🔑 What’s Changing
- Scholarship Use: Families can use scholarship money for tuition and certain approved classes at eligible schools.
- No “Anything Goes” Expenses: The old rule that allowed “other expenses approved by the Department” is gone. Funds must go to clearly listed education costs.
- Attendance Rules: Parents can no longer just sign a paper to meet compulsory attendance law. Children must be enrolled in a recognized school program.
- Homeschool Restrictions: Families cannot use scholarship funds if their child is in a home‑based personalized learning program, unless that program is specifically approved by the State Board of Education.
- Eligible Schools: Only South Carolina public or nonprofit independent schools that join the program qualify. Charter schools and schools tied financially to legislators are excluded.
🏠 Plain Language for Homeschool Families
- Scholarship funds won’t cover home‑based programs. If your child is taught at home under South Carolina’s homeschool law, you cannot use the Education Scholarship Trust Fund to pay for that.
- Only state‑approved programs count. The only exception is if the State Board of Education officially approves a personalized learning program.
- Attendance law is stricter. You can’t just sign a form to meet attendance requirements. Your child must be enrolled in a recognized school or program.
- Bottom line: Homeschool families remain free to teach at home, but they won’t be able to tap into these scholarship funds unless they join a Board‑approved program.
✨ Why This Matters
- Families who homeschool keep their independence, but lose access to scholarship dollars.
- The bill is designed to tighten oversight and ensure funds go to structured, school‑based learning.
- Homeschoolers who want scholarship support would need to shift into an approved program rather than a traditional home‑based setup.
🙏 Encouragement for Families
Even if scholarship funds aren’t available for home‑based learning, families can continue to nurture children with faith, wisdom, and creativity. Homeschooling remains a powerful way to guide children’s hearts and minds. This bill simply clarifies where state dollars can be used. Your dedication to teaching at home is still valued and protected.
