least 50 members and complying with the association's requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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SC law requires each student to complete 180 instructional days per school year.
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Any day that includes educational experiences for your student! This is not limited to classroom or textbook instruction. Educational activities can include watching documentary videos on a topic of interest; reading informative non-fiction; practicing life skills such as gardening, cooking, caring for animals, or completing house chores; going on field trips; engaging in physical activities like sports or exercise; taking music or voice lessons; etc.
Hands-on and real-life experiences are often even more valuable than academic learning. However, you cannot do an entire school year of practical life skills alone and be compliant with SC law. Which leads us to the next question …
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For students up to grade 6, the required subjects are reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.
For students in grades 7-12, the required subjects are reading, writing, math, science, social studies, composition, and literature.
This means that your record-keeping (plan book, portfolio, etc.) should show each student completing work and making progress in each of these required subjects through each school year.
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The SC law does not specify a daily time requirement for a school day. Don’t feel the need to spend a set amount of time doing each subject. Spend the amount of time that your student needs to practice and master skills or information.
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From kindergarten through grade 8, there is no set amount of time required per subject. However, 8th grade students do have the option of doing high-school work for credit.
In high school (grades 9-12), students must complete 150 hours of work in each subject area to receive 1 credit, or 75 hours for a ½ credit. By the end of grade 12, a student must have earned 24 total credits in order to graduate.
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South Carolina law does not specify a scope and sequence or list of objectives that students should master at each grade level. This means homeschoolers have great freedom and flexibility in deciding what to focus on.
However, this can also mean that some parents worry about leaving gaps in their child’s learning. How do you know you have covered everything you should for your child to have a good education?
In reality, every education has gaps. The goal is not to replicate a public school curriculum or even compare what we are doing to what they do. The goal is to develop well-rounded adults who can contribute to their society, who love learning, and who know how to learn the things they need and want to know. We also want to Another great goal is to enjoy learning alongside them!
Be encouraged: “Most important is keeping alive the desire and taste for discovering new information….if we introduce them to a wide and generous curriculum based on ideas, we will more often be delighted when they teach us something we never learned” (Wendi Capehart on Ambleside Online).
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The following credits are required for homeschooled high schoolers to graduate in South Carolina:
English: 4 credits
Math: 4 credits
Science: 3 credits (2 with labs)
Social Studies: 2 credits
Computer Science: 1 credit
PE or JROTC or Band w/PE: 1 credit
World Language or Career/Tech Elective: 1 credit
Personal Finance: .5 credit
Electives: 6.5 credits
Total credits to graduate: 24For core subjects, 1 credit equals 150 hours of work and ½ credit equals 75 hours of work. For electives, one credit equals 120 hours of work and ½ credit equals 60 hours of work.
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No. Under SC homeschooling law, the primary educator must be the student’s parent or legal guardian. Some third-option accountability groups offer co-op classes or other educational activities, but Ninja3Op strictly offers legal coverage for you to homeschool your children. We do not offer field trips, classes, or curriculum because we are a statewide organization. If you are looking for these options, look up local homeschool support groups in your area to connect with.
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Homeschooling families are governed by SC’s homeschool law and must educate their children under Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3 as the law stipulates.
Virtual charter schools and the ESTF program are administered by the state, and parents using these programs are accountable to the state. Sometimes the term “homeschooling” has been applied to these programs, but it is a misnomer as the families using them do not register to homeschool under Options 1, 2, or 3.
For detailed information about the differences between virtual charter schools, the ESTF program, and other options, see this article from Carolina Homeschooling.