Excellence in Serving South Carolina Home Educators Since 1996
Excellence in Serving South Carolina Home Educators Since 1996
PHA parent-teachers are free to choose whatever materials they determine are best for their student’s interests and learning styles. This freedom is what attracts many families to Option 3 homeschool associations like PHA, rather than Option 1 or 2, where your curricula choices are much more regulated. With PHA, you are free to use a formal, complete curriculum package like Bob Jones or Abeka, or use an eclectic approach which includes texts from different publishers. You may use prepared unit studies, create your own unit studies, use an objectives checklist, use library books, or enroll in a correspondence school with or without full record-keeping services. The possibilities are limitless. PHA respects your freedom to use the materials that meet your student’s individual needs. Our resource list will assist you in this sometimes daunting, but rewarding task.
Option #3 state law 59-65-47 states that your curricula must include, but is not limited to, five subjects: reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature.
High school students may wish to follow a course of study schedule which is common in many public schools: block scheduling. With block scheduling, not every subject is covered every semester. For example, a full credit/year of Algebra I may be covered in the fall semester. Then, in the spring semester, math is not covered, because it has already been completed for that academic year. South Carolina’s colleges and universities require certain college preparatory courses. These required courses are listed at the following website: www.che400.state.sc/. Click on academic affairs and licensing. These minimum requirements are subject to change from year to year.
The following chart is provided for those who wish to pattern their high school course of study after the public school. This is not required by PHA unless you will be requesting a diploma through PHA.
| S.C. State High School Requirements
Beginning with 1997-98 9th Graders |
|
|---|---|
| English/Language Arts | 4 units |
| Mathematics | 4 units |
| Lab Sciences (ie. Biology, Chemistry, Physics) | 3 units |
| U.S. History and Constitution | 1 unit |
| Economics (1/2 unit) U.S. Government (1/2 unit) |
1 unit |
| Other Social Studies | 1 unit |
| Physical Education or Junior ROTC | 1 unit |
| Computer Science (to include keyboarding) | 1 unit |
| *Foreign Language or Career and Technology Education | 1 unit |
| Electives | 7 units |
| Health/Human Wellness/Sex Ed. must be covered in Biology or other Elective for approx. 60 hrs. | |
| Total number of units required for receiving a S.C. state high school diploma: | 24 units |
*Students in College Prep program must earn one unit in a foreign language however many four-year colleges/universities require at least two years of the same foreign language); Students in a Tech Prep program must earn one unit in Career and Technology Education.
Palmetto Homeschool Association desires that our students’ grades and transcripts be as credible and valid as possible. We have consulted with high school guidance counselors and college admissions personnel to develop the following position regarding grades for high school courses. Because a transcript with 100s in more than one or two core subjects per year raises “red-flags” and discredits the transcript, we suggest that parents adhere to the following guidelines.
If using a curriculum with published tests, quizzes and assignments, parents should use those and average the graded work. If a student receives a 100, it should be because they made no errors and did all of the work perfectly. If using a curriculum which has another means of assessment, please use the scale A= 96, B=88, C= 80, D= 73; these are the conversions set by the Uniform Grading Scale. If in the evaluation of the student’s performance, you think that that the level of work is different from those standards, then award accordingly. For example, if you think they did less than a 96 but more than an 88 you would need to choose the number grade you feel is deserved. Again, 100 means perfect. Please do not designate 100 unless the work was perfect and goes above and beyond just “A” work. High achieving students may have areas of strength in which they do earn a 100 in a course, but 100s across several subjects is not thought to be credible. When a college admissions person sees many 100s in core subjects, he or she questions the validity of the grades or wonders if the student’s curriculum was challenging enough.
Your local public school cannot deny your child’s entrance. The thoroughness of your record keeping during your homeschooling years will help school officials determine the best grade placement for your child as well as whether the student will receive credit for homeschool courses. Some schools may require your child to take a placement test. Standardized test scores also assist the process of public or private school enrollment.
In public high schools, Carnegie Units are required for promotion and graduation. PHA uses Carnegie Unit guidelines when generating transcripts and diplomas. Be aware that no high school is required to accept credits from another school, whether it is private, public or homeschool. Some schools may require students to take an exam on each course considered for credit upon entry to high school. Check with your local school to see what they require and will accept.
Regardless of the level of entrance, be prepared to answer questions about your homeschooling methods, materials, and course of study and to provide documentation. As PHA members, parents are ultimately responsible for all aspects of their homeschool. This includes keeping abreast of current public school graduation requirements as well as providing the academic records requested for grade placement in your local school. If entry into public high school is a future possibility, begin your preparation well in advance of entry by visiting the school and talking with the guidance counselor. PHA offers an optional transcript program for grades 9-12. This program should be strongly considered by families whom may wish to transfer their student(s) into public or private school in the future.
PHA offers a well respected and well established diploma program. The fee is $25 during the student’s senior year. Homeschooling through grade 12 is a legal option for educating your child in South Carolina, the PHA diploma is recognized as documentation and representation of the academic completion of a student’s high school curricula. Since its inception in 1996, PHA has never had a diploma rejected by a college, university or military branch or academy. No accrediting agency exists for homeschools, therefore the PHA diploma is not accredited. However, the PHA diploma meets the state requirements for graduation in SC and therefore satisfies the graduation requirements for consideration for South Carolina state college scholarships.
Yes. You are free to create your own diploma. However, if you need or desire something other than the PHA diploma or teacher made diploma, there are several additional options. One option is the GED program. This certificate qualifies the student for federal and state financial aid programs. However, this may not be the best choice for your homeschooled student because it will not reflect the quality of education your student has received. (GED stands for “general educational development”, not “graduation equivalency diploma,” as many people assume. It is designed to be passed with only a tenth-grade education.)
Another option for homeschoolers seeking a high school diploma, is to enroll in an accredited correspondence school or satellite program. Enrolling your student in a correspondence or satellite school does not negate the need to be registered with an accountability association, such as PHA, in the state of South Carolina. Be aware that these national schools may not be aware of South Carolina homeschooling law that requires membership with an accountability association. You also need to be sure that a diploma from a correspondence school will qualify your student for federal and/or state financial aid or scholarships.
As with all aspects of homeschooling, it is important to start early researching diploma requirements for the career path your student has chosen and exploring all options available. If you choose to issue your own diploma there are numerous resources available for obtaining a nice certificate. Click here for resource information.
PHA offers an optional, full service transcript program. Not all associations do. Click here for transcript program information. However, there are many excellent resources available to guide you in creating your own transcripts. The membership handbook that you will receive from PHA each year and be able to access online also includes a sample transcript.
Your transcript should be neatly typed. Handwritten transcripts are not accepted in any SC colleges or universities. A high school transcript should include the following basic information: homeschool name, address, and telephone number; student name and birth date; completed courses with corresponding grades and credits earned; total credits, cumulative G.P.A. and grade point equivalents (if letter grades are given as final grade). If you are a current PHS member, document that your homeschool is registered under your family name as a member of Palmetto Homeschool Association, Inc. Your transcript must be signed and dated by the parent-teacher.
Most transfers to public or private school are easily and successfully completed by the parent-teacher’s transcript and/or most recent progress report. Sometimes submission of the student portfolio for certain courses will be required. Occasionally a school will request that the parent/teacher-generated transcript be verified by the umbrella association. Unless the student has joined the PHA transcript program we can not verify the parent generated transcript, but we will provide a letter verifying your membership in good standing as a registered legal homeschool during the period of your approved enrollment with PHA. In order to certify transcript grades for college scholarship eligibility or class ranking, PHA requires that the student be enrolled in our optional transcript program.
For college, scholarship, and other post-high school needs, PHA offers an optional full transcript program. This program is open to all high school students. PHA will keep track of student grades in our database and generate a transcript with student GPA calculated according to South Carolina’s Uniform Grading Scale. PHA will also provide a class ranking, if desired. A PHA transcripts are embossed with the official transcript seal of Palmetto Homeschool Association. The cost of this service is $35/year for freshman and sophomore transcripts and $50/year for junior and senior transcripts. This fee includes sending official transcripts to 5 colleges, scholarship programs or other institutions. Additional transcripts can be sent at $5/transcript.
Statue 59-65-47 does not require standardized testing, so neither does PHA. This is a freedom you won’t find with Option 1 or Option 2 homeschooling. The 3rd Option law does require individualized documentation of the student’s academic progress in each of the basic instructional areas; therefore, some type of assessment is required. This could be a curriculum-based test, checklists of objectives, teacher-made tests, an inventory of basic skills, a standardized test, or other creative means of assessment. You will indicate which of these methods of assessments you used with your student(s) on the Mid Year Checklist and Parent-Teacher Completion Statement. Standardized testing is available for homeschooled students. Click here for testing resources.
Homeschooled high school students can take the ACT, SAT and PSAT at their local high school by registering through the College Board website at www.Collegeboard.com. College-bound students should take the PSAT in tenth grade as a practice round. The eleventh grade PSAT score is used to qualify for the National Merit selection. Your student should also take the SAT and/or ACT no later than second semester of his/her junior year, in order to have scores available for scholarship applications. These tests can be taken again in the summer even later, during the senior year if your student desires to try for a better score. There is no penalty for taking these tests several times. Each improved score is accepted.
The key to success is practice. Click here for Standardized Test Prepration Resources
Yes! Yes! Yes! Contact your local technical college or 2 year college, they LOVE homeschoolers that are juniors or seniors. College level courses taken for credit (and passed) will be considered dual credit, which will benefit your student’s GPA because the classes carry a greater weight based on the SC Uniform Grading Scale. Also, the student can receive college credit through a rapidly growing segment of education called distance learning. Through advanced placement equivalency exams, students are allowed to opt out of freshman-level courses. Through CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) tests and PEP (Proficiency Examination Program tests, a student has the opportunity to do an independent study, then take an equivalency exam that is representative of the knowledge typically acquired in that college-level course. Each institution sets its own standard for what constitutes a passing grade. Click here for resources on college credit in high school.
Yes! Homeschoolers are eligible for the same state scholarships that public or private school students qualify for. Click here for details on the Palmetto Fellows Scholoarship, LIFE Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship and others.