Moving to SC not sure where to start

[restlinmom]

We are coming down this coming weekend and I have already called the schools that they will be going to, Lexington 1. I was totally shocked when they told me that my 5 year old DS has to start first grade because he will be 6 on 7/29. We did not send him to kindergarten here in PA because of his age and being close to the cut off here we planned on him starting this year.

Well I have decided to homeschool him and I have no clue where to start. Do I need to join a group? Do I have to go to the school and sign something?
I don't have a clue and I have read things but I am confused. Please help me out. I have been reading here for a little while but I figured I would ask my questions so that I can have the specific answers.

Thanks:wave:

[Dianna]

We are coming down this coming weekend and I have already called the schools that they will be going to, Lexington 1. I was totally shocked when they told me that my 5 year old DS has to start first grade because he will be 6 on 7/29. We did not send him to kindergarten here in PA because of his age and being close to the cut off here we planned on him starting this year.

Well I have decided to homeschool him and I have no clue where to start. Do I need to join a group? Do I have to go to the school and sign something?
I don't have a clue and I have read things but I am confused. Please help me out. I have been reading here for a little while but I figured I would ask my questions so that I can have the specific answers.

Thanks:wave:

Welcome to SC and to our website. We're glad to have you with us. :smile2:

First you need to register with an association. I recommend the ones that are members of Carolina Homeschooler. They're listed at http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/aboutus.htm That will make you legal.

Then you need to choose your curriculum, and then learn what's required in the form of documentation. Your association may have a member handbook that describes the requirements, or you could read through our legal page at http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/legal.htm
for more information.

If you read through my FAQs page at http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/faq.htm, you'll find a lot of answers to the most commonly asked questions by new homeschoolers and newcomers to SC.

I hope this helps you get started. If you have any other questions, just let us know.

Warmly,
Dianna

[restlinmom]

Wow what a difference then here in PA. I home schooled my son that just graduated for his 6th grade year and did not really have to do to much with our school district. Just keep a file of all that we did daily and then turn it in.

Thanks for your quick reply. I have looked at the ones on the site and it did answer some questions. Why should I become a member of an association? Is it just for the paper work? That is a part I am not understanding, like I said it was really easy here in PA.

[Dianna]

Wow what a difference then here in PA. I home schooled my son that just graduated for his 6th grade year and did not really have to do to much with our school district. Just keep a file of all that we did daily and then turn it in.

Thanks for your quick reply. I have looked at the ones on the site and it did answer some questions. Why should I become a member of an association? Is it just for the paper work? That is a part I am not understanding, like I said it was really easy here in PA.

Jeanette, you're the first person I've talked to that actually thought homeschooling in PA was easy. Most people I know from PA think it's one of the worst states to homeschool in. It may be different from district to district, though.

In SC, you basically keep records of what you do, plus samples, and teach for 180 days. Twice a year you document progress (report card or summary of their progress). But you don't turn those in to anyone unless they ask for it. You won't have to deal with the school district at all in SC unless you register through your district (not recommended). Instead, I'd recommend registering with an association. You have to do one or the other because SC is a compulsory attendance state and you have to be legally counted somewhere (public, private, parochial, homeschool).

Once you start homeschooling here, you may find it as easy (or easier) than in PA because you won't have to turn anything in to the district and they won't have anything to do with your homeschool.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Warmly,
Dianna

[restlinmom]

Thanks for the info I have looked and I guess I will go with PIE, I think that is what it is, but I hope I am not too late until we get down there and I find my diploma that could be a job in itself. So when I register with them I won't have to go to his elementary school or the district and let them know I am homeschooling??

In PA as long as we did 180 days and I kept a log of his work and put a packet together with each subjects work, not all of it just some "samples" we were find. I didn't have to do any report card type things or anything. I only filled our a few forms and did my thing.

It just seems like so many different things in SC then PA. I do realize that 7-12th grade there is a lot more involved especially here in pa it went by days and hours per day.

Thanks

[Dianna]

As long as they could verify that you've graduated from high school if they're ever asked, then I don't think you should worry about not finding your diploma. Ask your association director to make sure. And no, you don't have to go to the elementary school or go to the district or anything.

From your description about what you do in PA, the only extra thing you have to do is make a report card. That's easy... just list the subjects, give a grade for each, put it in your records, and that's that. The thing you don't have to do anymore is turn everything in to the school district. I think it's a great trade off! :biggrin2:

I guess high school is when things become bad in PA. I've heard a lot of comments about how intrusive it is.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Warmly,
Dianna