Homeschooling a Child with an IEP in South Carolina
What happens to your child's special education services when you homeschool in South Carolina, and how to reach the services that remain available.
What happens to your child's services
In South Carolina, home schools are treated as private schools for special education, so your district must find and evaluate your child and must include home school students when it spends its share of federal special education funds on equitable services (SCDE, Children with Disabilities in Private Settings). Equitable services are written in an Individualized Services Plan, not an IEP, and the district decides which services to offer after consulting with private and home school representatives.
Primary source: 34 CFR 300.111, 300.130-300.144; SCDE, Children with Disabilities in Private Settings (Nov. 2020)
How to access services while homeschooling
Child Find
Each district must locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools, including home schools in South Carolina (SCDE, Children with Disabilities in Private Settings).
How to request: Request an evaluation in writing from your school district's Child Find office.
IDEA, 34 CFR 300.111, 300.131
Equitable services
South Carolina treats home schools as private schools, so your child may receive equitable services paid from the district's proportionate share of federal IDEA funds. Services are set through consultation, written in an Individualized Services Plan rather than an IEP, and there is no individual right to them (SCDE, Children with Disabilities in Private Settings; 34 CFR 300.137(a)).
How to request: Request an evaluation from your district; eligible home school students are counted for the district's equitable services consultation.
34 CFR 300.130-300.144; SCDE, Children with Disabilities in Private Settings
Before you withdraw
- 1
Request complete copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports before you withdraw.
- 2
Consider requesting an IEP meeting to discuss the transition. This is optional.
- 3
File your homeschool notice as your state requires. Our wizard prepares it for you.
- 4
Arrange any private therapies or services your child needs before withdrawal takes effect.
Keep copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports. You'll need them if you re-enroll.
Special education help
COPAA
copaa.org · Find a special education attorney near you
Wrightslaw
wrightslaw.com · Special education law encyclopedia
Education savings available
South Carolina offers Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF). See eligibility and amounts
Common questions
What happens to my child's IEP when I start homeschooling in South Carolina?
Can my child still get special education help from the school if we homeschool in South Carolina?
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Start the South Carolina wizardRequirements 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