Submitting a registration form and fulfilling one of the approved check off methods mid year and end of year.
Membership with Encompass Homeschool gives you many benefits: legal accountability for option 3 in South Carolina, ability to choose your preferred curriculum, individualized method of checkoff, a social/support group, and much more!
No. As the name implies, we encompass all families in SC that want to homeschool under option 3. We are welcoming to secular homeschoolers, as well as families that incorporate faith into their homeschool.
No. Curriculum is a very personal choice, and varies widely from family to family, and even from child to child within a family. We are happy to make recommendations for all styles of learning. Curriculums can be found free online, or can be bought used or new. Some families choose to get their curriculum all from one source, while some pick and choose from different companies based on what works best for their situation. Contact us if you would like help narrowing down your search.
No. We have chosen to remain a non ranking accountability group.
Once you become a member, you will receive an official letter of acceptance and that can be taken to your school district to show you are legally compliant. If your child has not been enrolled in a SC school district, you do not need to take the letter to them.
In South Carolina, there are 3 accountability options for homeschooling families to pick from. Option 1 allows the parents to home school their children under the direction/approval of their school district. With option 2, parents may homeschool their children with the support of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). In option 3, parents may choose a home school association which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the home school requirements. Most families choose Option 3 because of the flexibility it affords them.
No. Testing is optional under option 3. Some families choose to do standardized testing, but many do not.
A child should be doing school if they turn 5 before September 1. A family may choose to get a waiver to delay kindergarten if their child is not 6 before September 1. Children should remain in school until the age of 17, or until they have graduated high school. There are exceptions to the rule, which can be found here. https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/state-accountability/home-schooling/sc-code-of-law-59-65/
Yes. If you are withdrawing your child from a school in order to homeschool with option 3, you will need to join an accountability organization first, and then take your letter of compliance to the school. You are not legally homeschooling until you are officially registered with a SC Option 3 group.
You may pay for someone to tutor your child, or for your child to attend classes at a co op. The parent must remain the educator on record and sign off on all progress reports and check offs. The parent/guardian remains the legally responsible party.
The state of South Carolina requires 180 documented days of school, although not every day must be a day with paper and books. Field trips and life experiences may be applied toward the 180 day requirement.
Yes. Accountability groups can legally do a random check of your records to make sure you are compliant with the law. It is good to stay current with all the necessary paperwork and keep a portfolio of work in each of the required subjects.