South Carolina Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling is legal in South Carolina, and the state gives families three statutory pathways. One runs through your local school district, and the other two run through a homeschool association. Your choice determines who approves the program and whether statewide testing applies. All three share the same core expectations: a parent with at least a high school diploma or GED, a 180 day instructional year, and the basic subjects the law names.
Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.
South Carolina Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | From the school year in which the child is five years of age before September first until the child turns seventeen or graduates from high school |
| Notification or registration | Approval by the district board of trustees, or bona fide membership in a qualifying homeschool association |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | Three options: district approval under section 59-65-40, membership in the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools under section 59-65-45, or membership in another association with at least fifty members under section 59-65-47 |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | At least a high school diploma or the equivalent GED certificate. Under section 59-65-40, a baccalaureate degree also qualifies |
| Required subjects | Reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature |
| Instructional time | An instructional year of at least 180 days. Section 59-65-40 also sets an instructional day of at least four and one-half hours, excluding lunch and recesses |
| Testing or evaluation | Under section 59-65-40, students participate in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program. The association sections do not impose that requirement |
| Required records | A plan book, diary, or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of the student's academic work, and a semiannual progress report covering attendance and academic progress |
| Responsible government agency | Your district board of trustees approves programs under section 59-65-40. The South Carolina Department of Education annually reviews association standards under section 59-65-47 |
The Three Pathways
District approval, section 59-65-40. You teach at home with the approval of the board of trustees of the district where your children live. This option carries the four and one-half hour instructional day, the statewide testing requirement, and a semiannual progress report. If a district denies approval, the statute provides an appeal to the State Board of Education and then to the family court.
SCAIHS membership, section 59-65-45. Bona fide membership in the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools, along with continuing compliance with its academic standards, exempts your home school from the further requirements of section 59-65-40. Your district does not approve the program.
Another qualifying association, section 59-65-47. You may teach at home under the auspices of an association with no fewer than fifty members. Bona fide membership and continuing compliance with the association's academic standards exempts your home school from the further requirements of the other two sections. Each association must require the diploma or GED, the 180 day year, the named subjects, and the records described above. By January thirtieth each year, associations report the number and grade level of children homeschooled through them to the districts.
How to Start Homeschooling in South Carolina
- Choose your pathway. That choice sets your obligations for the year.
- Apply or enroll. For district approval, ask your district board of trustees about its process. For either association route, complete that association's membership requirements.
- Confirm you meet the qualification. Have your high school diploma, GED certificate, or degree ready.
- Plan the year and the subjects. Build a schedule of at least 180 instructional days covering the required subjects for your child's grade level.
- Set up your records on day one. Start the plan book, the portfolio, and the progress report format now rather than reconstructing them later.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Record keeping looks similar across the pathways: a plan book, diary, or other record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work, and a semiannual progress report covering attendance and progress in each basic instructional area.
The pathways differ on testing and on who receives what. Under section 59-65-40, students take part in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program. Under section 59-65-47, the parent-teacher maintains the educational records, and the association reports enrollment counts to the school district each January. Association standards may ask for more than the statutory minimum, so confirm what your association expects.
Official South Carolina Homeschool Resources
- South Carolina Department of Education, Home Schooling
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 59, Chapter 65, sections 59-65-40, 59-65-45, and 59-65-47
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.