South Carolina Homeschool Info by Time4Learning

Are you a new home school parent looking for information on South Carolina home school laws, South Carolina support groups, or homeschool curriculum? If so, you've come to the right place. As you consider or begin homeschooling in South Carolina, you should become familiar with the following :

1. South Carolina home school legal requirements -- information about starting up your homeschool, curriculum and testing guidelines, and other state-specific homeschooling laws.
2. Homeschool resources and support groups -- Information about South Carolina home school conferences, associations, and support groups for finding other homeschoolers who share similar interests or face similar challenges (such as gifted or special needs children).
3. Homeschool curriculum -- finding the educational approach and accompanying materials that best suit your family.

South Carolina Home School Laws

Summary: Parents who choose to homeschool their child in South Carolina have three legal options. The first is dependent upon approval by the District Board of Trustees in the district where the child resides. They will usually approve homeschools as long as certain guidelines are followed, including: the teaching parent must hold a high school diploma or GED, at least four and one half hours of instruction are given for at least 180 days out of the year, the curriculum covers each of the core subject areas, record keeping of attendance, lesson planning, and evaluations are kept by the parent, and students must participate annually in statewide testing administered by their local school district. Alternately, homeschooling is also available under the membership auspices of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS), a fee-based Christian homeschooling organization with less stringent legal requirements. A third option for homeschooling in South Carolina is through a private homeschool association of 50 or more members.

For more information on specific homeschooling requirements in South Carolina, visit one of these sites: South Carolina Homeschool Legal Requirement by HSDLA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association); South Carolina Homeschooling Laws by NHEN (National Home Education Network); Home-Ed Magazine's SC resource page -with information, articles, and state-specific resources; and info on Home Education in South Carolina by Ann Zeise.

South Carolina Home School Resources

Both new and veteran homeschoolers can benefit from the wealth of South Carolina homeschool resources available. South Carolina has several statewide and regional homeschool conferences, and a statewide organization, SCAIHS, specifically designed to support homeschoolers in SC. Most counties in South Carolina also have at least one local support group for homeschoolers, as well. We've listed a few of the starting points for finding out more about homeschooling resources in South Carolina:

About Homeschooling in South Carolina -- a one-stop source for homeschooling in SC

Carolina Homeschooler – networking and supporting third option homeschoolers in South Carolina

ScarolinaHomeschool – Mailing list for those homeschooling or thinking about homeschooling in SC

Schools Out Support – group for supporting unschoolers or relaxed schoolers in SC

To add your group, please send an email to info @ Time4Learning.com.

Choosing homeschool curriculum

South Carolina homeschool law requires that the core subjects be covered in each homeschool, but includes the freedom for families to pick and choose their own curriculum based on what works best for their child. However, families new to homeschooling quickly discover a dizzying array of choices when it comes to selecting homeschool curriculum. There is no more popular discussion among homeschoolers on the web than the pros and cons of various homeschool curriculum. After sifting through the homeschool curriculum reviews, most parents end up mixing and matching homeschool curricula, trying to create the best match for their child.

For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool curricula can even be more problematic. What works for one child, doesn't work for another. What works for one subject may not work on the next. What works one year, may fall flat the very next year.

Time4Learning's experience shows that there is no single, best homeschool material. Rather than feeling torn between homeschool resources, parents should select a diverse blend of materials and activities.

The benefits of using Time4Learning's curriculum

Time4Learning is used by homeschool parents both as a primary curriculum and as a supplemental program to other materials such as Saxon, Alpha Omega, Five in a Row and A Beka. Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:

Time4Learning appeals to a wide range of learning styles. Our online learning materials are especially well-suited to children who are visual or kinesthetic learners. These children can take advantage of Time4Learning's interactive, multi-media materials.

Children like using the computer to learn. It's a convenient, interactive homeschool resource that provides a welcome change each day to paper-and-pencil workbooks and textbook-based lessons.

Parents like that it tracks progress and helps children advance by clearly presenting and reinforcing the each lesson. Quizzes and tests are graded by the computer, saving valuable time and effort for parents who would be happier concentrating on other areas.

Time4Learning's self-paced, modularized lesson plans allow you to move forward and back through the materials whenever you want. You can skip lessons that teach concepts your child has already mastered and repeat those he or she has not. The choice is yours. With Time4Learning, you are always in control.

Time4Learning is proven effective with homeschoolers, has a low monthly price, is easy-to-use, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your children, risk free! Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.

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