Semi-Annual Progress Reports

 

The Third Option Homeschool Law states that home educators should include in their records “a semiannual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of the student's academic progress,” (South Carolina Code of Laws SECTION 59-65-47). The law does not offer a specific format for progress reports so homeschoolers have a lot of flexibility. However, this flexibility can often create questions from new homeschoolers such as: 

• What is the purpose? 

• When do I make them? 

• What should it look like?  

• Who do I give it to?

What’s the purpose?

Semi-annual progress reports allow us to take a look at our homeschools and assess how our children are doing and whether or not our teaching methods or curriculum are working. 

According to Edutopia, “Assessment is an integral part of instruction, as it determines whether or not the goals of education are being met...Assessment inspire us to ask these hard questions: "Are we teaching what we think we are teaching?" "Are students learning what they are supposed to be learning?" "Is there a way to teach the subject better, thereby promoting better learning?"

Taking the time to assess your year helps you create an optimal learning environment for your children. You can determine if your child is learning and meeting the goals and objectives set by you or the curriculum. Assessments also give you the opportunity to see if the curriculum and resources you have chosen are the best fit for your child.

When do I make them?

Semi-annual progress reports are generally made at 90 days and 180 days. The specific date will vary from homeschool to homeschool since we each have unique calendar years. For most homeschoolers, the 90th day will fall in December or January. The 180th day should be before your homeschool accountability association’s year ends. For TSCHAA members, that due date is by July 31st of the year. 

What should it look like?

The law states progress reports should include attendance and the academic progress of the subjects you are covering, which should include English, Math, Science, and Social Studies at a minimum. Beyond that, the law is not specific, so homeschool educators should pick a method that is meaningful to them.

Many families choose to structure their progress reports similar to a public school. They will list the subjects taken and the grades earned. (If you do not use letter grades in your homeschool, you could also put “working satisfactorily” or “at grade level” rather than a numerical grade.) A progress report structured this way will be useful if you choose to enroll your child in a public/private school because the progress report will be written in a format that is similar to the school’s reports, and the school will expect records from your homeschool year.

For families that do not issue grades and for younger kiddos, choosing to write statements similar to “has mastered” or “needs improvement in” can give a good overview of progress. For example, “Joy has mastered multiplication but still needs work in division,” or “Joy is able to create complex sentences, but she still needs work in capitalization and spelling.”

You could also make notes similar to, “Joy is able to learn best when we use living books rather than a textbook or online website.” Noticing learning styles and preferences can help you make decisions to improve your homeschool moving forward. 

Who do I give it to?

As a TSCHAA member, the progress reports are for your records only since the law puts you in charge. We do not require you to send them in but do have you check off that you have them in your possession on your end of year form, which is due by July 31st of the accountability year. 

Sometimes, it can be hard to see changes in our homeschool unless we take the time to look. We may feel like our children are not making progress, yet when we look back at our previous progress reports, we will discover how much our children have grown and flourished in their education. It can take many small steps before we see big results, and progress reports are one tool we have that helps us see our students’ growth and the fruits of our labor as homeschoolers.

Free printable progress reports:

TSCHAA’s Formal and Informal Progress Reports

The South Carolina Homeschooling Connection

AtoZ Homeschooling Resource Links

Dual Credits

Are you considering registering your homeschool student for a Dual Credit (Dual Enrollment) class? Dual Credits are an amazing opportunity for many, but before you sign up your student, make sure you understand everything involved with a Dual Credit because they are not right for every student.

Dual Credits allow a student to take a college-level class and receive a college credit AND a high school credit. In SC, Dual Credits count more in a student’s GPA (Grade Point Average) and can be a great way to bump up the high school GPA for college admissions and scholarships. Parents are excited to save money with discounted tuition, and students get to dip their toes into the college experience and begin preparing for their upcoming college adventure. Dual Credits allow some homeschool students to graduate from high school with an associate’s degree, and others start college as a second-semester freshman or even a sophomore. 

However, Dual Credits are not a wise choice for all students. At a recent homeschool convention, I spoke with a college Dual Credit advisor, and he said that while Dual Credits can offer savings and a jump start on college, he actually did not recommend them personally. In his experience, many students really aren’t ready to take college courses in high school and the courses often add unnecessary stress for students who should be enjoying being kids as long as they can. If the student does not score well in the class, it could bring down the student’s future college GPA or risk a student’s chances at future scholarships.

In SC, students can actually hurt their chances of receiving the Life Scholarship in their sophomore year in college if they do not do well in a Dual Credit course taken in high school. Even though they may qualify for the Life Scholarship their freshman year because the Dual Credit gets an extra point on the high school GPA, a student may not be able to average out to that B average (3.0 GPA to continue to qualify for the Life Scholarship) once that Dual Credit class is applied in the college GPA. For example, a C gets the GPA points of a B, a D gets the GPA points of a C in the high school GPA,  but for college, that C is a C. That D is a D.  For this reason if your student chooses to take a Dual Credit class, make sure he is ready for the challenge.

Students should be motivated and able to work on their own and have good study skills. Remember, this is a college class and is not something the parent will have access to. The student should be able to communicate with the professor on his own and be responsible enough to keep up with and meet deadlines. Students should be able to communicate well both in writing and language because many college classes rely heavily on writing essays. Most importantly, the student should be mature enough to handle a college setting.

Most colleges have a page on their website devoted to Dual Credits, so it is a good idea to explore the college’s site to get the most accurate information since colleges will all have their own policy. Usually, the classes are reserved for students who are juniors or seniors, although some colleges offer Dual Credits to sophomores. Some colleges are looking for a certain GPA and some want an SAT/ACT score. There is typically a Dual Enrollment form to be signed, often by your association, and the college will want a high school transcript.

Before you decide, make sure you weigh the pros and cons of dual credits. 

Pros and Cons of Dual Credit classes

Pros -

• Headstart in college.

• Can save money on college - some colleges offer discounted tuition for Dual Credit and some offer free Dual Credits.

• Get a feel for college courses and help with a student’s transition to college.

• A semester course at a college = 1 credit for high school.

• The homeschool parent gets a break from teaching or can have the student take a subject they don’t feel comfortable teaching, like biology with lab or higher maths.

• Some colleges, like Bob Jones University, offer a free Dual Credit class, and others, like some tech schools, offer free Dual Credits if you meet certain criteria. 

Cons- 

• Your child may not be ready for a Dual Credit course, and it could cause stress and anxiety.

• The college may be teaching a world view that clashes with your family’s beliefs.

• The grade becomes part of the Life Scholarship GPA and can affect a student’s eligibility for the Life Scholarship in his sophomore year of college. (This is only a con if the student does not score well in the Dual Credit class.)

• For some scholarships, a student must have a minimum of 15 hours per semester. If you take too many Dual Credits, you may end up with a semester in college where you do not have enough classes to take to be full time, or you have to add a class to keep the student full time.

So, Are Dual Credits right for your family? Only you will know. I have seen students spending their senior year, the last year as a child in their home, in tears and stressed by Dual Credit classes. The pressure, deadlines, and assignments were too much for them. Yet, I have also seen students excel in dual credits, love their experience, and start college with fewer classes take. 

Make sure you consider your student’s maturity and academic ability before signing him up because Dual Credits are a big step! 

curriculum

When school starts back, many homeschoolers become elated when their curriculums are picked out and opened up. Planning the year and envisioning all the possibilities brings a smile to their faces. Today’s homeschoolers are fortunate to have a variety of curriculums to choose from. Sometimes, the choices can even be overwhelming!

The course of study in curriculums vary. Some curriculums follow state standards. Others national standards. Some follow guidelines set forth by the publisher. Typically, they will try to appeal to a range of learning styles or will follow a specific educational philosophy.  But not one single curriculum was created specifically for your unique homeschooler. Did you get that? Not a single curriculum was created specifically for your unique homeschooler.

The curriculum does not know what your child already knows. It does not know what your child is interested in. It does not know what learning style your child prefers. It does not know what your days will look like or what your year will bring. It is simply a tool created to help your child learn and help you teach. And it should only be used as a tool.

If your child already knows something, you do not have to do everything related to that topic in the curriculum. If your child does not enjoy the suggested projects and would rather write a paper, let him. Or if he prefers being creative over a worksheet or writing assignment, let him create.

This is not public school. We are not teaching to a general population; we are teaching to our children. We can skip ahead. We can add to it. We can go off on tangents. We can even skip something we see as irrelevant. As homeschoolers, we are not required to finish the curriculums we picked out. We can pick and choose what to cover or choose to abandon the curriculum.

We should be focused on creating a learning environment that sparks a love of learning in our children. We should use the curriculums we buy as a tool to enhance our children’s education and create opportunities for them to learn. We should never allow a curriculum to take over our homeschool and squash the opportunity we are given to make learning come alive and be part of our children's lives.

As homeschoolers, we are in charge of our children’s education. We always have the final say. (As long as we are following the law, that is.) We have the right and the privilege to determine our children’s course of study. So as the year gets going, and you come across something in your curriculum that doesn’t fit for your homeschool, feel free to skip it or tailor it to fit your needs. After all, this is homeschooling.

writing

High School Writing. It stirs up fear in some homeschool parents. The thought of grading papers effectively and guiding their students on their writing journey is more than some can handle. Does this sound like you? Or maybe you feel pretty confident and just want some resources to help. Thankfully, there are some amazing tools that can help you, and the best part is many of them are FREE!

Some of these tools can be accessed online, but they become even more powerful when added to Google Docs. Google Docs is Google's equivalent to Microsoft Word and is free with a Gmail account. Google Docs is great in itself, but it is even better when you take advantage of Add-ons. (Add-ons are available on the “Add-ons” tab by clicking “Get Add-ons.” This opens up the Google Store, and you can explore all the awesome tools available to you.)

Here are some of my favorite writing tools. If teaching writing yourself is too much for you, don’t worry! Scroll to the bottom and check out the online courses available for homeschoolers.

Online Writing Tools:

(free)

EasyBib Bibliography Creator

This is an easy way to create your works cited page. Enter the book, journal article, or website used in your paper and choose the style of bibliography you desire, and EasyBib will create a bibliography. If you add it as a Google Docs add-on, it will put it right into your paper!

Grade Proof  

Grade Proof gives you the readability level of your paper and checks grammar as well. This tool will help you determine what grade a person would need to be in to understand and read your paper. You can add it straight to Google Docs here.

SAS Writing Reviser

This is great for a student to use to independently edit their paper before turning it in. It helps to identify weak verbs, passive voice, overused words, simple sentences, fragments, run-on sentences, verb tense shifts, dangling or misplaced modifiers, and more! It guides the writers through a proofreading session without fixing everything for them.

WriQ

WriQ scores the paper, points out grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, and it lets you know the vocabulary maturity of the student. This is a great tool to help determine the level of your child’s writing.

Grammarly

Grammarly will highlight spelling and grammar issues in your emails and online writing. You can create a free account and upload papers into Grammarly to edit and offer suggestions. Grammarly can also be added to Chrome and used in Docs. I have found Grammarly finds more errors than your standard word processing spellcheck.  

Writing Tester

Have you ever wondered what grade-level your student's writing falls? Writing Tester determines the grade-level of a student’s writing. Simply copy and paste your writing into it, and click “Check!”

Books worth mentioning:

Grading With a Purple Crayon

Grading With a Purple Crayon, by Dena Luchsinger, helps parents grade papers, set goals, and analyze strengths and weaknesses.

Essential Writing Skills for College & Beyond

Essential Writing Skills for College & Beyond, by Charlene Gill, helps students learn down to earth writing strategies for writing.

Thinking on the Page

Thinking on the Page, by Martha Schulman and Gwen Hyman, challenges you to move beyond rigid rules and write with style.

Online Writing Courses/Classes/Help:

(paid for services)

Even with all these wonderful tools, writing may be a little too daunting for some. Thankfully, there are some great options to choose from if you decide to outsource writing.

Brave Writer

Brave Writer works as a writing coach to help your child develop writing skills and confidence. It offers both online and at home courses.

Write At Home

Write At Home offers online writing courses and workshops for middle and high school students. Students are assigned to an expert writing coach to help them with their writing. They also offer a 100% percent money back guarantee!

The Write Foundation

The Write Foundation offers online grading and tutoring. You teach the lesson and assign the paper, but then an experienced teacher will grade your student’s paper for you at a reasonable rate.

Home2Teach

Home2Teach offers college prep writing courses for homeschoolers. Rather than giving a grade, they have the student edit the paper until it meets their standard.

Time4Learning

Time4Learning offers an online writing curriculum. This curriculum is taught and graded by a teacher.

In SC, you are required by law to teach composition (writing) in 7th - 12th grades. Thankfully, homeschool parents don't have to be writing gurus to meet this requirement; we just need access to some great resources. Hopefully, the resources I have mentioned will help guide you and your homeschooler on a successful writing journey.

New Year Review

Can you believe we have reached the new year? Time sure flies! Many SC families are reaching their mid-year mark, and there are a few things every SC Third Option homeschooling family should do.

First, your semi-annual progress report is due at 90 days. Semi-annual progress reports are a requirement under the Third Option Homeschool Law. TSCHAA members are not required to submit progress reports to TSCHAA; they should keep them for their records only. 

To learn more about semi-annual progress reports, check out TSCHAA's guide to semi-annual progress reports. 

Second, the new year is a great time to evaluate your homeschool. Take a few moments to answer the following questions:

1. Is your homeschool curriculum working for your kids? Are they enjoying school? Are you enjoying homeschooling?

If homeschooling isn't living up to what you thought, it may be time to shake things up a little. Unit studies, lapbooking, notebooking, and living books can bring the excitement back to your homeschool.

There are many free curriculums and resources available online that can help breathe life back into your homeschool. Check out some free resources here. 

2. Are you running around crazy all week and feel you don't have time for anything?

You may need to rethink your commitments. Part of the beauty of homeschooling is the time it allows your family to be a family. If you are low on time to actually homeschool, you may need to clear up your schedule. Make sure you are only choosing extra activities that add value to your homeschool. 

3. Do you have unrealistic expectations?

Homeschooling will usually not look like public school. Many families picture everyone sitting around a table and working quietly throughout the day. Or they picture a Pinterest perfect school room. The truth is, for most families, there will be noise, movement, and lots of messes. 

Students learn best by doing. So, let them "do!" Let them get messy and explore and have fun. They will remember more and learn more than you can ever imagine! Try some hands-on learning with them this year.

4. Are you pushing your child too hard? Not hard enough?

Some families try to keep their students learning at the same pace as a public school, however, this is not necessary. Homeschooling allows you to move at your child's own pace. Let them go as slow or fast as they need. You will find they will end up being just where they need to be when they graduate. 

Everyone develops differently and not every child is ready to learn skills at what schools consider the "perfect" age. (Math is one subject that everyone learns at their own pace. Check out my thoughts on teaching math here.)

Remember, as a Third Option Homeschooler, your only curriculum requirement is to teach reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, and, in grades 7-12, literature and composition. There are no specific topics or levels required within those subjects. You have flexibility in what you choose to teach and when you choose to teach it. 

5. Are you overwhelmed or worn out?

Don't forget to allow time for you. Take breaks and spend time just being a family without turning everything into school. Take a day off and just be. You need to take care of yourself, or you won't have anything to give to those around you.

Take time for professional development. Pick up a homeschool magazine or book and grab a cup of tea. Visit some homeschool sites or listen to a podcast to get tips and tricks.  Make a date with your favorite friend to talk homeschool and kids. 

Book recommendations:

Joy in the Journey by Lori Hatcher

Real Homeschool: Letting go of  the Pinterest-Perfect and Instagram-Ideal Homeschool by Karen DeBeus

Hope for the Heart of the Homeschool Mom by Jammerril Stewart

Encouragement for Homeschool Moms by Martha Washburn (email marcia@marciawashburn.com for a free copy)

Read the current Old Schoolhouse Magazine here.

Podcast recommendations:

The best homeschool podcasts for homeschool moms


Homeschooling isn't easy, but you can do it! If you need any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your homeschool association. That is what we are here for!

Happy Homeschooling!

Education Holes

Help! If I homeschool, won't my children have holes in their education?

Actually, yes, they will! But they will also have holes in their education no matter what path you choose. Public, private, charter, and homeschools will all leave children with holes in their education because there is no way they can learn everything they need to know for their futures. 

When my daughters were babies, my husband and I taught them how to use baby signs. They knew many signs and could communicate with us beautifully. However, as they learned to talk, we stopped signing with them and began using only words. Today, if you asked them to sign something, they would not be able to recall very many of the signs they once knew. 

Was our time wasted teaching them to sign? No. It was a useful skill at the time. However, as they have gotten older, there are more useful things to know, and they have replaced their signing knowledge with new knowledge.

The same goes for many of the concepts we learn in school. Think back to your school days. You learned many facts that were deemed important at the time, were tested, and then the teacher moved on to other concepts to learn. Do you remember everything you learned in school? I sure don't!

As homeschoolers, we have the awesome opportunity to educate our children in a unique way. We are not bound to the same state standards and curriculums that a school is required to follow. We can forge our own paths and choose what topics we want our children to learn, and we can tailor our children's education to their interests. Rather than focusing on checking off boxes, we can focus on giving our children the gift of learning.

Paul T Corrigan says in his article Preparing Students for What We Can't Prepare Them For,

"Perhaps we need to update the old teaching adage:
Give a person a fish, and they will eat for a day. Teach a person to fish, and they will eat for a lifetime. 

We should add:
Teach a person to fish, and they will eat for a lifetime. Teach a person to learn, and they will be able to do just about whatever they need to do in a lifetime."

Our goal in education should be to prepare our children for their futures, and the future will not look the same as it does today. Our world is changing fast, and the jobs available and the skills an employee needs to have may not be the same as today's when our children grow up. 

What if, instead of focusing so much on the concepts kids are learning, we start focusing on the skills they need to learn how to learn and foster a love of learning? Then, the "holes" in their education will not be quite so big, and they will be better prepared for their futures. 

Guide to Homeschooling High School

Homeschooling high school can seem like a daunting task for many families, but with a little planning, you can have a very successful experience.

When planning courses for high school, choose courses that are interesting to your student and have some fun creating meaningful courses for your high schooler. High school is also a wonderful time to set up shadowing opportunities for your child and find ways they can volunteer and make a difference in their communities. I highly recommend including your student in the high school planning process.

Record keeping in high school is essential. Do not put off keeping up with your course descriptions, grades, and transcripts because you will not remember everything your student did in 9th grade when his/her senior year rolls around. Plus, you are required by law to keep records of your student's learning.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact TSCHAA. You can do this!

What To Teach

In SC, Third-Option Homeschoolers are required to teach literature and composition, math, science, and social studies for 180 days each year. As the homeschool teacher, once your student has met the minimum requirements of the Third Option Law , you are able to graduate him/her. However, TSCHAA strongly recommends, at a minimum, following the SC diploma requirements for graduation.

It is very important to have a vision and a plan for your homeschool to ensure you are planning your courses accordingly. If your student is college bound, you need to make sure you are including the specific courses colleges require for entry. A two-year college and a 4-year college will have different course requirements.

Guide To Choosing High School Courses

TSCHAA offers a free high school planning sheet on the Applications/Forms page of the TSCHAA website. You can also access it here.

What Makes a Class

There are different ways you can count a high school course. Some families choose to count courses by the number of hours spent on the subject rather than the number of days. Others determine a course's completion when the curriculum is completed. HSLDA has a helpful article about determining how to count a high school course: https://www.hslda.org/highschool/docs/EvaluatingCredits.asp

Course Descriptions

It is recommended to make a course description for each high school course. If you purchase a curriculum, you can just make a copy of the publisher's description, syllabus, or table of contents. If you create your own course, make sure you are keeping up with an outline of topics covered and books used.

Transcripts

As a Third -Option homeschooler, you have been given the power to create and maintain your student's records. This includes transcripts. However, some colleges insist that your transcript comes from your association. Always check with a college before sending in a parent-made transcript so you do not miss important deadlines.

A transcript should include numerical grades, course level (college prep, honors, dual credit, AP), credit (.5 or 1.0) and course name. You should have your student's name, address, date of birth, and graduation date. In SC, you should calculate your student's grade point average using the SC Uniform Grading Policy (SC UGP). (More on this below.)

You can find many transcript templates free online. Let's Homeschool High School has many free templates available.

For members who need assistance with transcripts, TSCHAA offers a transcript service for $20. You can order one on the Application/Forms page of the website.

*Students must have a graduation date on or before June 15th to qualify for SC scholarships. *

New 10 Point Scale

SC adopted a new 10 point grading scale for the 2016-2017 school year. In order to qualify for SC scholarships, you must use this scale on your transcripts. Any classes taken prior to August 2016, must still use the previous 7 point grading scale.This is a requirement set forth by the SC Department of Education.

New 10 point scale:

A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F=59 - below

Old Scale - use on all courses taken prior to August 2016:

A=93-100 B=85-92 C=77-84 D=70-76 F=69- below

Types of Courses (Honors, AP, Dual Credit, and College Prep)

1. College Prep courses are high school level courses that prepare students for college. Most courses in high school are considered college prep.

2. Honors classes go above and beyond a college prep class. Adding more work does not make a class honors level. The work required should be at a higher level than a college prep course. SC implemented a new guide for determining honors level. TSCHAA will no longer validate honors level courses on our transcripts. You can learn more about the honors requirements here.

3. AP courses must be approved by the college board. A homeschool educator who wants to label the course as AP must create an account with the college board and submit your course materials for approval. To get AP credit on your transcript, you must have a copy of the approval from the College Board.

http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/

Homeschoolers can take the AP test even if they have not taken an AP course. You can find more information about taking the test here: https://professionals.collegeboard.org/testing/ap/scores/prepare/homeschool

4. Dual Credit courses are taught at a college. A student takes a course at a college and the score earned in the course will also count on their high school transcript.

GPA using the SC UGP

(Please keep in mind if calculating GPA is confusing or more than you want to do, don't worry. TSCHAA has you covered. Our transcript service takes care of all of it for you!)

When calculating your student's GPA (Grade Point Average), you should use the SC UGP (SC Uniform Grading Policy) for scholarships and SC colleges. South Carolina has the uniform grading policy in place so that all students can be compared more accurately. *Students must have a graduation date on or before June 15th to qualify for SC scholarships. *

1. To calculate the SC UGP, you will first need to classify each high school course as either college prep, honors, AP, or dual-credit. Most high school classes are considered college prep. Honors, AP, and Dual Credit courses receive more weight on the SC UGP.

2. After classifying each course, you will need to assign each numerical grade earned a quality point as determined by the SC UGP. Classes taken prior to August 2016 must use the 7 point grading scale. Classes taken after August 2016 must use the 10 point grading scale. Use the charts below to determine quality points.

10 point scale conversion chart

7 point scale conversion chart

3. Next, multiply each quality point by the credit value (1 for a year class and .5 for a semester class) and add them up. Take that total and divide it by the total number of courses attempted. Do not round!

Follow this step by step example of how to calculate SC UGP (see page 5):

Calculating SC UGP Example

***make sure you substitute the new conversion chart linked above for courses completed after August 2016.***

TSCHAA Diploma

TSCHAA offers two diploma options for members. TSCHAA will create a diploma for your student as long as you have met all the requirements of a third option homeschooler.

You can order a diploma in a navy blue padded cover from Gowns4Good for $35. Gowns4Good donates dollar for dollar the amount spent on their graduation supplies to build wells in impoverished communities. TSCHAA has partnered with them for ordering our padded diploma covers.

You can also order a diploma that comes in a navy blue card stock folder for $15.

Both diplomas can have your homeschool name printed on them. Diplomas can be ordered on the Application/Forms page. As a 3rd Option homeschooler, you can also create your own diploma.

SAT and ACT

Colleges use the SAT and ACT to determine college readiness. These tests are also used as an option to qualify for SC scholarships. Visit the College Board to learn more about the SAT and ACT.org to learn more about the ACT.

You will be required to put in a school code and have proper id. For the SAT click here. For the ACT click here.

CLEP Testing

One way to earn early college credits is through CLEP testing. CLEP tests are designed by the College Board and allow a student to test out of a college level course. Your student will earn credits but not grades toward their college degree. Some colleges have a limit on the number of CLEP tests that they will allow. You can find more information on CLEP tests at the link below.

https://clep.collegeboard.org/exam

Scholarships and Ranking

South Carolina offers some amazing scholarships. In order to qualify for a SC scholarship for the following year of college, you must end your school year by June 15th. If your school year runs past June 15th, you will not be eligible for that year's scholarships.

The most popular scholarships are the Life, Hope, and Palmetto Fellows. You can only qualify for one of them. Colleges will let you know if you qualify for the Life or Hope, and TSCHAA is responsible for applying for the Palmetto Fellows on your behalf.

Since TSCHAA leaves record keeping up to the parents, it is your responsibility to contact TSCHAA if you think your child qualifies for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. Reminders will be sent out as deadlines approach.

So, why doesn't TSCHAA rank? If TSCHAA ranked, every student taking high school level courses would be required to turn in grades by June 1st of each year. Each high school student would also be required to purchase the transcript service because every SC UGP has to be verified by the director. Not every family is interested in ranking, and TSCHAA wants to allow families to homeschool without adding requirements that go beyond the Third Option Law. If ranking is important to you, there are many wonderful associations that offer ranking. You can find a list with short descriptions of each association here.

Equal Access Interscholastic Activities Bill

The Equal Access Interscholastic Activities Bill allows homeschoolers to participate in extra curricular activities at their local public school. This includes athletics, music, speech, and other activities.

You must contact the school before the season begins. A homeschool student must meet the same requirements that a public school student is required to meet. Your student must have been homeschooled in the school's district for 1 academic year to qualify. Every school handles this a little differently. They will probably want a report card (and may insist that it comes from your association) and proof homeschooling. TSCHAA offers a report cards service for $8 and a free compliance letter on the Applications/Forms page of the website.

Earning High School Credits in Middle School

Your child can begin earning high school credits in middle school for core courses. In order to earn high school credit, your middle schooler must be doing high school level work. If you put your child in public school, the school may not accept your courses as high school level. It is at the school's discretion when determining the level of your child.

Helpful Websites

The South Carolina Homeschooling Connection

Let's Homeschool High School

HSLDA High School Resources

Donna Young Homeschooling High School

The HomeScholar - she offers a paid service, however, many of her resources are free

TSCHAA's Pinterest Page - College Bound Board and High School Board