Homeschool benefits and savings in South Kingstown
South Kingstown School District lends approved homeschool families, at no cost, the K-12 textbooks it gives enrolled students in math, science, foreign languages, English, and history or social studies. Your family must live in South Kingstown and have School Committee approval under Policy 7710.
Who qualifies
Lives in South Kingstown
Only South Kingstown residents are eligible, and you give annual proof of residency. Approval is automatically rescinded at the end of the semester if your residency changes, because only South Kingstown residents are eligible.
Approved by the School Committee
Register your child, send a signed letter of intent to the superintendent, and wait for School Committee approval.
Uses the adopted curriculum books
The loan covers textbooks the district provides its enrolled students as part of the adopted curriculum.
What you can borrow
The terms come from South Kingstown School Committee Policy 7710, Homeschooling, last revised May 13, 2025.
- Math textbooks, K-12
- Free
- Science textbooks, K-12
- Free
- Foreign language textbooks, K-12
- Free
- English and history or social studies textbooks, K-12
- Free
- Laptops, online courses, and transportation
- Paid by your family
The policy does not set a checkout or return process, so ask the superintendent's office how to request books and when to return them.
From applying to keeping it
- Well before the school year
Register your child
Give annual proof of residency and your child's name, date of birth, and gender. Add race and home language only if your plan includes state testing.
- Step 2
Send a letter of intent
Confirm in a signed letter that you will teach the required subjects, meet instruction time, and keep and submit attendance and achievement records.
- Within 14 days
Informational meeting
The superintendent's office acknowledges your letter, offers a meeting within 14 days, and sends the request to the School Committee.
- After approval
Borrow textbooks
Ask the district for the textbooks your child needs in the five covered subjects.
- End of each year
Submit records
Send attendance and achievement records to the superintendent.
What it includes
Included
- Math textbooks
- Science textbooks
- Foreign language textbooks
- English language arts textbooks
- History and social studies textbooks
Not included
- Laptops
- Online courses
- Transportation
- A South Kingstown High School diploma
Good to know
Classes and sports are by written request
Send the superintendent a written request for academic, athletic, or extracurricular activities, separate from your homeschool application.
Who to contact
The Assistant Superintendent takes written homeschool requests and sends them to the School Committee.
401-360-1300 Homeschool registration
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Rhode Island
You must seek approval from local school committee.
Rhode Island sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide instruction in English in reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, US and Rhode Island history, American government, civics, health, and physical education. Instruction must be thorough and efficient.
- Testing: Agree on an evaluation method with the local school committee during approval. Rhode Island does not prescribe a single statewide annual homeschool test.
- Records: Keep attendance records and return them to the local school committee. Provide progress reports or evaluations as agreed during approval.
- Teachers: Rhode Island does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Rhode Island homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Rhode Island
Questions parents ask
- Can my child take state tests like RICAS or the SAT in South Kingstown?
- Only if you include state testing in your homeschool plan and give the information the Rhode Island Department of Education requires. Your child tests with the grade they would be in if enrolled.
- My child has an IEP. Does that change anything?
- Yes. Say in your letter that your child receives special education services, and the district will hold an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting once your homeschool request is approved.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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