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Explanation of the Third Option Law, 59-65-47
Black words - SC Section 59-65-47
Green words - Explanation of 59-65-47
Effective June 20, 1996, under Title 59, Chapter 65 of the 1976 Code the following section was added:
Section 59-65-47.
In lieu of the requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45,
If you homeschool under 59-65-47 the requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45 do not apply to you.
parents or guardians may teach their children at home
This shows us who can homeschool their children at home.
if the instruction is conducted under the auspices of an association for homeschools
In order to homeschool under 59-64-47 you must homeschool under an association for homeschools.
which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the requirements of this section.
The association must have a minimum of 50 members, the law does not specify how these members are counted. The association must meet all requirements of this section.
Bona fide membership and continuing compliance with the academic standard of the association
The homeschooler must be a member that maintains compliance of the academic standards of their association.
exempts the home school from the further requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45.
Section 59-65-40 nor Section 59-65-45 apply to you.
The State Department of Education shall conduct annually a review of the association standards to insure that requirements of the association, at a minimum, include:
The State Dept. of Ed. reviews all association standards yearly to make sure they are requiring the minimums listed below.
(a) A parent must hold at least a high school diploma or the equivalent general educational development (GED) certificate;
The parent MUST have at least a high school diploma, or a GED.
(b) the instructional year is at least one hundred eighty days;
The school year is set for an 180 day minimal.
(c) the curriculum includes, but is not limited to,
You must teach at least the subjects listed, but you are not limited to teaching just those subjects.
the basic instructional areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies,
The subjects required for all students are reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.
and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature; and
Those students in 7th to 12th grades are also required to include composition and literature in their curriculum.
(d) educational records shall be maintained by the parent-teacher and include:
All educational records shall be kept by the parent (the teacher). These records include those listed below.
(1) a plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught and activities in which the student and parent-teacher engage;
The key word here is or. You are not required to keep a plan book, diary and other record; however, you are required to keep one of them. You are to indicate subjects taught, and the activities in which the student and parent-teacher engage.
(2) a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work; and
You do not need to keep all of the student's work. You must keep samples, a small part that is representative of the whole.
(3) a semi-annual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of the student's academic progress in each of the basic instructional areas specified in item (c) above.
You must complete a semi-annual progress report, you must include a record of attendance. You must also include documentation of the student's progress in the required curriculum subjects listed above in item c.
By January thirtieth of each year, all associations shall report the number and grade level of children home schooled through the association to the children's respective school districts.
Each association has until January 30th of each year to report how many students in each grade homeschool with their association to the school district that the children reside in.
Key points are:
1) If you homeschool under Section 59-65-47, neither Section 59-65-40 nor Section 59-65-45 apply to you.
2) Accountability for homeschoolers under 59-65-47 requires that associations must require the complete requirements of 59-65-47.
3) Parents are accountable for maintaining educational records under 59-65-47.
4) If your home school elects to use the public school credit system for high school, you the parent-teacher are still required to teach the basic instructional areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature each year. | 
Obtaining
Your Child's School Records