Podcast — Page 5 — Home School Support Network

Hank Osborne January 5, 2012

South Carolina Home School Law

Our “Goal” for this episode of HSSN podcast is to provide some clarity of the Homeschool Laws in SC. It is very easy to home school in SC and we want to talk through what the law requires in layman’s terms. We have not found an audio explanation of the SC homeschooling options on the Internet.

SC has three options to choose from in terms of who you answer to from an accountability perspective. On the surface these options can seem to be very similar and that can create confusion for the homeschool parent when trying to choose an option. We will break down the differences and similarities of these three options in South Carolina. HSLDA “State Laws” map. This link is a great tool showing the level of states’ regulations at a glance. Individual states are listed at the bottom. Click on your state then click “Legal Analysis” to read what the law actually says for your state.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are our personal interpretation of the SC Homeschool law. We are not lawyers. You should review the law for yourself and/or seek legal advice.

South Carolina Home School Law Basics:

There are three options in terms of accountability in the State of SC. You can be accountable to:

Option I: The district board of trustees
Option II: South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS)
Option III: An association (of your choice) for home schools which has at least fifty members.

Options II and III seem very similar on the surface and we will explain the differences in more detail below. We will also provide some links to associations that meet the requirements for Options III.

Similarities of the Options:

Compulsory Attendance Ages: “five years of age before September first until … seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school.” Any parents whose child is “not six years of age on or before the first day of September of a particular school year may elect for their child” not to attend kindergarten, and then must sign a written document with the school district. S.C. Code § 59-65-10. The source for this quote is HSLDA’s legal analysis of SC law.

Basic Requirements:

1) A parent must have a high school diploma or GED
2) The school year must be at least 180 days
3) Subjects taught must include: Reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; composition and literature in grades 7-12.

Differences between the options:

Option I vs. Option II – Michael Farris said at one point, “South Carolina was the most active state in the nation in taking home schoolers to court.”

1992 – Option II – Law passed
1996 – Option III – law passed

Option II vs. III

The over arching difference between II and III is that with Option II you have a mandated accountability group (SCAIHS) vs. in Option III you can choose.

SCAIHS membership requirements are much more structured than most of the Option III accountability groups. (see their site for things like required testing for certain grade levels)

The Option III accountability groups’ membership fees are on average about 10% that of SCAIHS. However SCAIHS is much more organized and offers some benefits that none of the Option III accountability groups.

A list of accountability associations from State of SC: (CAUTION: Some track more data than the law requires.)

PACESC – $40 covers all family members

The South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association (http://www.tschaa.com/) – $10 covers all family members (Not mentioned or linked on SCHEA web site or HSLDA)

The accountability groups in option III are required by SC state law. The law is focused on reporting and membership requirements. The law associated with Option III does not require these associations to provide support in terms of support group meetings, field trips, cooperative education services, etc. There are a number of support groups that you can choose to join regardless of the homeschool option you choose in SC. OPTION III is the least intrusive Homeschool Option for parents in the state of SC. You are not required to provide anything directly to your school district or the state as long as you follow the requirements of your OPTION III Home School Association as defined by SC §59-65-47.

South Carolina Virtual Charter Schools:

If you choose to enroll your child in SC Virtual Charter Schools you are not considered to be home schooling in the state of SC! This method of educating your child is simply providing public school education directed by a public school teacher in a separate geographic location from the other public school kids in your district. We have heard stories about parents and even state employees confusing virtual charter schools with homeschooling. The SCVCS web site is very well worded and should create no confusion in this area. The SCVCS program is a good option for families who want public education for their children but would rather not send their children into the public school classroom. A great example is when you have a child in your home that you are not allowed to choose the education method. It might be due to custody reasons. They might be foster children that the state or social worker will not allow to be homeschooled.

Subscribe:

You can subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and/or RSS below:

Hank Osborne November 18, 2011

Teaching Textbooks Math Curriculum Review

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This is our first review of curriculum on the Home School Support Network podcast. In the episode we provided a review of the popular homeschool math curriculum Teaching Textbooks. We provide an audio clip example from a lesson and explain how the curriculum works for the parent and the child. This math program allows your child to work independently so you have an opportunity to give your attention to other children or tasks in the home for a few minutes each day while providing your child math lessons taught the way your grandparents learned math. There are no fancy new age math teaching methods used. This program teaches math to your child in a common sense approach and with easy to follow methods.

We have no relationship with Teaching Textbooks other than by simply being a satisfied customer. We have not been asked to produce this review and are not being compensated for the review in any way. We do highly recommend Teaching Textbooks as your home school math curriculum.

In this episode we also mention Time4Learning.

Subscribe to our podcast:

You can subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and/or RSS below:

Hank Osborne November 14, 2011

Podcast Episode 5 – Home School Structure and Routine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

These are show notes for the Home School Support Network podcast episode number 5.

Structure and Routine

Does every minute have to be scheduled?
How to recognize which one is best for you. “free spirit & people person?” vs. a “task oriented getter don type person?”
WARNING FLAG – don’t be a slave to your schedule

From Mom’s Notes “Structuring Your Children’s Day” part 1
“Many parents do not see how a routine can help bring peace to a home. Nor do they understand how an effective routine often eliminates need for discipline/correction. Think you don’t need a routine?
“Do you see your children getting into trouble more often each day?”
“Do you feel like a truck has run over you by the time your husband gets home each day?”
“Do you feel trapped being at home with your children?”

Why have a schedule or routine?

Brings order to my day by helping me manage the priorities I set.

Keeps me from starting many things only to go from one unfinished task to another without focus or direction-“wandering” then wondering where my time went.
Set your priorities and plan a time for each priority daily/weekly. Where’s your time with God?
Keep in mind that unless you yourself have structure in your day, it will not matter how structured your child’s day is because you won’t be able to adhere to their routine either.

Creates contentment

Children learn submission, humility, self control with a parent directed day. In contrast, without a routine children have too much authority, choice, and control.
It is amazing to me how many discipline issues are resolved through the consistent use of routine!
The child does have choices during the day within boundaries (free time). In short, if you don’t direct the day then THEY WILL and this will rarely lead to peace and an adequate learning enviro. Children don’t run the “classroom” and in homeschooling you are now the parent AND the teacher!

It helps mom be proactive and fosters peacefulness-a necessity with multiple children.

Set the senario: 4 boys free playing (loosely monitored) in the early evening hours, mom trying to cook….not good! Plan what to do with each child and expect some trial and error.
Carla Link states in “Structuring Your Child’s Day” Part 2 “Kids who live without structure can develop behavior problems. Frequent tantrums, whining, a disregard for rules, inappropriate or aggressive behavior, constant demands, and an inability to share are some of the signs that your child needs more structure.”

HOW DO I START?

Prayer Phil 4:6
Evaluate for a few days/week and write down your existing routine OR write down things as you do them on the appropriate day. *write down realistically how long each thing takes! Ie “Activity List”

INCLUDE:

self control training- sitting us a skill that must be trained, it does not come natural!
Chores training
Devotion/Bible story time with the kids
Sibling indiv playtime
Pack and play time/Room-time
Outside play/nature walk
Errands including driving time
Quiet time with books/Storytime
Structured playtime (coloring/art, puzzles, toys, etc)
Free play time at a toy box
Individual time with each child daily/every other day…15 min, 30 min, or more?

3. Do the same thing for your children’s activities

Get your spouse’s input
1. choose which route you want to go-schedule or routine. Either way, make meals, naps, & bedtimes as fixed as you can. If need be, create a M,W,F and T,Th routine.
2. Check show notes for samples of schedules & for a blank one to get yourself started. Start with the fixed activities and fill in from your Activities List. If your kids are not used to a routine, start with establishing consistent bed and wake times.

WARNING – *Do NOT try to copy someone else’s schedule! Instead use it for ideas and as a GUIDE.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Remember to leave “catch up time”. If you freq feel like you are rushing from one thing to another then you prob haven’t given yourself enough time for each activity.

Look for the most stressful time of the day- that is where you need more structure!

Have a stop time throughout the day at ___:00 and go to next activity no matter where they are at.

When you homeschool there will be days you don’t get anything done but heart training and that’s ok!

Implement “pieces” of your schedule at a time, either AM or PM

*DON’T CHUCK THE WHOLE SCHEDULE IF YOU GET OFF SOMEWHERE!!* Having a sch/routine helps you jump back in where ever you are at that time. Give example

Parting challenge- Have we engaged our children or overseen them all day? Take encouragement that a schedule will help with this.

HELPS FOR MOM’S DAY

Plan meals in advance!

Create a two week meal plan

Eliminates stress if figuring out what’s for dinner (or freezer meals not being thawed!)
Saves money and time with less grocery store stops (or fast food purchases)

Learn how to use a crockpot…find recipes.

Create a rotating chore plan.

Subscribe:

You can subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and RSS below: