LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
ACROSS THE STATES

SOUTH CAROLINA

Legislation affecting home educators

If House Bill 3156 is enacted in South Carolina, the compulsory attendance age will be increased from 17 to 18 years of age. This means that home educators will be required to comply with the homeschooling law for an additional year unless a child graduates from high school prior to reaching age 18. Introduced by Representative G. Ralph Davenport, Jr. (R-37), this bill represents an unnecessary expansion of state oversight of education opposed by freedom-loving homeschoolers.

However, Representative Davenport has introduced another bill that is favorable to the interests of home educators. House Bill 3102 would codify the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act, confirming that the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children is a fundamental right. With respect to education, this legislation acknowledges that parents also have a responsibility to see that their children are educated to the extent of literacy and self-sufficiency. The state would not be able to interfere with the rights of parents unless it was able to demonstrate that such interference was essential to accomplish a "compelling governmental interest" and was the "least restrictive means" of accomplishing the compelling interest. Home School Legal Defense Association strongly supports this legislation and encourages all South Carolina homeschoolers to do so as well.

Please contact your state senator and representative and express your opposition to House Bill 3156, which would raise the compulsory attendance age, and your support of House Bill 3102, which would enact the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act. To get the name and telephone number of your state senator and representative, use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at www.hslda.org/toolbox.