South Carolina Homeschool Documents & Templates
Every document you need to homeschool legally in South Carolina, based on S.C. Code Section 59-65-40; S.C. Code Section 59-65-45; S.C. Code Section 59-65-47.
These are general templates for Option 3 - Accountability Association, the most common of South Carolina's 3 pathways. Our free wizard generates personalized documents with your name, address, and district filled in.
What documents do you need?
Notice of Intent
Required. Send to homeschool association with at least 50 members
Annual Renewal
Required each year
Notice of Intent
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- homeschool association with at least 50 members
- How often
- annual
S.C. Code ยง59-65-47(A)
Annual Renewal
- Basis
- Annual re-filing of notification
S.C. Code ยง59-65-47(B), (C)
Recordkeeping requirements
Varies by pathway. Option 1 - School Board Approval: ["plan book, diary, or other written record of subjects taught and activities","portfolio of samples of the student's academic work","record of evaluations of the student's academic progress","semiannual progress report with attendance records and individualized assessments"]; Option 2 - SCAIHS: undefined; Option 3 - Accountability Association: ["plan book, diary, or other record of subjects taught and activities","portfolio of samples of the student's academic work","semiannual progress report with attendance records and documentation of academic progress"]
- โAttendance records
- โStudent portfolio
Portfolio must include:
- โขplan book, diary, or other record of subjects taught and activities
- โขportfolio of samples of the student's academic work
- โขsemiannual progress report with attendance records and documentation of academic progress
S.C. Code ยง59-65-47(A)
Other ways to homeschool in South Carolina
This page covers Option 3 - Accountability Association. South Carolina offers 3 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:
- โขOption 1 - School Board Approval: You apply to your local school district board of trustees for approval of your home school program (S.C. Code 59-65-40). The program must have an instructional day of at least 4.5 hours (not counting lunch and recesses) and an instructional year of at least 180 days, and must teach reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, plus composition and literature in grades 7-12. You keep a plan book, a portfolio of your child's work, and a record of evaluations available for district inspection, and you submit a semiannual progress report to the district. Your child takes part in the annual statewide testing program, given by a certified school district employee either with public school students or at your child's place of instruction. The parent must have at least a high school diploma or GED, or a bachelor's degree.
- โขOption 2 - SCAIHS: You teach under the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS) (S.C. Code 59-65-45). Membership and continuing compliance with SCAIHS academic standards exempt you from the further requirements of Option 1, including its 4.5-hour day and testing. At a minimum, SCAIHS standards require a parent with at least a high school diploma or GED, an instructional year of at least 180 days, and a curriculum that includes reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, plus composition and literature in grades 7-12. SCAIHS may set additional requirements of its own. By January 30 each year, SCAIHS reports the number and grade level of its students to their school districts.
- โขOption 3 - Accountability Association(this page): You teach under a homeschool association that has at least 50 members (S.C. Code 59-65-47). Membership and continuing compliance with the association's academic standards exempt you from the further requirements of Options 1 and 2, including Option 1's 4.5-hour day and testing. At a minimum, the association's standards require a parent with at least a high school diploma or GED, an instructional year of at least 180 days, a curriculum that includes reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies (plus composition and literature in grades 7-12), and records kept by the parent: a plan book, a portfolio of your child's work, and a semiannual progress report with attendance and documentation of academic progress. Your association may set additional requirements of its own. By January 30 each year, the association reports the number and grade level of its students to their school districts.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for South Carolina
Education savings available
South Carolina offers Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF). ESA programs may have additional documentation requirements. Learn about ESA programs
Get your personalized documents
These are general templates. The wizard generates documents with your name, address, and district already filled in, ready to download and send.
Get your South Carolina documentsRequirements sourced from S.C. Code Section 59-65-40; S.C. Code Section 59-65-45; S.C. Code Section 59-65-47. Last reviewed October 2026