Third Option Accountability Associations

Have you picked your homeschool accountability association for next year? Are you wondering what makes each association different? Or which one is the best fit for your family? Many associations are offering discounts for membership this spring, so choosing now may save you money.

If you choose to homeschool under the Third Option homeschool law, you are required to join an accountability association in order to legally homeschool in South Carolina. South Carolina has about 40 associations to choose from to help you legally homeschool. Each one is a little different, but they all provide a legal homeschooling option.

South Carolina is blessed to have so many associations to choose from. The directors work hard to help families navigate the homeschool adventure. Because each family is unique, one association may work better for them than another. Some families prefer more freedom than others, and each association has different requirements for their members.

The South Carolina Homeschooling Connection has compiled a list of Third Option homeschool associations. You will find the price and what each association offers at a quick glance. This resource can help you determine which association is best for your family.

The South Carolina Homeschooling Connection Association List

TSCHAA (The South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association, LLC) will start accepting renewals for the 2018-2019 school year on March 1st. Current members can get a discounted rate of $15 for the 2018-2019 school year until the end of May. New members can begin applying on May 1st and will receive the discounted rate for the month of May. Beginning June 1st, the membership fee will return to $20. 

So, what does membership with TSCHAA include? As a TSCHAA member you will get:

• Emailed acceptance letter and member cards for each person in your family
• Low member fee that covers your entire family 
• Record keeping is left up to the parents as stated in the law
• The freedom to choose the start and end dates of your school year
• The freedom to choose your own curriculum
• Discounted membership with HSLDA and SCHEA
• Member only field trip opportunities
• Online application and End of Year form for easy processing
• Phone, text, and email support 
• Monthly newsletters with encouragement, tips, reminders, and homeschool opportunities
• Access to two online members only support groups
• Compliance letters for proof of homeschooling
• Online member handbook
• Free record keeping sheets and high school graduation planning guide
• The freedom to homeschool as you see fit
• Transcripts, report cards, and diploma services for an additional fee

It is important to note, that TSCHAA does not offer ranking or honors validation. Ranking is beneficial for some scholarships, but it is not the only way to qualify for scholarships. TSCHAA will apply for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship on your behalf using the alternate criteria. To learn more about scholarships click here. TSCHAA does not validate honors courses taught by homeschool families. If your student will be taking honors courses through a non-accredited course, please choose another association.

If you have any questions about joining TSCHAA or homeschooling, please feel free to call 864-939-8341, email admin@tschaa.com, or visit TSCHAA's website for more information. 

Whichever association you choose, I hope you take advantage of the resources and expertise that it offers. Homeschooling does not have to be navigated on your own, and Third Option homeschool associations are equipped to help you navigate each stage of your homeschool journey.

Planning Homeschool Courses for High School

Are you struggling to figure out what courses your high schooler needs to graduate? If you have a high school student or a student about to enter high school, planning for graduation is crucial. You need to think beyond the homeschool law, and make sure you are choosing courses that will prepare your student for whatever path she chooses.

The Third Option homeschool law only requires the basic instructional areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature. ( Learn more about the law here.)  Technically, you can graduate your high schooler having only covered those general subjects, but that does not mean that you are meeting the requirements for college admissions.

A tech school and a 4-year college are going to have different criteria for admissions. Here is a handy chart to help you see the differences in requirements for colleges:

College Requirements 

As the homeschool teacher, you have the right to choose the courses and path that your children pursue. However, TSCHAA recommends following, at a minimum, the SC requirements for a high school diploma since some students who say they do not want to go to college end up changing their mind about their plans after high school. These courses will help prepare your child for the military, tech school, and some colleges.

SC Diploma Requirements:

English (4 credits)

Math (4 credits)

Science (3 units)

US History and Constitution (1 unit)

Economics (.5 unit)

US Government (.5 unit)

Social Studies - other (1 unit)

PE/ Jr ROTC (1 unit)

Computer Science (including keyboarding) (1 unit)

Foreign Language or Career & Tech Ed (1 unit)

Elective (7 units)

SC Diploma Requirements

If your student is 4-year college-bound, you will want to include higher levels of math, lab sciences, 2 foreign languages, and specific history and literature courses. The Commission on Higher Education has the college-bound prerequisite requirements at the following link:

College-bound prerequisite requirements

To help you plan your child's high school path, TSCHAA offers a free printable high school planning sheet.

You may also find the following links useful:

The Common Application


College Navigator


SC Scholarships and Grants


Pre-recorded Homeschool Transcript Video with Lee Binz


Whatever path your student chooses, please plan carefully, so you can prepare him for his future. High school can sound intimidating, but I know you can successfully graduate your child with a little planning. If you have any questions about homeschooling in high school, please feel free to contact me at admin@tschaa.com.


TSCHAA offers a transcript service for members for $20 and diplomas for $15 (cardstock cover) or $30 for a padded diploma cover from Gowns4Good. Each can be ordered on the Application/Forms page of the TSCHAA website.