Memberships

-You can enroll in Open Spaces at any time during the school year if you are not already with another 3rd Option group for that academic year. Families complete an online registration form, agree to the membership requirements, and submit payment. Once enrollment is complete, your family is officially covered under Open Spaces for South Carolina Third Option homeschooling and we can help you along your homeschooling journey! Your membership packet will be emailed to you!

-In South Carolina, there are 3 accountability options for homeschooling families to pick from. Option 1 allows the parents to home school their children under the direction/approval of their school district. With option 2, parents may homeschool their children with the support of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). In option 3, parents may choose a home school association which has no fewer than fifty members and meets the home school requirements. Most families choose Option 3 because of the flexibility it affords them.

It is important to read the homeschooling laws for yourself as well and you can do that here: https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/state-accountability/home-schooling/

Our goal is to come alongside families with the right level of support—whether you’re just getting started or are farther along in your homeschooling journey!

Membership Options

Open Spaces offers two tiers of membership designed to support your family at different stages of your homeschool journey.

Tier 1: Foundational Membership (Grades K5–8)

(Families with at least one student in grades 9–12 must enroll in Tier 2)

Tier 1 provides the essentials you need to homeschool legally and confidently in South Carolina, with light support along the way.

• Legal coverage as a South Carolina 3rd Option homeschooler

• New Member packet emailed to you

• Membership certificate 

• Membership Pocket card

• Guidance for basic homeschool questions during week days

• Printable report card template

This tier is a great fit for families who feel comfortable managing most aspects of their homeschool independently but want the security of accountability and occasional support.

Tier 2: Full Support Membership (Grades K5–12)

Tier 2 includes everything in Tier 1, plus additional support, resources, and guidance.

• Legal coverage as a South Carolina 3rd Option homeschooler

• Ongoing support for your homeschool questions

• Monthly video calls focused on key homeschooling topics

• Monthly email newsletter

• Access to our resource vault (report cards, planner pages, and more!)

• Discounts on homeschool coaching sessions

• One free high school transcript

• Additional transcripts: $10 each

• Expedited processing: $20

• PLUS more to come as we grow and learn what features our members would like to see included in Open Spaces!

Tier 2 is ideal for families who want more guidance, community, and support along the way.

A Note About High School Enrollment

Families with high school students (grades 9–12) are required to enroll in Tier 2 due to the increased level of support and documentation needed during these years.

PLEASE NOTE: 

As we begin our first year as a 3rd Option group, we are choosing to start with a narrower focus so we can serve families well, which means that we will not be enrolling high school seniors for the 2026–2027 school year. 

Because of the unique responsibilities involved in senior year—including graduation and post-secondary documentation—we feel it is wise to wait for a year to serve students at that stage with the quality and care that we want as our reputation at Open Spaces.

We are grateful for your understanding and look forward to supporting families with students in kindergarten through 11th grade this year as we build this community with care and excellence!

After enrollment, you’ll receive a welcome email with your membership letter and membership pocket card, as well as any important dates, and instructions for submitting attendance and end-of-year records. From there, you’ll simply stay on track and reach out if questions come up!

-While we do not keep set office hours, we are available to support our members throughout the week!

Please call us at (864) 336-3035 or email us at shay@openspaceshomeschool.com

If we miss your call, please leave a voicemail with your name, number and the reason for your call, and you can expect a return call within 24 hours. Emails are also answered within that same timeframe.

We are committed to being responsive and helpful while maintaining a healthy rhythm for our families and yours!

Because we are an option 3 accountability association for homeschool families, only those who are homeschooling are eligible to join. This does not include enrollment in any public or private school, whether in person or online.

We do not offer curricula because that is a very personal choice from family to family, but we love to offer recommendations and to support you as you choose what is best for your children! If you feel that you need curriculum guidance, please consider scheduling a consultation with us!

Open Spaces does not assign grades or issue report cards. Parents are responsible for evaluating their child’s progress and keeping any grading records they choose to maintain. If you are a Tier 2 member, you have access to multiple printable Report Cards that you can use for your own students!

Yes. While it is rare, accountability groups can legally do a random check of your records to make sure you are compliant with the law. This means keeping records up to date makes things easier for you and your association. If you are a Tier 2 member, you have access to multiple printable record keeping documents!

-Summer pricing is from May 1 to August 15. After that prices increase during the academic year. 

-We encourage mid year progress reports to be done by January 31st of each academic year and offer a simple form under your resources. However, we do NOT require that you turn these in to Open Spaces! This is simply a way to monitor your homeschool student's progress and keep record keeping consistent.

-End of year completion forms for grades K5-11 are due no later than June 15th. Grades for high school courses are also due by June 15th.

-Grades for seniors must be submitted by May 30th. 

-Yes, with certain requirements. You must have homeschooled for the academic  year prior to playing the sport, and you must live in the district in which your student would like to play. You can find the actual text of the bill here: Equal-Access-Interscholastic-Activities-Bill

-Option 3 does not require testing for homeschooled students. However, if you choose to use Options 1 or 2, testing is required.

If you move within South Carolina, you may remain enrolled with Open Spaces. If you move out of state, you will need to follow the homeschool laws of your new state and may need to withdraw from Open Spaces.

Sometimes you just need a little guidance, fresh perspective, or someone to walk alongside you—and that’s what coaching is for!

Coaching is a good fit if you:

• Are new to homeschooling and want help getting started

• Feel stuck and need fresh ideas or renewed direction

• Struggle with time management, routines, or creating a daily rhythm

• Feel overwhelmed by curriculum choices

• Need help planning your homeschool days or organizing multiple children

• Want practical ideas for combining subjects and simplifying your schedule

• Are looking for encouragement and guidance from an experienced homeschool mom

Our goal is to help you create a homeschool that is both effective and sustainable for your family.

Please note: Coaching sessions are not a substitute for medical, mental health, or legal advice. We are not able to diagnose learning differences or provide legal counsel.

Coaching will include an intake form emailed to you to find out what areas you would like assistance in, a scheduled video call, and a follow up email with any resources that we may have discussed.

To schedule coaching, visit our coaching page which will guide you through the steps!

Tier 2 members get 20% off of coaching sessions!

We do not require a mid year check in to be turned in to Open Spaces. However, we do strongly encourage you to use the printable progress report found in your resources for your own records and to monitor your student's progress!