South Carolina Homeschool Laws: Your Complete Guide to Legal Requirements

Homeschooling in South Carolina is parent-controlled, parent-funded, and home-based, giving families the freedom to guide their children’s education while meeting clear state requirements.

If you’re considering homeschooling, you have the legal right to do so—and thousands of families across South Carolina are already taking this step with confidence.

South Carolina law provides three ways to homeschool legally:

1. Homeschool through your local school district
2. Register with the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS)
3. Join a third-option homeschool association

Under all three options, parents must have at least a high school diploma or GED, provide 180 days of instruction, and teach the required subjects: reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. In grades 7–12, composition and literature must also be taught.

Each option, however, has different requirements for oversight, record keeping, testing, and accountability.

If you would like a broader overview of the entire process—from understanding the law to choosing curriculum and getting started—see our guide, How to Homeschool in South Carolina.

Homeschooling Law in South Carolina: Three Legal Options

South Carolina law gives families flexibility in how they homeschool. While the basic educational requirements are similar, the three options differ significantly in how families demonstrate compliance and where their accountability comes from.

Understanding those differences can help you choose the option that best fits your family.

Option 1: Homeschooling Through Your Local School District

Under Option 1, parents homeschool under the supervision of their local school district.

Parents choosing Option 1 must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Provide at least 180 days of instruction each school year
• Provide at least 4½ hours of instruction each day, excluding lunch and recess
• Teach reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies
• Teach composition and literature in grades 7–12

Parents must also maintain records that can be inspected upon reasonable notice by a representative of the school district. These include:

• A plan book, diary, or other written record showing subjects taught and activities completed
• A portfolio containing samples of the student's academic work
• A record of evaluations of the student's academic progress
• Semiannual progress reports, including attendance and individualized assessments of academic progress

Students homeschooling under Option 1 also participate in annual statewide testing through the local public school.

Parents must have access to library facilities and agree in writing to hold the district, its board of trustees, and its employees harmless for educational deficiencies resulting from home instruction.

For families who are comfortable working directly with their local school district, Option 1 provides a clearly defined structure for homeschooling.

Option 2: Homeschooling Through SCAIHS

Option 2 allows parents to homeschool through the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS).

SCAIHS is the organization specifically established under South Carolina's Option 2 homeschool law. Families remain responsible for their children's education while receiving private accountability, academic guidance, and support.

Parents homeschooling through SCAIHS must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Provide at least 180 days of instruction each school year
• Teach reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies
• Teach composition and literature in grades 7–12
• Meet SCAIHS membership and academic requirements

SCAIHS receives no government funding or oversight.

Each SCAIHS family is assigned a counselor who can provide year-round guidance with curriculum, academic planning, records, testing, high school credits, transcripts, and graduation.

The goal is not to take control of your homeschool away from you. Parents remain responsible for their children's education while having experienced support available when they need it.

If you would like to learn more about the services SCAIHS provides, read What Makes SCAIHS Different?

Option 3: Homeschooling Through a Third-Option Association

Option 3 allows parents to homeschool through a homeschool association that meets the requirements established by South Carolina law.

A qualifying third-option association must have at least 50 member families.

Parents homeschooling under Option 3 must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Provide at least 180 days of instruction each school year
• Teach reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies
• Teach composition and literature in grades 7–12
• Maintain the records required by South Carolina law
• Comply with the requirements of their chosen association

Required records include a plan book or similar record of instruction, a portfolio of student work, records of academic evaluations, and semiannual progress reports.

Individual third-option associations may establish additional requirements and offer different levels of services and support.

Third-option associations provide the legally required accountability structure while families generally take greater responsibility for independently managing the details of their homeschool program.

If you're trying to decide which of the three options best fits your family, see How to Choose the Best Homeschool Option in South Carolina.

How to Register for Homeschooling in South Carolina

The first step is to decide which of South Carolina's three legal homeschool options you will use.

Once you have chosen an option, contact the appropriate school district or homeschool organization and follow its registration process.

If your child is currently enrolled in public or private school, we recommend completing your homeschool registration before withdrawing your child from school. This helps ensure that there is no gap in your child's legal educational status that could create unnecessary truancy concerns.

For a complete explanation of that process, see How to Withdraw from Public School in South Carolina.

Families choosing SCAIHS can complete the SCAIHS application online.

Homeschool Record Keeping in South Carolina

Record keeping is an important part of homeschooling in South Carolina.

South Carolina's homeschool laws require certain educational records, although the specific way those records are reviewed or reported varies depending upon the option through which you homeschool.

Records may include:

• A plan book, diary, or other record of subjects taught and activities completed
• A portfolio of samples of your child's academic work
• Records of evaluations of academic progress
• Semiannual progress reports
• Attendance records documenting your instructional days

Families may also find it helpful to retain:

• Curriculum and textbook information
• Standardized testing results
• Important correspondence
• Extracurricular and activity records
• Other documentation showing your child's educational progress

Good record keeping is about more than legal compliance. Those records become increasingly important as students enter high school and begin preparing for graduation, college, employment, scholarships, or other opportunities.

For practical guidance, see What Homeschool Records Do I Need to Keep?

Important Homeschool Records to Keep

Plan Book

A homeschool plan book documents what your family accomplishes during the school year.

It does not have to be complicated.

Your plan book might be a traditional lesson planner, spiral notebook, journal, spreadsheet, digital record, or another system that works well for your family.

The important thing is that it provides a record of the subjects taught and the educational activities completed.

Your plan book can also help you track your 180 required instructional days throughout the school year.

For help getting started, see our Free Homeschool Planner.

Portfolio

A homeschool portfolio contains samples of your student's academic work.

Rather than saving every worksheet your child completes, choose representative samples that demonstrate progress throughout the school year.

Depending upon your child's age and educational program, a portfolio might contain:

• Writing samples
• Tests and quizzes
• Projects
• Math work
• Science reports
• Reading lists
• Photographs of projects or educational activities
• Field trip documentation
• Awards or certificates
• Standardized testing results

A good portfolio tells the story of your child's academic year.

Record of Evaluations

Parents should maintain documentation showing how their student's academic progress has been evaluated.

Evaluations might include:

• Tests
• Quizzes
• Essays
• Written assignments
• Oral evaluations
• Projects
• Grades
• Standardized testing

Homeschooling gives parents flexibility in how they evaluate learning. Not every subject—or every child—must be assessed in exactly the same way.

Semiannual Progress Reports

A semiannual progress report documents your student's progress during each half of the school year.

Depending upon your homeschool option and your child's grade level, this might include:

• Subjects studied
• Lessons or material completed
• Grades or other evaluations
• Attendance
• A description of academic progress

Check with the district or organization through which you homeschool for its specific reporting requirements.

Standardized Testing Requirements for South Carolina Homeschoolers

Testing requirements depend upon the homeschool option you choose.

Students homeschooling through their local school district under Option 1 participate in annual statewide testing.

SCAIHS establishes testing requirements for its Option 2 members. SCAIHS students complete a nationally normed standardized test every other school year, typically in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.

Third-option families should check with their individual association to determine its testing policies and requirements.

Standardized testing can be a useful tool for identifying academic strengths and areas where a student may need additional support. It can also help students become comfortable with formal testing before they reach high school and college entrance exams.

For more information, see our guide to Standardized Testing.

South Carolina Homeschool Graduation Requirements

Homeschool graduation requirements depend upon the option or organization through which a student homeschools.

This is particularly important as students approach high school. Families should understand their chosen organization's requirements early enough to plan courses, credits, and records appropriately.

SCAIHS offers several diploma pathways designed around students' goals after graduation.

SCAIHS College Prep Concentrations

Students planning to pursue a college-preparatory diploma can choose from concentrations including:

1. College Prep
2. STEM
3. Humanities
4. Fine Arts

SCAIHS Career and Technical Concentrations

Students pursuing career and technical preparation can choose from:

1. Entrepreneurship
2. Apprenticeship
3. General Career and Technical

Students with special needs may pursue one of SCAIHS's diploma pathways or, when appropriate, work toward a Certificate of Achievement.

High school planning involves much more than simply reaching graduation. Thoughtful course selection and accurate records can help prepare students for college, technical education, employment, military service, apprenticeships, and other opportunities.

For more information, see our High School Homeschool Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Homeschool Laws

Is homeschooling legal in South Carolina?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in South Carolina when families comply with the requirements of one of the state's three homeschool options.

Do you need a teaching degree to homeschool in South Carolina?

No. Parents or legal guardians do not need to be certified teachers. South Carolina requires a parent or legal guardian who homeschools to have at least a high school diploma or GED.

How many days do you have to homeschool in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires at least 180 instructional days per school year.

What subjects are required for homeschoolers in South Carolina?

Required subjects include reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. In grades 7–12, composition and literature are also required.

Do South Carolina homeschoolers have to take standardized tests?

Testing requirements depend upon which of the three legal homeschool options the family uses. Option 1, Option 2, and individual Option 3 associations have different testing requirements.

Do I have to notify my local school district that I am homeschooling?

That depends upon which legal option you choose. Families homeschooling under Option 1 work directly with their local school district. Families choosing Option 2 or Option 3 register through the appropriate homeschool organization rather than homeschooling under the district.

If your child is already enrolled in a school, however, you should make sure the child is properly withdrawn after your homeschool registration is complete.

Understanding South Carolina Homeschool Law Gives You Confidence

South Carolina gives parents meaningful freedom to choose how their children are educated.

Understanding the law is an important first step—but you do not need to become an expert in homeschool law before you can successfully teach your child.

Learn the requirements. Choose the homeschool option that fits your family. Keep good records. And surround yourself with people who can answer questions when they arise.

At SCAIHS, we have spent decades helping South Carolina families do exactly that.

Whether you are simply exploring homeschooling or are ready to begin, we would be honored to walk alongside your family as you build an education that meets your child's individual needs.