Faithful Scholars

On June 1, we kick off the first month of our Homeschool Habit-Stacking Plan! Stay tuned for encouragement, thought-provoking questions, and simple tasks to help you make the homeschool of your dreams take shape within the sometimes-chaos of everyday life! Must be an Umbrella Skye member.

📣 Hello Friends

—This is for YOU and YOUR Families!

We still have a few spaces for the curriculum sale left! PLease let your families know they can still sign up!

RLM Church
4208 Rhame Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29223

We are just 5 days away from our......

🎉 Curriculum Sale & Resource Fair 🎉
📅 April 18th
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Whether you are just starting your homeschool journey or have been homeschooling for years, this event is designed to support, encourage, and equip your family.
Homeschooling is more than education—it’s a lifestyle of freedom, flexibility, and intentional learning. And you don’t have to do it alone 💜

✨ What You’ll Find:
📚 Curriculum for all ages: come meet our homeschool moms selling curriculum
🤝 Local homeschool support & services
🧠 Therapy & specialized learning resources
🏫 Hybrid school options
🍪 Fresh baked goods from Wild Crumb Sourdough Baked Goods

🎓 Curious About Hybrid Homeschooling?
Hybrid homeschooling gives families the best of both worlds—
✔️ Academic support from experienced teachers
✔️ Time at home to guide and disciple your children
✔️ A strong, faith-centered community
Come learn more at our:
THSA Hybrid School (K–5th) Open House
🕥 10:30 – 11:30 AM
✨ Meet our teachers
🎨 Enjoy face-painting upstairs for the kids while you explore!

🌟 Featured Vendors Include:

Therapy & Support Services:

Homeschool Therapy Services

Katelynn Kolb Counseling
The Kid Whisperer LLC
Regeneration Publishing (Speech Pathology)
Discovery Therapies Inc. - DTI.

Homeschool Resources & Community:

Lucky Rabbit Publishing LLC
LegalShield
Primerica
Lesson Nest
Umbrella Sky
Faithful Scholars
Mighty Men Powerlifting
Airbending Academy
Brittny Habersham Shaw
Palmetto State Watch
Bill Giarratana Studio
Trinity Homeschool Academy Co-op
Trinity Homeschool Academy
Thrivent
North Star Learning

💜 Come connect. Come explore. Come be encouraged.
Bring a friend and join us—we can’t wait to see you there!

MAKING SENSE OF ESTF

By now, many homeschool parents in South Carolina have heard of the SC Department of Education’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program (ESTF), which promises $7,500 for families “to create a customized, flexible education for their student, including paying for approved expenses like tutoring, educational therapies and out-of-district attendance fees,” per the ESTF website. While some homeschool families are understandably thrilled by the notion of an extra $7,500 per student, others have grave concerns about the future of homeschooling in South Carolina. And then there are those who are just trying to make heads and tails of the whole situation, which is where we come in…

As an association, Faithful Scholars has a heart to educate, equip, and encourage homeschool parents, and that includes helping parents make informed decisions about whether or not to utilize ESTF to fund their homeschool. We also firmly believe in being responsive rather than reactive, so as I share our concerns about ESTF, please DO take those concerns under consideration, but please DO NOT fall into the trap of fear. Regardless of what happens with ESTF in the long term, we know that God is in control and He will give us all we need to nurture the children He has placed in our care, whether we have all the freedom in the world to homeschool or none at all. (And we are very thankful for the freedom we do have!)

To bring everyone up to speed, the latest discussion about ESTF is whether homeschool families can receive the scholarships. That statement alone presents a problem, because the law itself prohibits students homeschooling under SC homeschool law’s Options 1, 2, and 3 from receiving ESTF money. This has created a vaguely defined “Option 4” that is schooling at home, but not legally homeschooling, as defined by SC’s existing homeschool laws. Nearly 1,200 homeschool students—or rather, schooled at home students or unbundlers, as one legislator has suggested—have applied for and received ESTF scholarships, but the authors of the bill have stated that they never intended for ESTF to be used for homeschooling, with the bill’s chair, Senator Hembree, going so far as to call these at-home ESTF families “illegal homeschoolers.” Meanwhile, the Department of Education maintains that awarding funds to homeschool students is legal under the law as written. In short, with ESTF, we have a lot of gray and a lot of uncertainty.

While legislators debate the intent and application of the law, Faithful Scholars is considering the implication of programs like this on homeschooling within SC. The most obvious and most frequently voiced concern is government oversight of homeschooling. On the individual level, the $7,500 scholarship comes at the cost of accountability to the state rather than to a homeschool association, which effectively makes ESTF a form of public school at home. This means using educational materials and programs approved by the state, meeting state-mandated grade level requirements, and mandatory standardized testing. It also comes at the cost of the support of a homeschool accountability association, as recipients of ESTF funds are not allowed to join a homeschool association. This means you’re on your own, flying solo with no one to guide, encourage, or comfort you when turbulence hits. We are also seeing more and more homeschool co-ops and extracurricular activities deny membership to ESTF students because they are not, by legal definition, homeschoolers. And if they do allow ESTF students in, many of these groups are not approved vendors under the ESTF program and are thus unable to accept ESTF money.

On a broader level, the requirements imposed by the state on these “Option 4” ESTF families raise questions about the future of homeschool regulation in SC. Currently, under Option 3, homeschool families are accountable to their homeschool associations. With minor variations, most associations strive to give their families as much freedom as the law allows. Freedom to choose their own curriculum. Freedom to teach at the child’s academic level rather than age level—and that means teaching both down and up. Freedom to assess a child’s progress based upon personal criteria rather than state standards. Freedom to focus on what is truly important and to educate for the joy of learning rather than for the completion of a checklist.

As legislators debate what to do with ESTF families, who currently exist in a very gray area between homeschool and public school, there is a concern among many veteran homeschoolers that over time, the state will place additional requirements upon Option 3 homeschoolers, to the point where we find ourselves under the same limitations and requirements ESTF families currently face—or more strident limitations and requirements. If you’re familiar with the fable about the man who let his camel stick his nose into his tent at night, only to find himself eventually crowded out of his tent a few nights later by his camel’s entire body… That’s what we’re talking about here. It might seem like a small thing now. It might not happen overnight. But we have to ask how this will play out in the long run.

Obviously, none of us knows the future, but we can and should consider all potential outcomes and defend against the worst.

So, what is Faithful Scholars doing about all this?

1. We aren’t panicking. As mentioned earlier, God is in control of all things.

2. We are encouraging traditional homeschooling. We maintain our beliefs that parents are a child’s best teacher, that education is the lighting of a spark, with the goal of developing a lifelong love of learning within our children, and that each child’s educational path is unique and should be honored as such.

3. We are recognizing the diversity of the homeschooling community. With the understanding that the families we serve have diverse needs and diverse opinions on this issue, and with the understanding that landscapes change, Faithful Scholars does not stand for or against ESTF/Option 4. We do, however, stand against leaving homeschoolers out there with no support and guidance!

4. We are encouraging families to stay informed and speak up as led. We have been and will continue to follow legislation on the ESTF program and share updates as new developments emerge. We will also share our concerns. We encourage everyone to stay informed and reach out to your state representatives to share your positive Option 3 homeschool experiences and voice any concerns you have about ESTF. (Use this tool to help find your state representatives: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php.) Members of the subcommittee currently discussing ESTF include Sen. Greg Hembree (chair), Sen. Ross Turner, Sen. Shane Massey, Sen. Brad Hutto, and Sen. Darrell Jackson. Remember to be respectful in word and tone as you make your voice heard.

5. We are showing up for ESTF families. Faithful Scholars has reached out to the state asking how we might support ESTF families, but we have received no response thus far. We will continue to reach out. Until we come up with a better method of supporting ESTF families, we are directing them to Umbrella Skye, a social media platform staffed by experience homeschool mentors, including Katie Bach and several of her Faithful Scholars assistants (https://umbrellaskye.com/).

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Judy Fulmer of College PrepXCel is organizing a homeschool student visit to CIU. It will be on Monday, March 2. She initially invited the local Florence homeschool groups, but she still has several spots open.

⭐️ The tour is open to ALL high school students.

⭐️ There is no charge to attend

⭐️ Parents are welcome to join

⭐️ Lunch will be provided for all by the University

Here is the itinerary sent by CIU:

11:00 AM Campus Tour with Student Ambassadors

12:00 PM Complimentary Lunch and Admissions Presentation through Kahoot

1:00 PM Departing Gifts and Merch

Whether or not your student intends to attend CIU, this is an excellent opportunity to visit a small college campus in a city. Students benefit from setting their feet on campuses so they can decide what they like and what they don't.

Please register so Judy can get a headcount.

Columbia International University (CIU) Visit March 2, 2026 at 11 AM

Research shows that Finnish children start school at the age of 7, yet they consistently outperform their peers worldwide in literacy, mathematics, and overall well-being.

But here’s what’s striking:
They don’t get ahead by rushing.
They thrive because they aren’t rushed.

Because here’s the truth: in Finland, childhood is still sacred. The early years aren’t filled with flashcards, early readers, and pressure to perform. They’re filled with forest walks, open-ended play, and long, unhurried moments of discovery.

🧠 Decades of research (Sahlberg, 2015; Whitebread, 2012; OECD, 2018) reveal that this slower start protects a child’s developing brain. Early play isn’t wasted time; it’s wiring time. When children build forts, climb trees, and explore mud puddles, they’re also building executive function, problem-solving, and emotional regulation, the very skills that predict lifelong success.

In Finland, teachers don’t “teach to the test.” They teach the child. Recess isn’t a reward. It’s a right. And homework in the early years? Almost none. Because rest and family connection are also seen as part of education.

Why does this matter?
Because too many children today are burning out before they even learn who they are. We push academics before self-awareness, competition over curiosity. We teach them to chase achievement before they’ve learned to love learning.

However, the Finnish model reminds us that a child who plays deeply learns deeply.
A child who feels safe will explore bravely.
And a child allowed to grow at their own pace will often surpass those who were hurried.

So maybe the question isn’t,
“How can we help our kids get ahead?”
Maybe it’s,
“How can we protect their joy long enough for learning to bloom naturally?”

Because childhood isn’t a waiting room for “real life.” It is real life… the most formative, fertile soil for everything that comes next. 🤍

References:
• Sahlberg, P. (2015). Finnish Lessons 2.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland?
• OECD (2018). Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators.
• Whitebread, D. (2012). The Importance of Play: A Report on the Value of Children’s Play with a Series of Policy Recommendations.

A Tuttle Twins newsletter on the power of story in the learning process has me going down a rabbit hole today. From the newsletter:

"When I was in school, I thought there was something wrong with me because I could never remember what I was supposed to. I could study for hours and still blank on a test. Eventually I just stopped studying for hours, because what’s the point?

You know what I never had trouble remembering? The books I read for fun. Turns out, there’s a reason for that.

Back in 1969, a couple of Stanford researchers gave students a list of random words. Half the kids were told to repeat them over and over (to memorize them) and the other half were told to make up a story using the words.

I knew the kids who used them in a story would remember them better later on, but the results of the study were still pretty shocking:

The group that used storytelling remembered 93% of the words.
The group that didn’t? Just 13%."

Narrative stories as mediators for serial learning - Psychonomic Science Subjects learned 12 serial lists of 10 nouns by one of two methods: a control method of normal study and rehearsal, or a narrative-chaining method, where S was instructed to construct a meaningful story woven around the words to be remembered. Each Narrative S was permitted as much time as he needed...

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION, GO TO: https://www.studentleadershipdiscovery.org

The Stars & Stripes BBQ is almost here — August 28 at 6:30 PM at West End Baptist Church — and we need your help to make it a night to remember!

✅ Fill Your Table – Thank you to those who already have your tables FULL! Each table seats 8, and the cost is FREE. We’re asking you to fill your table with people who:

Have the means to give generously
Are passionate about training students to lead through service
Believe in helping young people discover their gifts
Want to connect students with leaders for mentorship and internships
✅ Students Needed to Serve – We also need students to serve food, help with setup, and clean up afterward. Please let me know who you plan to bring to help serve so we can coordinate.

✅ Seminars Begin Sept. 15 – Our next leadership seminars begin Sunday, Sept. 15 at Hope Fellowship from 5:30–7:30 PM.

✅ Informational Meetings – Scheduled for Aug. 18 and Sept. 11. A graphic is attached — it has been posted on SLD’s social media and can easily be shared with anyone you know who would benefit from SLD.

Let’s make this BBQ an unforgettable night of generosity and vision for our students’ future. Please reply today with your table guests and serving volunteers so we can finalize plans.

Thank you for standing with us to equip the next generation of servant leaders!The

COUNTING THE DAYS OR MAKING THE DAYS COUNT?

Sometimes, especially in the beginning, meeting state homeschooling requirements feels daunting. Oftentimes, much of this angst comes down to believing we must do more and be better than a traditional school teacher and our child must understand material perfectly from day one. It’s almost like we feel we have to “prove ourselves” as homeschoolers.

We forget that this is a journey of exploration and discovery that can and should be approached with excitement and joy. Isn't this why our littles are so delightful? They naturally see the world as a playground to be explored with wonder and delight—and isn’t that what we want to recover for ourselves and preserve for our children?

Yes, there are legal requirements to be met—180 days, covering core subjects, etc.—but if you shift away from the idea that you have to prove yourself and lean into the heart of the law, which is to educate your child well, you will find yourself teaching from a place of rest rather than worry, allowing you to enjoy lovely days of opening up the beautiful world of learning to your children. A good year of homeschooling doesn’t come from finishing every single problem in the math book but from progressing through lessons with diligence and delight, even if the last few pages never see the light of day...

To read the full article, please hop on over to Umbrella Skye: https://www.umbrellaskyehomeschool.com/posts/88706877?utm_source=manual.

Faithful Scholars members who haven't joined Umbrella Skye yet, log in through your Faithful Scholars member portal. All others, use this link: https://www.umbrellaskyehomeschool.com/posts/88706877?utm_source=manual

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