SC Homeschool Accountability Associations
How do I choose an Association?
1.
Become familiar with South Carolina’s third option homeschooling law,
Section 59-65-47 -
Explanation of the Third Option Law,
59-65-47.
2.
Sort out which associations you can join. (Some associations only serve
their county, their support group members, their curriculum, their religion,
etc.)
3.
Visit each association’s web site to get a feel for who they are, and
what they represent. While visiting each association’s web site, you should
consider the services that you need and ask yourself:
a.
Does this association require more than the complete requirements of the
law?
b. Do I need the additional requirements of this association to assist me?
c. Are the requirements intrusive?
4.
Call all the associations you are interested in, just to see if they are
available to assist you, and to see how long it takes them to return your call
if they were unavailable when you called. Remove associations that have had
their phone services disconnected when you call; their phone may be temporarily
disconnected again when you need them in an emergency.
5.
Email all of the associations you are interested in (you can do this
with one email by bcc each of the association’s email address). Prepare a list
of questions to place in the body of your email. Here are some suggestions:
a.
Are you accepting applications? If not, when do you accept
applications?
b.
What are your fees?
c.
How do you assist members?
d.
Is our member information given to anyone without our consent?
e.
How do you verify our membership if we are
contacted by an official?
f.
Do you allow members to choose their own
curriculum? Must we use yours? If we are allowed to pick our own curriculum,
do you have to approve the curriculum we choose?
g.
Do you automatically notify anyone of our membership? (Schools, School
District, etc) If so, why do you?
If the association’s
email is bouncing as mailbox full, you need to consider marking them off your
list. If you receive an undeliverable notice, you should verify that you have
the correct email address by either looking at their web site, or by phoning
them. If you have emailed the correct address, consider marking them off your
list. You may copy and paste the questions abo'sve into the text of your email,
and modify as needed.
South Carolina Department of Education Home School Association
Listing's Page -
http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Accountability/Quality-Assurance/old/sq/Homeschooling/hsa.html
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