Boot Camps & Military Schools in South Carolina

If you feel you are out of options for disciplining your struggling teen, you may have considered enrolling them in military school or boot camp. Choosing full-time behavioral care for your child can be overwhelming, and it is important to know the details and differences between the teen help programs available so that you can make an informed choice. Help Your Teen Now is a parent advocacy group dedicated to helping parents just like you choose the facility that will most benefit your troubled teen. We offer a free phone consultation and family assessment to direct you to the resources that will be the most helpful. Call us today to get started.

Boot Camps Are Not The Best Option for Troubled Teens from South Carolina

Military schools and boot camps are often not the best solution to correct the behavior of a troubled teen. There are a variety of factors to consider before choosing a facility. Military schools employ a strict regimen and schedule, however they are designed as academic facilities for students who would like to train for officer services in the military. Troubled teens will not be accommodated if they do not accept authority. Boot camps have a similar military style schedule, however they are remedial, non-academic, non-therapeutic and short term. These programs have consistently proven unregulated and potentially unsafe without significant long-term results. At Help Your Teen Now, we encourage parents to select an option that will address the therapeutic needs of their children while keeping them on track educationally. There are a variety of alternative and therapeutic boarding schools that may be a better match for your teen’s needs. Contact us today to discuss the options and programs in your area.

South Carolina Regulatory Laws

Accreditation is optional for private facilities in South Carolina. However, as long as the school is a member school of the South Carolina Independent School Association or equal organization, accreditation is an option that will satisfy South Carolina’s compulsory attendance statute. Accredited schools are governed by their accrediting organizations and must meet specific criteria regarding teacher certification, curriculum and other areas that state law does not regulate for nonpublic schools. Students may also attend parochial, denominational, and church-related schools to satisfy the attendance requirement. S.C. Code §59-65-10(A).

The Attorney General has determined that the State Board of Education has the authority to establish standards for private school approval. 1967-68 Ops. Atty. Gen., No. 2585, p. 291. The Department of Health and Environmental Control will inspect the health and sanitation standards of nonpublic schools. 982 Op. Atty. Gen., No. 82-10, p. 12.

Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf