Educating your child at home comes with many benefits: a unique, high-quality education customized to meet your child’s interests and needs, the comfort of studying in a safe environment, and so much more. For many parents, homeschooling has its challenges too⸺especially if you’re not formally trained as a teacher.
If you’re homeschooling in South Carolina, the good news is that you’re not alone, and there are many resources to help you and your child be successful. Homeschooling programs are intended to support you and your child with their K-12 education, often including curriculum, academic guidance, and other support. Choosing the right homeschool program is key to helping you and your child be successful, but it can be difficult to sort through the claims and determine the right solution for your family. We’ve broken down the details to help you choose the best homeschooling program in South Carolina.
Accreditation
The quality and academic integrity of traditional private and public schools is a big concern for many homeschooling parents. In fact, it’s one of the top reasons so many South Carolina families are moving toward an at-home education.
Academic standards are a key differentiator between homeschool programs too. Whether you step in as your child’s teacher or you utilize online schools in South Carolina, look for an accredited program.
Accreditation through Cognia and other agencies ensures that the quality of the education will be recognized by others throughout your child’s academic journey and career. Prospective employers, colleges, universities, and trade programs all consider not just your child’s education, but the value of it as well. More importantly, it indicates that the program has met the rigorous standards of the accreditation process, helping to ensure that they can provide your child with a high-quality education.
Proven Results
Homeschooling has grown significantly in South Carolina over the last few years. More and more parents, confronted with their child’s education during the COVID-19 pandemic or increasingly concerned about school safety, are bringing their kids home—for good.
With this boom in South Carolina homeschooling as a practice, there has also been a sharp increase in homeschooling as an industry. Many entrepreneurs have started or expanded businesses to serve the growing community. However, few have the history and reputation to support their alleged expertise.
As you consider your homeschooling options, be sure to look into the history of potential service providers. Understand how long they have been in business, where their expertise comes from, and what kind of results you can expect. Look for programs that started long before the COVID-19 pandemic—especially those offering decades of proven expertise and support for families—and talk to families who have used them too.
One-to-One Academic Advisors
One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling is the ability to customize your child’s curriculum to support their interests and unique needs. From the subjects they study to the way they study them, you can craft an entirely unique academic experience. So why would you rely on a non-unique academic advisor experience?
Many homeschool programs offer academic advising and support. More often than not, that support takes the form of a call center. When you call in for help, you could speak to any one of the advisors on staff. They don’t know your child, their unique gifts and struggles, and their goals for the future.
The best homeschooling programs in South Carolina get to know you and your child with one-to-one support from a knowledgeable academic advisor. With one-to-one academic advising, your child is matched with an individual who gets to know them, their goals, and their aspirations, and helps them along that journey too.
Homeschool Communities and Groups
Once upon a time, homeschooling and social isolation went hand-in-hand—at least, according to those who weren’t a part of it. In reality, homeschooling your child doesn’t have to mean isolating them—or you. Even before the internet, many homeschool programs found ways to connect families, and technology has made that connection even easier. The best homeschooling programs offer a wealth of opportunities to engage with others in the homeschooling community, whether through academics, athletics, or common interests.
Look for a program that offers a wide range of homeschool communities and groups to let your child connect with other students, both nearby and around the world. In-person activities, virtual meet-ups and field trips, and even live graduation ceremonies are all part of the modern homeschooling experience with a great homeschool program.
Many homeschooling programs also offer parental support. Parent groups allow you a safe space to connect with other homeschooling families to share resources, get input on your struggles and challenges, and enjoy the camaraderie of a like-minded community.
Customized Approach to Learning
Traditional schooling uses a one-size-fits-all approach to education—that rarely actually fits. Every child learns differently, from the way they absorb new knowledge to how they approach studying. For students with a learning disability, understanding these differences becomes even more important to their success. Homeschooling presents a great opportunity to shape your child’s educational experience to better match their unique learning style, and the best homeschooling programs can help.
A great homeschooling program takes the time to learn about your child’s learning style in order to recommend a learning approach and curriculum that suits their unique needs. Doing this effectively requires experience and specialized knowledge about how children learn, so look for a program created and staffed by educational experts with years of their own education and hands-on experience in the field.
Funded by the South Carolina ESTF Program
The Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program helps pay for homeschool in South Carolina by offering a $6,000 scholarship to help children customize their education. The funds can be used for tuition, tutoring assistance, disability services, and, of course, homeschooling curriculum and programs.
These funds are a valuable resource for homeschooling families like yours, but there are strict regulations on how they can be spent. The Department of Education maintains a list of approved Education Service Providers where the funds can be used, which includes several homeschool programs.
Education Service Providers, such as Bridgeway Academy, have gone through the state’s application process and are deemed worthy of state funding. If your child has an ESTF scholarship, this list is essential, helping to ensure that your educational expenses will be covered. Even if you aren’t using ESTF dollars for your child’s homeschool education, the list is a great resource, telling you what programs have met the state’s strict standards for inclusion.
All of Bridgeway’s products and services are approved for South Carolina state funding.
Learn more about Bridgeway Academy’s all-inclusive homeschool programs that are fully funded by the South Carolina ESTF program.
Choosing the Best Homeschool Programs in South Carolina
Still searching for the best homeschool program in South Carolina? With more than 35 years of support for homeschool families like yours, one-on-one academic advising, a 96% success rate in matching students to the right curriculum and learning plan, and robust virtual and in-person communities (including Parent Connections), Bridgeway Academy’s accredited homeschool programs meet all the criteria to help you provide a high-quality education that meets the unique needs of your child and family.
Bridgeway Academy’s comprehensive homeschool programs allow you to select the products and services you need for a customized education package. With everything from community groups to online classes and teacher support, we tailor our offerings to meet your child’s needs based on their learning style, personality, educational level, and future goals.
Learn more about South Carolina’s homeschooling laws and requirements, and connect with our Bridgeway Academy team to learn how we can help.
To connect with our South Carolina homeschooling experts, call us toll-free at (800) 863-1474, request to schedule a meeting by filling out a contact form, join our next virtual open house, or use our live chat feature!
