Registration Requirements
All children between the ages of five and 16 are required to attend public school in South Carolina. Kindergarten students must be five years of age by September 1 of the current enrollment year, and those entering first grade must turn six by the same date. Registration occurs at your local school district and requires certain documentation that includes your child's social security card and a legal birth certificate. Guardianship papers are required if applicable. You will also need a South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained from physicians, county health departments, or military clinics. Two proofs of residence in the school district to which you are zoned can take the form of a recent utility bill, mortgage or lease papers, or a rental agreement. Parents of children who are new to the district may bring sealed permanent records from their previous school or pre-sign a release form and then provide contact information for the previous district. For complete information on public education in South Carolina, contact:
South Carolina Department of Education
Columbia
803-734-8815
www.myscschools.com
South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools
Greenville
864-232-8654
www.sccharterschools.org
Curriculum and Standards
Columbia
803-734-8390
www.myscschools.com/offices/cso
School District Locator
http://ed.sc.gov/visitors/parents/attend.html
Private Education
Metropolitan Charleston offers alternatives to public education in private schools, both independent and parochial or religiously affiliated. This area is home to a number of highly respected college-prep academies. For more information on the options that are available, contact:
South Carolina Independent School Association
803-535-4820
www.scisa.org
Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Catholic Schools Office
843-402-9115
www.catholic-doc.org
National Association of Private, Catholic & Independent Schools
916-451-4963
www.napcis.org
Home Schooling
South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools
803-454-0427
www.scaihs.org
Child Care
Finding quality child care is foremost for every working parent or guardian. The following resources will be of help in evaluating and selecting the right environment. South Carolina Association of Child Care Resource & Referral is a statewide coordinating agency that offers a wealth of information for parents who are looking for child care. Regional CCR&R organizations assist parents in making informed choices. For more information, contact the following resources:
South Carolina CCR&R
Statewide Links/Information
www.childcaresc.org
Child Care Resource & Referral of the Lowcountry
843-747-9900
877-227-3454
www.tuw.org/cb/ccrr.htm