South Dakota calls homeschooling alternative instruction. You file one notification, on the state's form, within 30 days of starting, and you file again only if your child enrolls in a school or you move to a different school district. Since 2021 there is no testing to report and no yearly notice.
Verified against primary sources November 2026. Laws change; sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
File an Alternative Instruction Notification with the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district within 30 days of the first time your child begins alternative instruction. Use the state's form, online or on paper, one per child. It asks only for your child's name, birthdate, resident district, open enrolled district if any, your signature, and where to send your copy. Teach at least the basic skills of language arts and math, in a way that leads to mastery of English. You do not need a teaching certificate, you may not teach more than 22 children, and there is no test, portfolio, set number of days or hours, or yearly filing. File again within 30 days only if your child enrolls in a public or nonpublic school or moves to a different school district.
You notify the Department of Education or your local school district, once, that your child is receiving alternative instruction. This is what the rest of this page describes. The state education department uses the same term for home schools and for enrollment in schools that are not accredited.
A child of compulsory school age who has completed the first eight grades is excused from school attendance if the child or the parents belong to a recognized church or religious denomination that objects to regular public high school, and that church runs a regularly supervised program in which each child learns activities suited to the adult work the child is likely to do.
File within 30 days from the first time your child begins alternative instruction while of compulsory school age. You may file with the South Dakota Department of Education or with your local school district. The department's online system notifies both at once; a paper form can go to the department in Pierre or to your district's main office. A separate notification is needed for each child.
The notification declares that your child will receive alternative instruction and contains your child's name, birthdate, resident school district, open enrolled district if one has accepted your child, the signature of the parent, guardian, or other person in control of the child, and where to return your copy. The law says the state's form may not require more than that. You do not have to send a birth certificate to file.
The department or district must give you a signed or stamped copy of the notification as proof that you filed. No school board vote is needed. The notification must be kept confidential.
After the first filing, a new notification is not required unless your child enrolls in a public or nonpublic school, or your child moves to a different school district. After either change, submit the standard form within 30 days. The department also asks families to update the online record if they stop homeschooling or want to add dual credit.
Alternative instruction covers at least the basic skills of language arts and mathematics, and all instruction must be given so as to lead to mastery of the English language. The person teaching does not need to be certified, and no person may instruct more than 22 children.
A person in control of a child of compulsory school age who neither has the child attend school nor provides alternative instruction under 13-27-3 commits a Class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 1 misdemeanor for each later offense. The school board must first warn a family that has not complied before reporting it to the truancy officer.
| Within 30 days of starting | File the Alternative Instruction Notification, online or on paper, one per child. Keep the signed or stamped copy you get back. |
| During the year | Nothing is due. South Dakota sets no days, hours, tests, or reports for alternative instruction. |
| Within 30 days of a change | File a new notification if your child enrolls in a public or nonpublic school or moves to a different school district. |
| Before each sports or activity season | If your child takes part in public school activities, give the school a transcript you issue for the previous semester, plus the district's activity paperwork. |
| The semester before 11th grade | If your child will use the state's reduced tuition dual credit program, update the online notification so the department can send the Memorandum of Understanding. |
No. Since July 1, 2021, the notification is filed once, within 30 days of the first time your child begins alternative instruction. You file it again only within 30 days of one of two changes: your child enrolls in a public or nonpublic school, or your child moves to a different school district.
No. The 2021 law (Senate Bill 177) removed the requirement to take and report nationally standardized tests in grades 4, 8, and 11. You may still test if you think it helps, at your own cost. If your child later enrolls in a public school, the school places your child using standardized tests.
No. The state education department says no school board action is needed. Once you file on the state's form, the district must treat the notification as submitted, and the department or district gives you a signed or stamped copy as proof.
Yes. Each public school district must let a child in alternative instruction take part in athletics, fine arts, or activities in the district where the child lives. You provide proof of age, and before each season a transcript you issue for the previous semester. Your child follows the same training and eligibility rules as enrolled students.
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Make a free parent accountReference information reviewed August 2026 against primary sources (statutes, NCAA and Common App published requirements). This is general information, not legal advice; requirements change, so verify anything load-bearing for your family against your state's current law.