How to Withdraw Your Child from School in South Dakota

Most South Dakota parents expect withdrawal to be a simple paperwork swap. What they don't expect is a school administrator calling to ask what curriculum they'll be using, whether they have teaching credentials, or suggesting they talk to a counselor before "making this decision." Districts lose roughly $7,000 per student in state funding when a family leaves. That financial pressure shapes how some schools respond. Knowing the exact legal steps — and why each one matters — makes the process far less stressful.

The Two-Step Process: Withdrawal Letter + AIN Filing

Withdrawing from a South Dakota public school involves two separate actions:

1. Send a withdrawal letter to the school — this formally ends your child's enrollment
2. File an Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) with the state — this establishes your legal right to homeschool under SDCL §13-27-3

Neither step alone is sufficient. Pulling your child from school without filing the AIN leaves your family in legal limbo. Filing the AIN without formally notifying the school can result in the district marking absences as unexcused while the school still considers your child enrolled.

Writing the Withdrawal Letter

Your withdrawal letter does not need to be long. It needs to accomplish three things: identify your child, state that you are withdrawing them effective a specific date, and note that you will be providing alternative instruction under SDCL §13-27-3.

A straightforward letter looks like this:

[Date]

[Principal's Name] [School Name] [School Address]

Dear [Principal's Name],

This letter serves as formal notice that I am withdrawing [Child's Full Name], date of birth [DOB], from enrollment at [School Name], effective [Date]. We will be providing home education under SDCL §13-27-3 (Alternative Instruction).

Please confirm receipt of this letter and update your records accordingly.

[Parent Signature] [Parent Name] [Address] [Phone/Email]

Keep it factual. You are not required to explain your reasons, defend your curriculum, or disclose your educational philosophy. If administrators push back or ask probing questions, a polite "We've reviewed the legal requirements and are proceeding accordingly" is a complete answer.

Send by Certified Mail with Return Receipt. This gives you a timestamped record proving the school received your letter. If a truancy officer later claims they had no notice, you have documentation. File the green return receipt card with your homeschool records.

Filing the Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN)

Under SB 177 (2021), South Dakota moved from annual registration to a one-time notification. You file once when you begin homeschooling — you do not re-file every year unless your circumstances change.

The AIN must be filed within 30 days of beginning alternative instruction. Required information:

• Child's full name
• Date of birth
• Name of the resident school district
• Parent signature

You can file online through the South Dakota Department of Education portal or submit paper forms to your local district. The DOE portal is faster and gives you an electronic confirmation — keep that confirmation email.

There is no fee. The state does not approve or deny your notification. Once filed, you are legally operating under the alternative instruction statute.

If you are withdrawing from a private school, the process is simpler — private schools in South Dakota are not subject to the same compulsory attendance enforcement mechanisms as public schools. Send a courtesy withdrawal letter to the school and proceed directly to filing your AIN with the state.

Mid-Year Withdrawal

Withdrawing mid-year requires the same steps — withdrawal letter plus AIN filing — but the timing is more critical.

South Dakota law considers three or more consecutive unexcused absences a truancy flag. Rapid City Area Schools, for example, refers cases to the State's Attorney's office after just five unexcused absences. If you pull your child in January without formally withdrawing, the district may start counting absences immediately. By the time you realize what's happening, you could be dealing with a truancy notice.

The fix is simple: send the withdrawal letter before your child's last day of attendance, or at minimum on the same day. Do not let a week pass between stopping attendance and sending formal notice.

Also check for outstanding fees, library books, or equipment before your child's last day. Schools sometimes delay releasing records over unpaid items — and you'll eventually need those records for transcripts, dual enrollment applications, or sports eligibility.

What Schools Can and Cannot Ask

Under SDCL §13-27-3, alternative instruction families are not subject to curriculum approval, portfolio review, or home visits. Schools and districts have no legal authority to:

• Require you to use an approved curriculum
• Demand proof of your teaching qualifications
• Conduct home inspections
• Approve or deny your decision to homeschool

They can ask. And some do. If a principal or district official asks you to come in for a meeting before they'll "process your withdrawal," you are not obligated to attend. You can respond in writing, restate that you are withdrawing effective the date noted in your letter, and request written confirmation that the withdrawal has been processed.

If a district official sends a truancy notice after you've filed your AIN and sent your withdrawal letter, respond in writing immediately, attach copies of both documents, and note that SDCL §13-27-14 prohibits apprehension of legally excused children. Most issues resolve quickly once the paperwork is documented.

Getting Your Records

After withdrawal, request your child's academic records in writing. Under federal FERPA rules, the school must provide records within 45 days of a written request — though most comply within a few days to a couple of weeks. You'll want:

• Immunization records
• Academic transcripts or report cards
• Any special education records (IEP or 504 plans) if applicable
• Standardized test scores if your child participated in state testing

Keep copies of everything. If your child later applies to dual enrollment at a Board of Regents university or a South Dakota tech college, or pursues the SD Opportunity Scholarship, those records establish the academic baseline.

For a complete checklist covering every step — from the withdrawal letter through AIN filing and records requests — the South Dakota Legal Withdrawal Blueprint includes a pre-written letter template, a step-by-step withdrawal checklist, and a pushback script for common administrator objections.

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