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Why is homeschooling referred to as Alternative Instruction (AI)?

In the laws below, you’ll see the term “alternative instruction.” It refers to families who have decided to take their children’s education into their own hands, and those children are not attending a state accredited school full time. To become an alternative instruction student, you must file a notification with the state. Currently, the terms homeschooler and Alternative Instruction student are synonymous.

When should I start homeschooling my kindergartener?

In South Dakota, you can decide if you want to start your child in kindergarten when the turn are five or six, but they must start before they are seven and cannot start before they are five as of September 1st of that school year. See the SDLC here.

Can my child leave public school mid-year?

Yes, all you have to do is fill out the notification form and you are an officially homeschooling in South Dakota. However, if your child is playing high school sports and you leave the public school program mid-term your child may lose some athletic eligibility. Please do extensive research on this prior to filing the notification form.

How do I notify the state that I'm homeschooling?

This is a very simple process thanks to Senate Bill 177! All you need to do is follow this link and put in your child’s name, birth date, and the district in which you reside. That’s it, no birth certificates, no affidavits, you don’t even put in your personal address! You only have to do it one time for each child unless you move, or decide to put your child into an accredited school. Learn more here.

Ok, I notified the school, now what?

South Dakota trusts that families will decide what is best for their children to learn and how to teach it. You do not have to be a certified teacher or hold any degrees to homeschool your children. In fact, you can homeschool up to 22 children. The only legal requirements are found in SDLC 13-27-3, and it says that by notifying the State you are telling them that your child is being provided with the basic skills in math and language arts. There are no time constraints or requirements. If you want to homeschool for 4 days a week, you can. If you want to homeschool year-round with lengthy breaks for holidays, you can. Your homeschool does not have to look like public school!

Of course, you’re likely going to want to teach more than basic math and language arts, but how you do it and which curriculums you use are completely up to you! Consider attending our annual conference to see more about learning the ways your child might learn best, and see which curriculums we like!

Also please note that the expense of homeschooling is also all up to you.

Do I need to keep records of what I teach or a portfolio?

South Dakota trusts that families will decide what is best for their children to learn and how to teach it. You are not required to keep any records, though we do strongly recommend doing so. The only legal requirements are found in SDLC 13-27-3, and it says that by notifying the State you are telling them that your child is being provided with the basic skills in math and language arts. There are no time constraints or requirements. If you want to homeschool for 4 days a week, you can. If you want to homeschool year-round with lengthy breaks for holidays, you can. Your homeschool does not have to look like public school!

Does my child need to take a standardized test?

No, since the passage of SB 177 in 2021, there are no longer any standardized test requirements for homeschool students, unless they have partial enrollment in the a public school of 50% or more. If your child is interested in college you will want to see if their admissions requires the SAT, ACT, CLT or other exams.

Can my child play sports and participate in activities in the local school?

Thanks to SB 177, all homeschool children have the right to participate in any school sanctioned activities and sports without having to classes, unless that activity requires a class (like choir). You will have to follow all school policies on eligibility and admission, including vaccination policy, insurance, attendance in any classes that are required for that activity and practices. The school may require you to submit the previous semester’s transcripts to prove that your child is academically eligible. That transcript should show that your child has taken and passed 4 classes with two of them being English Language Arts and Math. See full law here.

Can my child take some classes (partial enrollment) in the local school?

Yes! You just need to call the school and advise them that you would like to sign up for part time classes. Be warned however, if you are are going more than part time you may be obligated to take standardized tests. Also if you enter the school you may be asked to provide all standard paperwork.

Can I put my child back into public school after homeschooling?

In elementary school and middle school this is not an issue, and most schools will re-admit a homeschool child with minimal complications. In sophomore-senior year this becomes very complicated. Many public schools will refuse to accept homeschool course work even if it’s from nationally accredited sources. Homeschooling through high school does take some special consideration. If it is important to you that your child graduate on time, with their class and with a public school diploma, you should reach out to your local school to check on their policies.

Can my child open enroll to a different school district for activities or classes?

Yes. SDCL 13-38-41 specifically grants the right to homeschool students to change districts. You must complete all corresponding paper work. The new district may NOT require your student to take classes in order to play sports or participate in activities. The only way a district can deny an open enrollment application is if the school is over crowded, however if your homeschool student is not seeking classes, they cannot deny your application. Be warned however that high school athletic eligibility does not always follow open enrollment. If your high school student is looking to compete in a new district you will need to make sure you have qualified through the SDHSAA eligibility guidelines found here, specifically pages 8 and 9.

Can my child enroll in dual credit courses in SD college programs?

Yes. While most public schools cover the cost of dual enrollment for their students, homeschoolers do not have that resource. You will have to pay the cost of the college program out of pocket. Find more information here.

What does my child need to graduate? Can they go to college?

As a homeschool teacher you decide what your child needs to graduate! You will create and print a homeschool diploma and issue it as proof of their high school graduation.

If your child is college bound ,this requires special consideration. You will need to have a transcript that proves that your child has completed all the required prerequisites to fulfill the schools admission requirements. Most colleges and universities in the United States happily accept homeschool diplomas and actively recruit homeschool students.

If your child is interested in college sports, you will want to familiarize yourself with the NCAA requirements which can be found here.