SC homeschoolers have some very unique and helpful homeschooling accountability associations. Luckily for SC homeschoolers, there is a choice. What is right for you, is not right for everyone. If you are at the point of considering to start and run a SC homeschool accountability association under 59-65-47, you will most likely fall into one of these three categories:

1) your support group is desiring to go beyond the normal extent of support offered to support groups members, or
2) you have a unique service you wish to offer homeschoolers, or
3) you have decided to fill a need by offering services to a particular group of homeschoolers.

Everyone starting an association needs to realize that sacrifices of your personal time, time from you family, and other sacrifices will be made by the leaders of the group. The CEO, director, president or main leader of the association will make enormous sacrifices, more than any other officers in your association. If you are unsure of what these sacrifices may mean, please call other 59-65-47 association leaders and ask them. Most folks would actually be surprised at the costs our leaders have made, and continue to make daily. Not only for their members, but for homeschoolers all across SC.

It is also very important to remember that you as a leader will need to present yourself professionally in all aspects of managing the association and while doing any and all association business. You will be looked at by others as an example, both those homeschooling and those not homeschooling. Therefore, you and all board members need to remind yourselves frequently that the eyes of the public and the homeschooling community are upon you.

Review the law below, focusing in on the green text.

Section 59-65-47

Effective June 20, 1996, under Title 59, Chapter 65 of the 1976 Code the following section was added:

Section 59-65-47. In lieu of the requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45, parents or guardians may teach their children at home if the instruction is conducted under the auspices of <1> an association for homeschools which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the requirements of this section. Bona fide membership and continuing compliance with the academic standard of the association <2> exempts the home school from the further requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45

<3> The State Department of Education shall conduct annually a review of the association standards to insure that <4> requirements of the association, at a minimum, include:

(a) A parent must hold at least a high school diploma or the equivalent general educational development (GED) certificate;

(b) the instructional year is at least one hundred eighty days;

(c) the curriculum includes, but is not limited to, the basic instructional areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature; and

<5> (d) educational records shall be maintained by the parent-teacher and include:

(1) a plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught and activities in which the student and parent-teacher engage;

(2) a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work; and

(3) a semi-annual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of the student's academic progress in each of the basic instructional areas specified in item (c) above.

<6> By January thirtieth of each year, all associations shall report the number and grade level of children home schooled through the association to the children's respective school districts.

<1> an association for homeschools which has no fewer than fifty members

The association must have 50 members. The law does not specify how you count those members. By having 50 members your association meets this requirement of 59-65-47.

Some examples of ways you might count your members are:
*One membership per family.
*One membership to students.
*One membership to students and parent(s)-teacher(s).
The law does not limit you to counting your members to those listed above, they are merely examples of how you might do it.

The State Department of Education recently tried to tell us that we must count families. They have in the past told a new at the time association that they must count students only. Neither of these are true, do you see it written in the law? No, it is not, it says, "fifty members". CHASE SC set precedent in 1996, when we counted each student and parent-teacher as a member. We went to the extra work to establish this precedent knowing that in the future, a support group with less than 50 families or just under 50 students would too be able to benefit from 59-65-47.

The State Department of Education can not dictate how you count your members, as the law does not specify it. However, let me give you a few thoughts to ponder on:

*Students and Teachers are counted in the public schools, or how could the statistical data of teacher to student ratio be compiled and provided to the public at large?

*How can a parent-teacher sign a contract to join an association, guarantee that the complete requirements of the law be met, and not be counted as a member?

*How many members do you have in your family? We have 8.

<2> exempts the home school from the further requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45

Home-school families that belong your 59-65-47 association, are not required to do State Standardized Testing or any of the other requirements from 59-65-40 or 59-65-45, they are required to maintain the standards of 59-65-47.

<3> The State Department of Education shall conduct annually a review of the association standards to insure that requirements of the association, at a minimum, include:

You are not required to notify the State Department of Education of your existence under 59-65-47. However, it would make sense that you would need to before the review form is sent out by them in January. If you have questions in regards to the information they are requesting and whether it's within the law or not, I suggest you calling HSLDA or contacting other association leaders.

If you would like to be included on their listing at http://www.myscschools.com/offices/sq/homesch.htm make sure that you request that they add you. Stop by and verify your information as there are several typos that lead folks to an error with the email and/or web site addresses that are provided.

Make sure that you highlight and specifically ask for the information that you want included (or do not want included) at their site. Some associations do not have their phone number, email address, and/or web sites listed. Although the information is public knowledge, we do not know if that is because they requested it not to be included, or if it was accidentally left off.

<4> requirements of the association, at a minimum, include:

Your association must require everything listed in (a), (b), (c), and all requirements of (d).

<5> (d) educational records shall be maintained by the parent-teacher

Your association must require the parent-teacher to maintain the educational records.

<6> By January thirtieth of each year, all associations shall report the number and grade level of children home schooled through the association to the children's respective districts.

Your association must report the number and grade level of children home schooled through the association to the children's respective districts. (I have a basic form that I can email any association that would like a copy.)

By meeting these requirements your association will complete the requirements of an association of homeschools under 59-65-47.

Review the law below, focusing in on the green text.

Section 59-65-47

Effective June 20, 1996, under Title 59, Chapter 65 of the 1976 Code the following section was added:

Section 59-65-47. In lieu of the requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45, parents or guardians may teach their children at home if the instruction is conducted under the auspices of an association for homeschools which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the requirements of this section. Bona fide membership and continuing compliance with the academic standard of the association exempts the home school from the further requirements of Section 59-65-40 or Section 59-65-45

The State Department of Education shall conduct annually a review of the association standards to insure that requirements of the association, at a minimum, include:

(a) A parent must <1> hold at least a high school diploma or the equivalent general educational development (GED) certificate;

(b) the <2> instructional year is at least one hundred eighty days;

(c) the curriculum includes, but is limited to, the basic instructional areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature; and

(d) educational records shall be maintained by the parent-teacher and include:

(1) a plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught and activities in which the student and parent-teacher engage;

(2) a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work; and

(3) a semi-annual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of the student's academic progress in each of the basic instructional areas specified in item (c) above.

By January thirtieth of each year, all associations shall report the number and grade level of children home schooled through the association to the children's respective school districts.

Three key points are:

1) If you homeschool under Section 59-65-47, neither Section 59-65-40 nor Section 59-65-45 apply to you.

2) Accountability for homeschoolers under 59-65-47 requires that associations must require the complete requirements of 59-65-47.

3) Parents are accountable for maintaining educational records under 59-65-47.

The association must require all members to complete the complete requirements listed for the parent in the law above.

Since 1996, parents may homeschool their children under the Code of Laws of South Carolina § 59-65-47 if they are members of and comply with the academic standards of an association for homeschools that has no fewer than 50 members.

Enactment of this statute created a third option for parents desiring to homeschool, the first being approval of their local school district and the second being membership in the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). The statutory language of the third option is patterned after the previously existing SCAIHS law but contains additional recordkeeping and evaluation requirements similar to what is required for parents who obtain approval of their local school districts. § 59-65-47 states that the parent-teacher's records must include the following:

>> a plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught and activities in which the student-teacher engage;

>> a portfolio of samples of the student's academic work; and

>> a semi-annual progress report including attendance records and individualized documentation of the student's academic progress in each of the basic instructional areas specified [in the law].

Associations for homeschools under § 59-65-47 are required by the statutory language not only to have the educational records enumerated above as "standards" of the association but also to have such records as "requirements" of the association. Associations not requiring parents to maintain the educational records would not qualify as a legal option for parents to teach their children at home. Additionally, a parent's failure to maintain such records is a violation of the law and may result in truancy charges against the parent. The statute does not require associations to review these records, nor does it require parents to submit them for review. However, associations are free to establish procedures to determine whether the parent-teacher's records are actually being maintained. § 59-65-47 presents another method by which the homeschooling community may police itself without restrictive state oversight. But maintaining such freedom depends on responsible adherence to the law's requirements.

For twenty years, Home School Legal Defense Association has had one simple focus: defending and protecting homeschooling families, regardless of the cost. This month, the Court Report focuses on the four men who serve as contact attorneys: Christopher (Chris) Klicka, Dewitt (Dee) Black, Scott Somerville, and Scott Woodruff. They have the responsibility of resolving legal difficulties for families in their respective states; and, in many instances, they also work alongside state leaders in the legislative arena. In an era when lawyers are the brunt of endless jokes and criticism, these men stand out as those with sterling character, unwavering convictions, and spiritual vision.

During the week of January 20-24, 2003, HSLDA President Mike Smith produced a series of programs for Home School Heartbeat entitled "Vocation: Instilling a Sense of God's Calling." At one point, Mike quotes Christian author Os Guiness as saying, "Thankfully," Christians know "the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is lived out as a response to His summons and in His service."

In His service. This phrase succinctly and powerfully describes the motivation behind these four men. These remarkably gifted attorneys have chosen to use their talents to serve Christ through serving parents who desire to teach their children at home. The results have been rather remarkable, considering the many Goliaths homeschooling parents have faced during the past two decades.

According to Chris, "We have never yet had a family whose homeschool had to be shut down or was shut down by the government. Never in the history of HSLDA. That's a record that is beyond simple lawyer skills; it is a testimony that God is protecting His people … against all odds."

THE PAST: THE PATH TO HSLDA
"When I was a student in law school," Christopher Klicka recalls, "God put a desire in my heart to defend Christian families, especially in the area of government's attempts to restrict religious freedom." This desire gave birth to a legal internship at the Rutherford Institute during the summer of 1984. While homeschooling was not even a blip on most people's radar screen, Chris completed a 300-page analysis of homeschooling laws in the 50 states.

Upon graduating from law school, Chris applied to a number of constitutional law firms, including Concerned Women for America, where Mike Farris, as then-General Counsel, was involved in many religious freedom battles. Mike, intrigued by Chris' knowledge of homeschooling laws, called Chris for an interview. In 1985 Chris, a newlywed with no children, became the first full-time attorney and employee of the Home School Legal Defense Association.

Chris reminisces about the early years:

In 1985, when I joined HSLDA, we had approximately 1500-2000 member families. My job was to protect those families when we had only about five states where it was clearly legal to homeschool. I remember getting up for work each day and wondering how this could be done because the odds were so greatly against us. Yet God had given me a real fire in my heart, and I saw amazing results as I participated in court cases and legislative efforts. We also began our practice of sending out alerts—in those days we used phone trees. We tried to work through local support groups; some of the state homeschooling organizations weren't even formed yet. And, little by little, God showed Himself strong on behalf of the homeschoolers.

I believe it's because homeschoolers weren't just homeschooling for homeschooling's sake, but for the glory and honor of God. If you honor Him, He'll honor you. I saw that in many of these David and Goliath situations—He gave the victory.

While practicing law on Hilton Head Island, SC, Dewitt Black and his wife Ricci attended a Gregg Harris Conference in Columbia in the spring of 1989. Mike Farris was a speaker at the conference. Dee gave Mike his business card, and told him if he needed any help in South Carolina to give him a call. The legal climate in South Carolina was becoming more and more hostile for homeschoolers: a number of cases were being filed against and on behalf of homeschooling families.

Mike Farris did call Dee and Dee began to serve as local counsel for HSLDA for some of the South Carolina cases. This continued until the fall of 1990, when Mike Smith and Mike Farris came to Columbia to try the Triple E1 case. During a conversation the first day of trial, Mike Smith and Mike Farris approached Dee about the possibility of working with HSLDA on a fulltime basis.

Dee recalls,

Ricci and I had been praying about leaving Hilton Head where we lived. We were interested in a more direct involvement in ministry, so we went to Virginia and interviewed with the two Mikes. Six weeks later we were living in Virginia. (This was the fall of 1990.) I felt like it was God's calling for me; both Ricci and I had a clear sense that this was God's will for us at that time.

Scott Somerville was a young homeschooling father with five children (in New Hampshire) who volunteered to help write the newsletter for his local support group. He soon found himself president of that group, and then was chosen as the president of Christian Educators of New Hampshire in 1988, an organization that was formed for the sole purpose of keeping the New Hampshire Department of Education from tripling the regulations on homeschoolers.

Scott spent seven months as a computer programmer and ordinary dad trying to stop a committee of 11 people from increasing the regulations on homeschoolers.

Scott recollects,

In the course of those seven months, I discovered what it is that lawyers actually do. And my wife said to me one day, 'You should be a lawyer.' That began a great adventure. I quit my job as a programmer for General Electric, moved my five children and my wife down to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and spent three years going through Harvard Law School. My sixth baby was born the day after my Tax exam, and I think I'm the only person who started Harvard Law School with five children and graduated with six.

When I got out of Harvard, I asked the attorneys at HSLDA for some recommendations for Christian lawyers around the country who might be interested in a person like me, and much to my amazement, was offered a job at HSLDA. I've been working there since 1992.

After receiving his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1980, Scott Woodruff practiced law in Missouri for 18 years, first with then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and subsequently with Shelter Mutual Insurance Company.

Scott remembers,

I came to HSLDA in September of 1998. I had been a member for a couple of years and loved it; I loved getting the Court Report and reading about what "those guys" were doing. I loved the fact that there was an organization at a national level that was protecting homeschooling as a concept. That really excited me. This is now my third job as a lawyer and I enjoy this job more than all the others put together. It is because I get to help the most incredibly wonderful people in the world.

THE PRESENT: CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES AT HSLDA
According to Scott (Somerville), HSLDA has two very busy seasons: "the fall when all the truant agents come out and the period from January to March or April when the legislatures are in session." Scott reiterates, "My favorite part of the job is not dealing with senators or judges, but it is helping individual homeschool families."

And, it seems, homeschooling families still need help. In spite of the fact that homeschooling is now legal in all 50 states, prejudices against homeschooling remain, and HSLDA resolves as many as 8,000 conflicts a year for their member families. When HSLDA members encounter problems with school officials or social workers, they should notify their state attorney immediately.

Dee offers this insight: "There are only a very small percentage of instances where we're not able to take care of the problem before it goes to court. In most cases when families are forced into court, they have not contacted us early enough to enable us to deal with the problem on their behalf. It's not just the parents' fault—often school officials do not allow us time to work out a resolution before they initiate court action."

Many of homeschooling's past battles resulted from the lack of state statutes and case law that specifically allowed for homeschooling. According to Chris,

Our battles now are against misapplications of the law, against authorities who are prejudiced, and against social workers who take anonymous tips. These anonymous tips are often from family members and people who don't like homeschoolers. They call a child-abuse hotline, often fabricating a story about a homeschooling family. Next thing you know a social worker is at the door demanding entry and demanding to interrogate each of the children separately. We work to prevent this from happening.

We call it "The Battle for the Front Door."

Scott (Woodruff) understands well the Battle for the Front Door and the turmoil that Christian parents face.

Romans 13:1 says, "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which are established by God." But it goes on to say in verse 13:7, "Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; and honor to whom honor."

As Christians, on the one hand, we are commanded to obey the governing authorities. On the other hand, we're told to give to people what they are due. If an official comes to my door and asks for something that is not his due, I have the right, perhaps even the duty, to tell him "no." If a police officer comes to my door and wants to interview my child and does not have a court order, generally he is not entitled to access to my child. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees every citizen protection from unwarranted government intrusions into their home. Parents must understand that issue clearly. Because the social worker or police offers is not entitled to what he is asking, we can scripturally, with total confidence, tell him "no."

To understand what is due, most parents need legal advice, because what is due is almost always a legal issue. Much of what I do is to figure out precisely what is due. It is my job to tell the family, "This is due, but this is not due. I advise you to give what is due like the Scripture commands. But other than that, retain the integrity of your home, because the home should be the safest place a child knows—without being subject to the invasion of strangers. Parents have a duty to keep that home safe.

YOLO COUNTY, CA—Social workers are bound to obey the U.S. Constitution when investigating child abuse cases, said a unanimous three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in an opinion handed down Thursday, August 26, 1999.

“This opinion will have a nationwide impact. With respect to the Fourth Amendment, the Ninth Circuit settled the social worker question once and for all. No longer can social workers enter a home without either a warrant or probable cause of an emergency,” said Michael Farris, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “Child Protective Services agencies have too many times behaved as if there is a social worker exception to the Fourth Amendment’s prohibitions against illegal searches and seizures,” Farris explained, but there is no such exception, according to the Ninth Circuit ruling in Calabretta v. Floyd, et al.

The Fourth Amendment rights case was originally filed February 24, 1995, by Robert and Shirley Calabretta in the Eastern District of California federal court, after a Yolo County policeman and social worker illegally entered the Calabretta home and strip searched their three-year-old daughter. District Court Judge Lawrence K. Karlton ruled that unless there is evidence of an emergency, a social worker and police officer investigating a report of child abuse must have a warrant. The Ninth Circuit panel unanimously affirmed that decision in Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld’s opinion.

Kleinfeld wrote that forcing the mother to pull down the three-year-old’s pants “invaded...the mother’s dignity and authority in relation to her own children in her own home. The strip search as well as the entry stripped the mother of this authority and dignity. The reasonable expectation of privacy of individuals in their homes includes the interests of both parents and children in not having government officials coerce entry in violation of the Fourth Amendment and humiliate the parents in front of the children.”

“It’s the best possible opinion for the Calabretta family and for the rest of the country,” Farris said. “The family won on every point we raised. Police and social workers cannot force their way into private homes. They were wrong to strip search the three-year-old daughter. This ruling erases the possibility that the law is not clear in the rest of the country.”

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has sent a memorandum to the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS) and other home school associations, advising them that they are required by state law to report to their local health departments the immunization status of all students enrolled. Home School Legal Defense Association is of the opinion that neither SCAIHS nor the other home school associations are required to submit any report of immunization information to DHEC under current state law.

DHEC Regulation 61-8, upon which the immunization reporting is based, applies to the admission of a child “to any public, private, or parochial school . . . or any child development program under the control of the Department of Education. . . . ” SCAIHS, a membership association of home schools under Section 59-65-45 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and the other home school associations existing under Section 59-65-47 are neither schools nor child development programs. They do not admit students, so they need not comply with the regulation requiring schools to receive a Certificate of Immunization from students prior to admittance. Students do not enroll in or attend SCAIHS or a home school association but are enrolled in and attend their family’s home school.

It is also noteworthy that local school districts in South Carolina do not include home schooling families in their immunization reports to DHEC. Under Section 59-65-40 of the Code, these families obtain the approval of the local district for their home schooling program. But these students are not enrolled in or admitted to the public school and therefore do not present a Certificate of Immunization to the school.

There are also practical considerations for not including home schools in the immunization reporting requirements. Communicable diseases are typically transmitted in a classroom or playground setting when students from different families come into contact with each other. Since only family members are present in the home school, the same potential for transmission of these diseases does not exist.

State law requires SCAIHS and other home school associations to report the number and grade level of children home schooled through their associations to the children’s respective school districts by January 30 of each year. Beyond this, there are no requirements for any home school association to disclose additional information about its member families.

You will need to become very familiar with 59-65-47. However, you need also to become familiar with all the laws listed under 59-65. Several links are provided below for this purpose. The more information you have, the better prepared you will be at getting organized; and those that are organized, will be prepared for the future.

This is where one person owns their business and they make and choose the associations procedures and policies. They may operate as a business and keep all profits (if any), or they may choose to give some or all of the profits back to the homeschooling community or other such endeavor.

This is where two or more folks have partnered to run a business, and have chosen to operate an association under 59-65-47 as their business. They may operate as a business and keep all profits (if any), or they may choose to give some or all of the profits back to the homeschooling community or other such endeavor. They together make and choose the associations procedures and policies.

This is where a local support group has decided to offer it's members (and perhaps non members) a more inclusive form of support, they offer the accountability under 59-65-47 as a way to further support their families. They have decided to help provide their members with support beyond the normal extent offered by support groups. Even though it will mean more work for the support group, they have made such a deep commitment and statement for support by undertaking the task. It has always been my dream to see support groups offer accountability under 59-65-47 to their members. I commend them for a willingness to do whatever their members need for support. We have such support groups listed with *** beside them on our SC Homeschool Support Groups page http://www.chasesc.com/support.html.

This is where an association has one main head group (director, board, owner, or other entity), that coordinates and organizes satellite groups throughout there local region or throughout the entire state. This idea was original discussed by some of the old timers around the time 59-65-47 was passed. It was a possibility we briefly discussed, in case anyone might have problems with the 50 member requirement. However, one did not start as all the original associations had more than enough members their first year. I'm sure there are several ways that this could be done.

This would be the perfect option for a support group with satellite groups already in place.

Your association decides your membership requirements beyond those needed to complete the requirements of 59-65-47. You choose whom you will accept as members; if membership is going to be from a certain region, state, support group, a certain religion, or if you will serve homeschoolers statewide. To get some ideas, you should visit all the associations on our SC Homeschool Associations page at http://www.chasesc.com/associations.html.

Membership fees will be determined by the association. You will need to consider several factors when deciding your fees. Will you conduct most of your business over the Internet and via Email? Or will you conduct most of it by mail and phone? What services will you provide to members? Will you provide just those services to aid the homeschooling parent in completing the law? Will you provide some extras? Or will you provide lots of extras for your members? Will you provide the extra service based on fees set up specifically for those extra services, so that those members wanting the extra services pay for the extra services that they utilize? Or will you provide and require extra services that apply to all members for your set membership fee?

There are plenty of ways to save money, you must decide where it is appropriate and where it is not for your association. Support groups should be able to provide services for their support group members for a lower rate, than a non support group association would in most normal circumstances. A support group already will have in place at least one form of communicating with members, some will have more than one. Reminders and other such information can be given out in the monthly newsletter, or on an email loop. Short notices could be dispersed on telephone trees in place by some support groups.

You will need to decide when your associations start and end dates will be. To get some ideas, you should visit all the associations on our SC Homeschool Associations page at http://www.chasesc.com/associations.html. There are 365 days in a school year for homeschoolers to meet the required 180 days, so you don't have to limit the homeschooling year, please consider a year long membership period.

There has always been a very large number of consumers that want to know that their information is confidential. After all most clients do not want their personal information given out with any business, support group, or association. There are federal and state laws that govern how our personal information is handle and great thought was put into the protection of our rights especially with our medical and dental care by our legislators. As with most business, support groups, and associations you will need some type of confidentiality policy in place, for the protection of your association and your members. Please make sure you put great consideration and thought into your policies on behalf of your members.

I recommend that you do a website for your association, even if you are a very small association. By utilizing the Internet and providing your basic information and application online, you will save yourself and your association a great deal of time. The more information everyone has, the better prepared everyone will be at getting organized; and those that are organized, will be prepared for the future.

This is a very good and inexpensive way to communicate with your members. It's free if you use a free Email provider, or if your server offers you Email with your Internet access. It is much faster than the US mail and will save you and your members much time while generally you both get the needed information needed and sought much quicker than by mail. Inexpensive and/or free services provided to members will help you to provide more services at a lower fee. You will have to evaluate any and all free Internet services, to decide whether the pop up adds and banners are worth the free services offered. If not you will then need to decide how much you can pay for what you want.

There are paid groups and free groups, just like the many other services you can find on the Internet. Choosing a free or inexpensive group to host your support group, could really help you to disperse information to your members quickly and inexpensively. There are many different services that each type of group offers, but most do offer an email loop. If you are paying for Internet Provider Services for a personal web site, support group web site, or other and you do not mind setting up an email group on your site, you should check with your server to see if they offer the mailing list/group service as part of your Internet package. The server we use for CHASE SC, ServerPro offers free mailing lists. However, we have not opted to utilize it/them at this time. We have been busy setting up many various resources for our members and all the homeschooling families of SC; therefore, we have opted to use the well known Yahoo Groups. As time permits and some of our resource projects are completed, we can give it a try and let you know how it goes. However, if you choose ServerPro and start up a mailing list first, please let us know how it goes so we can pass along the information to others.

I'm really familiar with Yahoo Groups, and know the services they offer. One of the pluses for an association email loop is that files can be set up automatically to go out at various times such as on a pending subscription, a newly approved subscription, once a month (we use this for our reminder files), upon unsubscribing, and upon a member being banned.

Yahoo has a calendar that can be utilized too, some examples are: a reminder sent out around the approximate middle of the year to remind folks to complete their semi-annual progress report, a reminder of when the statement of compliance is due, a reminder of upcoming workshops, graduations and other such important data.

There are many uses for an email loop within a homeschooling association, a few examples are: an informational loop for those that are interested in additional information about the association, an optional members only loop (where members can chat and get to know each other), a required loop for all association members (this is an easy, efficient, and affordable method to disburse information), a loop for board members to exchange information (or for newer board members to be trained on). The list could go on and on; however, you will have to decide whether your association needs a loop and what it needs it for. If you decide you do want an email loop for your association, please find some links below to get you started.

Will you utilize a fax service in any way? Will you set up a dedicated fax line? Will you use an online faxing program? Will you use your regular line to receive and send faxes manually?

These are not required of an association. However, they are usually provided by an association complimentary. Members can utilize them in the local community for obtaining special teacher and homeschooling discounts offered in bookstores, on field trips, and other educational opportunities. There are other times that members may choose to use their certificate, or instances that you may suggest that they do in order to handle certain situations smoothly. Examples of these situations would be when an official inquires to the legality of their homeschool, or when they are withdrawing their children from a public or private school. However, these complimentary issued items are not required to be shown to anyone, unless you require it in your policies. They are the members personal documents provided by your association, and only your association may regulate their use through your policies.

What does a Membership Certificate, Letter, and/or Card show? It shows that upon the date of issue the person(s) listed are members, for that school year or dates as decided by the association (and listed on the association application or agreement).

It does not show if a membership was terminated, or if the family enrolled any child/ren into public or private school during the school year. This is the reason that officials should always verify the membership status of a member with the member's association every time there is a membership issue.

An Association Seal or Notary Seal are not required to be used. However, it would be a wise and prudent decision for an association to use one or the other, on all official documents issued by the association. This would show all officials viewing the document(s) (especially those familiar with your association), that the documents where issued by you, and on the date and time indicated on them. It would still be the officials job, to verify the official document(s) with your association and therefore verify the membership status of a member with the member's association. This would be a definite plus for those associations that issue diplomas or transcripts.

An Association Seal in my opinion would be the better of the two, if you choose to use one or the other, and not both. However, there may be incidences when you will require a notarized statement or a member may request one from you. Therefore, it would be convenient to have both. Remember, documents issued by an Association that chooses not to use either, are just as valid as those that use one or both.

You will need forms for various operations of your association. You should visit other associations on the internet, a list is available at: SC Homeschool Associations http://www.chasesc.com/associations.html, and look at some of their forms.

Your association will need to set up your guidelines for processing all applications. How you will do it? Where will they be stored? Will we compile a database? Will we issue membership numbers? There are lots of questions that you will have to answer in regards to the handling and approval of all applications received.

Associations can not approve memberships prior to any member applicants date of application, or the postmark date of the said application.

Always record on the application the date received and the date approved. If a member ever needs verification of their acceptance date it will be readily available to you in your files. You can date any replacement Membership Certificates, Letters, and/or Cards either with the original membership date, or the replacement issuing date. You should note replacement and whether you are using the original enrollment date, or the replacement issuing date. Additionally, you should record on the original application or in the member file any dates that you issue replacement Membership Certificates, Letters, and/or Cards and what you issued. To protect you and your association set up a policy on how you will handle the dating of replacement Membership Certificates, Letters, and/or Cards.

You will have returned checks, it's unfortunate but we all make mistakes and often someone will forget to enter a previously written check and that will mess up the whole account. Set up a policy for handling returned checks. Make sure to include a returned check fee to cover you expenses, if you are not sure what the law allows or requires you should consult your bank for the information.

Today's technology allows for many options to consider. I prefer the printed mail in hard copy application for filing, but that is simply preference. Check with your Internet server for programs that will compile or run with their systems. I don't know much about how they work or what programs are available to use for the online application, but the links below will get you started in the right direction if you choose an online application.

You may choose to issue High School Diplomas for your members, if you do you will need to set up procedures and policies for issuing diplomas. SC Homeschoolers can make and issue their own. For more information please visit our page at: Questions About Diplomas http://www.chasesc.com/diplomas.html.

You may choose to issue Transcripts for your members, if you do you will need to set up procedures and policies for issuing diplomas. SC Homeschoolers can make and issue their own. For more information please visit our page at: Questions About Transcripts http://www.chasesc.com/transcripts.html.

Your association needs to set up the limits of what you will and will not do now. You need all policies and procedures established before you announce your association and before you start accepting applications. Believe me when I say you will have all kinds of situations arise, and all kinds of questions, and you will have to have your limits set in place. You will have some new inexperienced homeschoolers that will think you supply them their school books, and lots of other stuff. You need to set your limits in order to protect yourself from overdoing it. Overdoing it will not help you or the homeschoolers you wish to aid; believe me I've been there, and done that.

Your association may require a complete review of the student records if such verification is needed for the local authorities. You will need to set up the policies and procedures for how you will handle the records review. You are not required to do a records review, but on the behalf of your members and your association it would be a wise choice to implement a records review policy for your members on such occasions. If you choose not to review members records when needed you are leaving them open for possible harassment. Additionally, new homeschoolers, or those new to SC may feel more confident in their record keeping, if you offer a review if they personally need and request one.

A member may be placed on probationary status for non-compliance of your policies and/or the requirements of 59-65-47. You will have to decide whether or not you will have a probationary membership and if so the procedures and policies related to the probationary membership will need to be determined. This would be for a member that truly did not understand your requirements. It would be a good idea to require a random review of memberships on probation. This probationary period would be where they must get their act together! If not, their membership would be terminated by the director, or board, or whomever your procedures and policies state.

Abuse of any system can and will show up eventually, and it must be dealt with. It's unfortunate, but it does happen. A member's membership should be terminated for non-compliance of your policies and/or the requirements of 59-65-47. You will have to decide what the procedures and policies are for members in regard to termination of membership. This would obviously be for a member that did understand your requirements and those of 59-65-47, but choose not to uphold them.

When terminating a family, it would be a good idea to let them know that they could be held for truancy under the compulsory attendance law (by not being covered under Option 1, 2, or 3 of SC homeschooling laws).

Additionally, it would be a good business practice to include in your policies/guidelines, if you are going to notify any official and which ones, when you terminate a membership.

You may choose to participate in the HSLDA Group Membership Discount Program, we originally started at our members request. Individual families who belong to an HSLDA discount group save 15% on our membership fee, paying $85 instead of $100. For more information:

A beneficial extra that your association may decide to offer your members or to all homeschoolers is workshops. You certainly don't have to have one the first year, but do consider offering some kind of workshop to aid your homeschool member families and/or other homeschoolers of SC in the future.

Providing new homeschoolers with the how to, curriculum companies, and resources should be planned for. If you do not choose to do a website where you can add this information, then please consider providing a new to homeschooling packet with resources for those homeschoolers in their first and second years of homeschooling. They will greatly appreciate any resources you can provide, they will make the choices of what to do and use; however, if you arm them with the information they will be able to make informed decisions.

New Homeschoolers Information at our website,http://www.chasesc.com/NewHSers.html. I wish that I had learned about individual Learning Modalities and Styles before I had started homeschooling, before I had purchased my first curriculum, and resources. Please consider including some information on them in your new homeschoolers packets, here is our information on Learning Modalities/Styles http://www.chasesc.com/LearningStyles.html.

We all learn differently and knowing how we learn, and how each of our children learns, will help to save new homeschooler a lot of stressful moments, and will help to reduce the amount of money spent on curriculum or resources that will never be used.

These of course are optional for your association. If you choose to have them you can design them yourself or hire someone to make them for you. You may choose to create one down the road, if you do not want to now.

If you are thinking about having a business card you will need to decide if you will do your own on your home computer and printer, or if you will purchase them at an office store. The resources listed below for business cards may come in handy for making membership cards.

I'd love to see more support groups offering the third option, 59-65-47, accountability to their support group members. I am willing to offer as much support as needed for those established support groups that decide to take on the task. Due to the restraints of my time, I will only be able to offer limited help to those persons starting a Non Profit 501 (3) (c) Statewide Association. As for business associations making a profit, assistance will be based on a case by case decision as to the merits and benefits that the assistance could and would make for SC homeschoolers as a whole.

The information provided here is merely a guide to help you. There is a lot laid out for you so that you can have an idea of what the whole picture looks like before you get started. Please realize there is much work ahead of you in order to get an association ready to start. Once you make your announcement you will have the nuts and bolts assembled, but you will find there will always be a few that need some adjusting. Each association is unique and each will have to adjust different nuts and bolts in different seasons.

The grass root association leaders have had a loop off and on since 1996, to share thoughts and concerns and to ask questions. We have worked side by side and have been there to aid each other if and when needed over the years. We thank Dianna who started and maintained this connection for us over the years, we are so grateful for it. If you are the main association leader, and your association operates under 59-65-47, you may contact me to be added to this most helpful and unique loop. Please send me an introduction email about yourself, and your association and request to be added to the loop via email at CHASESC@chasesc.com.

A special note of thanks is placed here to all the Association Leaders and CHASE SC Board Members that have helped me; by providing information and links, for sharing their knowledge and great wisdom, and proofing the data provided. Many have helped via the email loop, private emails, and by phone to compile this information for you.

~ About CHASE SC... ~ The Law ~ Explanation of the Third Option Law, 59-65-47 ~

~ CHASE SC Lifetime Membership Application ~ CHASE SC Yearly Compliance & Update Form ~

~ SC Support Groups ~ SC Accountability Associations ~ Q & A About CHASE SC ~

~ Free Forms For Home Schools ~

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