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Questions About the Kindergarten Waiver
What is a Kindergarten Waiver?
What exactly does the law say?
Who issues it?
What if my district tells me they can't find the form,
will a letter or hand written form work?
What proof will I have that I have completed the waiver process,
and that my child does not have to attend kindergarten?
Can a homeschool association issue one?
Where do I go to fill one out?
If my child will be older than 5 on Sept 1st of this school year,
but they were retained in Kindergarten (by me, a public school, or private school),
can I still utilize the Kindergarten Waiver?
Why would I use a Kindergarten Waiver?
Why would I not want to use a Kindergarten Waiver?
I've decided not to use a Kindergarten Waiver, but to homeschool my child, so now what do I do?
What is a Kindergarten Waiver?
It is a form approved by the State Department of Education, and provided to each local school district. Parents or guardians that decide not to send their kindergarten child or ward to school must use this form in order to have the kindergarten requirement waived.
What exactly does the law say?
http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/code/t59c065.htm
Title 59 - Education
CHAPTER 65.
ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS
ARTICLE 1.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
SECTION 59-65-10.
Responsibility of parent or guardian; notification by school district of availability of kindergarten; transportation for kindergarten pupils.
(A) All parents or guardians shall cause their children or wards to attend regularly a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education or a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools' Association or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education from the school year in which the child or ward is five years of age before September first until the child or ward attains his seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school. A parent or guardian whose child or ward is not six years of age on or before the first day of September of a particular school year may elect for their child or ward not to attend kindergarten. For this purpose, the parent or guardian shall sign a written document making the election with the governing body of the school district in which the parent or guardian resides. The form of this written document must be prescribed by regulation of the Department of Education. Upon the written election being executed, that child or ward may not be required to attend kindergarten.
(B) Each school district shall provide transportation to and from public school for all pupils enrolled in public kindergarten classes who request the transportation. Regulations of the State Board of Education governing the operation of school buses shall apply.
Who issues it?
Your local school district bears the responsibility of providing this form to you for completion (not the school your child would have attended).
"For this purpose, the parent or guardian shall sign a written document making the election with the governing body of the school district in which the parent or guardian resides."
What if my district tells me they can't find the form,
will a letter or hand written form work?
If your local district can not locate a copy of this form, they need to contact the State Department of Education to obtain the prescribed form for you to complete.
No, the law is clear on this matter. The form must be "prescribed by regulation of the Department of Education.
If your local district can not locate a copy of this form, they need to contact the State Department of Education to obtain the prescribed form for you to complete.
What proof will I have that I have completed the waiver process,
and that my child does not have to attend kindergarten?
Absolutely none, unless the district provides you with a letter or other proof of your waiver being executed. If they do not, you better ask for a copy of the paperwork for your own records. It is always better to be safe, than sorry later. Paperwork can easily be misplaced or lost, always keep a copy!
Can a homeschool association issue one?
No, the law is very clear that "the parent or guardian shall sign a written document making the election with the governing body of the school district in which the parent or guardian resides."
Where do I go to fill one out?
The law states the "the parent or guardian shall sign a written document making the election with the governing body of the school district in which the parent or guardian resides."
You are not required to go to the local school your child would have attended, but to your local school district.
If my child will be older than 5 on Sept 1st of this school year,
but they were retained in Kindergarten (by me, a public school, or private school),
can I still utilize the Kindergarten Waiver?
No, you can not the law states "A parent or guardian whose child or ward is not six years of age on or before the first day of September of a particular school year may elect for their child or ward not to attend kindergarten."
Why would I use a Kindergarten Waiver?
If you do not want to use option 1, 2, or 3 to homeschool your child.
If you plan to put your child into private or public school for first grade, the following school year.
Why would I NOT want to use a Kindergarten Waiver?
If you have or will always homeschool your children, and you want to protect your right of privacy.
I've decided not to use a Kindergarten Waiver, but to homeschool my child, so now what do I do?
You will need to figure out which option you will homeschool under, register, and maintain the requirements of that option.
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Obtaining
Your Child's School Records