How to start homeschooling in South Dakota
The legal steps, in order, checked against South Dakota law.
Short answer: South Dakota calls homeschooling alternative instruction. A parent files a notification with the Department of Education or the local district within 30 days of starting, and files again only after certain changes. Instruction must cover language arts and mathematics, and the instructor does not need to be certified.
Checked against SDCL 13-27-3 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 18. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Alternative instruction
Parents or other instructors teaching up to 22 children.
Steps
- File the Alternative Instruction Notification with the South Dakota Department of Education or your local district, online or on the standard form.
- File within 30 days of the first time your child begins alternative instruction while of school age.
- Keep the signed or stamped copy you receive as proof of notification.
- Teach the basic skills of language arts and mathematics in a way that leads to mastery of English.
- File an updated notification within 30 days if your child enrolls in a public or nonpublic school or moves to a different district.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district When: Within 30 days of first beginning alternative instruction; again within 30 days if your child enrolls in a school or moves to a different district Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | The basic skills of language arts and mathematics, taught so as to lead to mastery of the English language. |
| Time | None required by law. |
| Parent qualifications | Not required to be certified. No person may instruct more than 22 children. |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law. The Department of Education says alternative instruction students no longer have to take and submit standardized tests. |
| Records to keep | None required by law. |
The law: SDCL 13-27-3 SDCL 13-27-7
Leaving public school mid-year
The notification is due within 30 days after alternative instruction begins (SDCL 13-27-7). A student who leaves an accredited school during the school year for alternative instruction is ineligible for interscholastic activities for the rest of the current season of the activity in which the student is participating (SDCL 13-36-7).
High school, transcripts and diplomas
If a secondary age student who received alternative instruction enrolls in a public school, the student is placed in English and math by one or two standardized tests and in other subjects by transcript review under school board policy (SDCL 13-27-29). The Department of Education FAQ says a child at least 16 may be approved to take a high school equivalency test.
Public school sports and activities
Yes. Each public school district must allow a child receiving alternative instruction to take part in athletics, fine arts, or activities in the district where the child lives. The parent submits proof of age and, before the season, a parent-issued transcript of the previous semester's coursework, and the student follows the same training and eligibility rules as enrolled students (SDCL 13-36-7).
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in South Dakota?
Yes, under the alternative instruction route, you notify the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district within 30 days of first beginning alternative instruction; again within 30 days if your child enrolls in a school or moves to a different district.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota law does not require testing under the alternative instruction route. The Department of Education says alternative instruction students no longer have to take and submit standardized tests.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in South Dakota?
The basic skills of language arts and mathematics, taught so as to lead to mastery of the English language.
What ages must be schooled in South Dakota?
Ages 6 to 18, per state law.
Sources
- SDCL 13-27-3
- SDCL 13-27-7
- SDCL 13-27-1
- SDCL 13-36-7
- SDCL 13-27-29
- Homeschooling (Alternative Instruction), South Dakota Department of Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.