North Carolina vs South Carolina: Homeschool Laws Compared
Side-by-side comparison of homeschool regulations. See what changes if you're moving between these states.
At a Glance
| Requirement | North Carolina | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | Moderate regulation |
| Notification | Required — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting) | Required — homeschool association with at least 50 members |
| Testing | Required | Not required |
| Required subjects | None specified | 5 subjects |
| Instructional time | No requirement | 180 days/yr |
| Instructor qualification | a high school diploma or GED | a high school diploma or GED |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | attendance, portfolio |
| Annual renewal | Not required | Required |
Moving Between These States
Moving from North Carolina to South Carolina
What changes:
- ~Notification: North Carolina (Required — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)) → South Carolina (Required — homeschool association with at least 50 members)
- -Good news: South Carolina has no testing requirement
- +South Carolina requires required subjects (5 subjects). North Carolina does not
- +South Carolina requires instructional time (180 days/yr). North Carolina does not
- ~Recordkeeping: North Carolina (attendance) → South Carolina (attendance, portfolio)
Transition checklist
Before you leave North Carolina:
- ▢Notify current public school: Notify DNPE that home school has closed via DNPE website login.
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in South Carolina:
- ▢File notification with homeschool association with at least 50 members
Moving from South Carolina to North Carolina
Grace period: Must file BEFORE operating — 3–5 business day processing (G.S. §115C-564; G.S. §115C-378)
What changes:
- ~Notification: South Carolina (Required — homeschool association with at least 50 members) → North Carolina (Required — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting))
- +North Carolina requires testing (Required). South Carolina does not
- -Good news: North Carolina has no required subjects requirement
- -Good news: North Carolina has no instructional time requirement
- ~Recordkeeping: South Carolina (attendance, portfolio) → North Carolina (attendance)
Transition checklist
Before you leave South Carolina:
- ▢Withdrawal letter recommended (but not legally required) in South Carolina
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢North Carolina requires: immunization records
When you arrive in North Carolina:
- ▢File Notice of Intent with DNPE BEFORE opening home school. One-time filing. Takes 3–5 business days to process.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (G.S. §115C-564; G.S. §115C-378)
- ▢Schools may open July–April only. One-time filing (not annual). DNPE processes NOI within 3–5 business days.
Military families
Neither North Carolina nor South Carolina has military-specific homeschool provisions. MIC3 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children) does not apply to homeschoolers — it covers public schools only. Your School Liaison Officer can help with the transition.
Planning a move?
Enter your move date to get a timeline with specific deadlines.
Common questions
What are the differences between homeschooling in North Carolina and South Carolina?
North Carolina and South Carolina have different homeschool regulations covering notification requirements, testing, required subjects, instructor qualifications, and recordkeeping. See the comparison table above for the exact differences.
What do I need to do to move my homeschool from North Carolina to South Carolina?
When moving from North Carolina to South Carolina, you must comply with South Carolina's homeschool laws from scratch. See the transition checklist above for step-by-step guidance.
Data sourced from state statutes and administrative codes. Comparison based on default homeschool pathway for each state. This is compliance guidance, not legal advice. Terms · How we verify