|
      
How to Start Homeschooling Suggestions*
*Note: As a veteran,
Christian Homeschool Support Group, we suggest before you choose
homeschooling you pray. Then, after having convictions formed that you are
confident that this is what the Lord would have you do for your children and
your family...precede. This is the unshakeable confidence you will count
on in the long run. Homeschooling from a negative reaction to the
public school, no matter how good it may seem will not give you the strength
& wisdom to finish the course! This is a marathon not a sprint.
If possible both parents, (in SC only legal guardians
may legally homeschool their own children), should be in unity
with the decision…you will need to have physical, spiritual and emotional support from others in this
endeavor. (for info on homeschooling foster children; grandparents
homeschooling their grandchildren; homeschooling special needs children and
other special cases...refer to Home School Legal Defense Association's
(HSLDA) website for further counsel at:
www.hslda.org )
Steps to Legally Homeschool in South Carolina
- Familiarize yourself with the law
concerning homeschooling in SC (which is found in the South Carolina Code
of Laws). There are copies of the law available on this site and at your
local public library. Every state has a different homeschool law, so you
must know your state’s options and requirements. Click
here to view the SC Homeschooling Law's Three
Options.
- Choose which of the three options
under South Carolina law you will use in legally meeting the requirements
to homeschool. These are self-explanatory within the law itself.
- Having chosen one of the three
options: follow through with whatever you need to fulfill that option.
For example, for option #2 you need to contact the SCAIHS (South Carolina
Association of Independent Home Schools) to become a bona fide member of
this association. There is a fee that must be satisfied and membership
given before you are legally using this option. This group has certain
benefits and requirements of membership that you must then adhere to, in
order to be legally homeschooling under this option. Each of the three
options has specific requirements you must fulfill to use that option.
These are your Accountability Options. If you do not follow through with an option 1-3, then 10 days after the
first day of school in your school district you can be charged with
truancy. Don't wait too late!
After you have fulfilled the legal
mandates, there are other resources and opportunities to help you in
homeschooling that you will want to know about…
- Local
support groups of like-minded homeschoolers. Most of these groups have
regular meetings, web sites, newsletters, email loops, and directories of
members that will support you and your family as you homeschool.
Offering classes, speakers, field trips and good ole friendships...local
support groups are a highly recommended way to get your feet wet and will a
great benefit to your family through the years of homeschooling. Some churches offer these
groups to their members also. These are not accountability groups
(separate buttons take you to lists for accountability groups and local support groups
at the top of this page). Support groups can not legally cover your homeschool under option
#3 in the SC Law, unless they are also operating as
accountability groups at the same time.
*To join York Education At Home (YEAH), (a local York County, SC
support group) click
here to read our application and statement of faith.
- Home School Legal Defense
Association (HSLDA) is an association for homeschoolers that would like to
have legal counsel, and even representation if needed concerning
homeschooling issues and problems. They are a group of legal
professionals that help defend the rights of parents, that choose to
homeschool legally in their states, when challenged unlawfully.
www.hslda.org and
for current statistics on homeschooling and other research about
homeschooling you can check out (The National
Homeschool Education Research Institute).
www.nheri.org
(If you choose option #2 or #3 under SC Law you will
usually receive a discount for
the membership fee for HSLDA of $15) In SC there is currently no definite threats against homeschoolers, but national cases are having effects
on each state and how they view homeschooling. In 2003, a SC state
legislature committee tried to pass a bill through that made a state
certified diploma mandatory in order to hold a state job, receive financial
aid or apply to a state college/university. This was defeated because
homeschoolers were being diligent and watchful and they took a stand.
Always be alert to our freedoms being challenged by our state legislators
and others who would deny us the freedom as parents to choose to educate our children at home!
-
South Carolina Home Educators
Association (SCHEA) is an association of homeschoolers and
homeschool support groups across the state that acts as a watchdog of
sorts for legal legislation that would affect homeschooling; hosts an
annual state curriculum fair/sale (usually in June); pools information
about events, and lists support groups and accountability groups in the
state for accessibility by new homeschoolers. Dates
for 2005 SCHEA Convention are June 19-20, in Columbia, SC, and
registration materials are on their web site listed below!
Call: (803) 772-2330 or email at:
schea1@SCHomeEducatorsAssociation.org or visit their website:
www.schomeeducatorsassociation.org
*great directory to homeschool support and accountability organizations by
geographic areas of the state.
-
 The
National Home Education Network Here you will
find information on each state's homeschooling laws, accountability
associations, support groups, events, links, national news, research and
reports on homeschooling, information on publications, homeschool catalogs
and more. If you want you can visit their message board. Organizations
should e-mail to update their information or to add events to this site.
This site is privately owned and does not represent any organization at
this time.
- There are many
homeschool
resources: journals, digests, and magazines of all flavors
for subscription. There are many national groups for specific needs
that can be joined and are often helpful to the new and old homeschoolers
alike. Click on the bold "homeschool resources" link above for
info.
- You will want to look over
curriculum choices for your homeschooling needs. There are several large
curriculum fairs or conventions in North Carolina and South Carolina
(usually in April-July) and these are overwhelming to some parents, but
they offer the largest selection of resources for comparison and also the best
prices on some items are found there. Smaller support group used curriculum
sales exist in the local area and your local support group can refer you
to these. Then, you may want to get a list of curriculum publishers (this
continues to grow daily) and request their catalogs be sent for your
perusal. Most are free and will include differing amounts of helpful
hints and other curriculum choosing information. For example, a favorite
is the Elijah Company Catalog, because each of the various methods of
homeschooling is discussed in it. Here, in York, we are also blessed to
have The Curriculum Exchange store run by local
homeschoolers, where you can go and see the wide variety of curriculum, buy at discount prices
whatever they have stocked and consign your used curriculum for sale.
www.curriculumexchange.com
Finally, there are those that
have gone before you…the homeschooling pioneers.
They have wisdom of
experience and will be invaluable sources of encouragement and help! You
will find them at the support group meetings and involved at the state
level and even through the catalogs and curriculum sellers. Some
support groups may offer mentoring partners. Take time to
ask questions and find out what has worked for someone else and what has
not….this will hopefully save you time, money and frustration.
Our hope is that you will find homeschooling, although challenging
at times,
extremely rewarding for your whole
family!
|
|