South Dakota Homeschool Laws: Requirements, Withdrawal, and Getting Started
South Dakota is a relatively homeschool-friendly state with straightforward requirements. The state requires an Alternative Instruction Notification, but it is generally a one-time filing rather than annual registration. South Dakota does not require curriculum approval, portfolio review, or standardized testing.
The Legal Foundation: SDCL §13-27
South Dakota's homeschooling law is found in South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) §13-27. Under this statute, parents may educate their children at home when they meet the state's registration and instructional requirements. Homeschooling has been legal in South Dakota since 1993.
The state does not require a teaching degree or certification. Any parent may homeschool regardless of their educational background.
Who Must Comply with South Dakota Homeschool Law
Compulsory attendance in South Dakota applies to children ages 5 through 18. A child between those ages must either attend an accredited school or receive legally compliant alternative instruction.
Once a child turns 18 or graduates, the compulsory attendance requirements no longer apply.
Alternative Instruction Notification Requirement
South Dakota requires parents to file an Alternative Instruction Notification with the local public school district or the South Dakota Department of Education. The notification is generally filed once for each child, within 30 days after alternative instruction begins; a new or updated notification is required after specified transitions such as moving to another district or returning to school.
The standard notification requires the information and assurances specified by the Department of Education's form. It does not require curriculum materials to be submitted for approval.
The online system or paper form is the official notification method. Coordinate the filing with the district or Department of Education before or promptly after starting instruction.
Important: Coordinate the public-school withdrawal and Alternative Instruction Notification so your child's status is clear. The notification deadline is generally within 30 days after alternative instruction begins, not an annual renewal deadline.
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What South Dakota Requires You to Teach
Under current South Dakota guidance, the statutory minimum for alternative instruction is mastery of the basic skills of:
- Language arts
- Mathematics
South Dakota does not specify a minimum number of instructional hours per year. The requirement is that instruction in the statutory minimum subjects is provided — the law does not prescribe the schedule, pace, or materials.
Record-Keeping: What You Must Maintain
South Dakota does not require you to submit records to the school district or state agency during the school year. However, the registration requirement implicitly assumes you are providing the instruction you stated. Maintaining records protects you if questions arise.
Reasonable documentation to maintain:
- A daily or weekly instructional log noting subjects covered
- Student work samples — completed assignments, tests, projects, writing samples
- Evaluations — grades or written assessments demonstrating progress
These records are yours to keep. The state does not audit them on a routine basis, but they are your evidence of compliance if a concern is ever raised.
For high school students: maintain a cumulative transcript tracking courses and credits from the start of 9th grade. You will generate this transcript yourself — South Dakota does not issue diplomas to home school graduates.
Standardized Testing: Not Required
South Dakota does not require alternative-instruction students to take or submit nationally standardized tests at any grade level. Families may test voluntarily, but scores are not part of the routine notification process.
Families who want to test voluntarily can access the Iowa Assessment or California Achievement Test through private testing services. These are norm-referenced tests that show how your child compares to national peers. Scores are kept by the family and not submitted to anyone.
How to Withdraw Your Child from a South Dakota Public School
If your child is currently enrolled in a South Dakota public school, withdrawing and registering your home school happen together. The process:
Draft a withdrawal letter stating your child's name, grade, current school, and effective withdrawal date. Request transfer of all academic records under FERPA (grades, test scores, health records, any special education records).
Complete the Alternative Instruction Notification using the Department of Education's online system or paper form.
Submit the notification to the local public school district or the South Dakota Department of Education. If you also send a withdrawal letter, certified mail with return receipt or a signed delivery confirmation is recommended documentation.
Keep the receipt or confirmation permanently. This establishes that your child's subsequent absences from public school are legal home education, not truancy.
Do not allow a prolonged gap between the effective withdrawal date and the start of alternative instruction. For a mid-year change, file the notification within the 30-day statutory window and keep proof of submission.
What If the District Adds Requirements?
South Dakota school districts occasionally request documentation beyond what the law requires — detailed curriculum outlines, teaching credentials, or consent to check-in visits. The state statute does not authorize these requests.
You are legally required to file the Alternative Instruction Notification and provide the minimum instruction described above. You are not required to submit curriculum materials for approval, demonstrate teaching credentials, or allow home visits. If a district makes demands that exceed the statutory requirements, consulting South Dakota's homeschool advocacy groups — South Dakota Christian Home Educators (SDCHE) or similar organizations — can help you respond appropriately.
Homeschooling Through High School in South Dakota
South Dakota home school graduates do not receive a state-issued diploma. Parents issue their own diploma, which is legally valid for employment and most military enlistment purposes.
For college admission, South Dakota universities and community colleges vary in their requirements for homeschool graduates. Most require ACT or SAT scores in addition to a parent-generated transcript. Students planning to attend South Dakota Board of Regents universities should research institution-specific admissions requirements. South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and South Dakota School of Mines each have their own policies for homeschool applicants.
Dual enrollment at community colleges — taking college courses while still technically a high school-age student — is available in South Dakota and does not require a high school diploma. This is a common path for advanced homeschool students who want college credits before graduation.
South Dakota Homeschool Law: The Short Version
| Requirement | Status in South Dakota |
|---|---|
| Notification required | Yes — generally one-time, within 30 days of beginning alternative instruction |
| Teaching credential required | No |
| Curriculum approval required | No |
| Standardized testing required | No |
| Portfolio submission required | No |
| Home visits authorized | No |
| Required subjects | Language arts and mathematics |
| Compulsory attendance ages | 5–18 |
South Dakota's notification requirement is the main distinction from states like Missouri or Texas, which do not require state homeschool registration. Missouri does require a current written withdrawal notice to the resident public-school district when a child leaves public school, but not an annual state filing.
For families moving from Missouri, the Alternative Instruction Notification is the additional step to plan for. Coordinate the withdrawal and notification, keep proof of submission, and begin instruction within the applicable timeline.
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