South Dakota Homeschool Laws
South Dakota is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the nation. Understanding the legal requirements ensures you can teach with confidence.
The Basics (SDCL 13-27-3 & 13-27-7)
Under SDCL 13-27-3 and SDCL 13-27-7, South Dakota families may homeschool by filing a one-time Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN). South Dakota does not require teacher certification or standardized testing.
What You MUST Do:
- File a one-time AIN with either the SD Department of Education or your local school district (only needs to be re-filed if you move districts).
- Teach required subjects: Language Arts and Mathematics.
- English Language Requirement: instruction must lead to mastery of English.
What You Do NOT Need To Do:
- ✕No mandatory standardized testing required.
- ✕No teacher certification required for parents.
- ✕No specific curriculum approval needed.
Legal Reference Library
Browse statutes, forms, and official resources organized by topic.
General Overview of SD Homeschool Laws
- General overview published by the SD Department of Education
The official SD Department of Education page explaining what alternative instruction (homeschooling) is and how to get started in South Dakota.
- HSLDA's guide to homeschooling in South Dakota
A plain-language breakdown of South Dakota's homeschool law from the Home School Legal Defense Association, written for families new to homeschooling.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities as Defined by Law
- Age requirements for kindergarten, graduation and GED
Sets the ages at which children must begin school and the minimum age to pursue a GED in place of a traditional diploma.
- Find your school district (interactive map)
Use this interactive map to look up which public school district your home address falls within — important for filing your notification correctly.
- Notification requirements and what you are required to teach (SDCL 13-27-3 & 13-27-7)
The core homeschool statute covering the one-time notification requirement and the subjects you must teach: Language Arts and Mathematics.
- Department of Education notification info page
The SD DOE's explanation of how and when to submit your Alternative Instruction Notification, including contact information for questions.
- Online portal to submit your notification
The official state portal for filing your one-time Alternative Instruction Notification — the simplest way to register as a homeschool family.
- Paper notification form (PDF)
A printable PDF version of the Alternative Instruction Notification form for families who prefer to submit by mail or deliver in person.
Partial / Part-Time Enrollment in Public School
- Homeschool students are allowed to partially enroll and take classes part time
Gives homeschool families the legal right to enroll their child in select public school classes without requiring full-time enrollment.
- Attorney General opinion: public schools must accept homeschool students for partial enrollment
An official Attorney General opinion confirming that school districts cannot refuse a homeschool student's request to take classes part time.
- If enrolled more than 50% of the day, standardized tests are legally required
Once a student's public school time exceeds half the school day, they become subject to the same standardized testing requirements as fully enrolled students.
Open Enrollment for Homeschool Students
- A new district must admit a homeschool child unless it would impair quality of education
Grants homeschool students the right to switch school districts for activities or classes; a district can only deny enrollment if it is genuinely overcrowded.
- Timelines and approval process for open enrollment
Spells out the deadlines and steps a family must follow when applying to open-enroll a student in a different school district.
- Standards for acceptance or rejection of open enrollment
Defines the limited, specific grounds on which a school district may legally deny an open enrollment application.
- Department of Education FAQ on open enrollment and forms
The DOE's official FAQ and downloadable forms for families navigating the open enrollment process in South Dakota.
Dual Credit — High School & College Simultaneously
- General laws on dual credit: age/grade level, failing grades, tuition
Outlines who qualifies for dual enrollment, what consequences apply if a student fails a college course, and who is responsible for paying tuition.
Scholarships
- Eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship
Details the academic criteria homeschool graduates must meet to qualify for South Dakota's merit-based Opportunity Scholarship for college.
- Opportunity Scholarship website
The official application portal and information site for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship program.
- Board of Regents Scholarships
Lists additional scholarship programs offered through the South Dakota Board of Regents that qualifying homeschool graduates may be eligible for.
Participating in Activities at the Local Public School
- •Students of any grade level may participate in any activity at their public school. Some high school activities are sanctioned by the South Dakota High School Activities Association with specific requirements.
- •High school students who are participating in a SDHSAA sanctioned activity cannot leave public school mid-semester and continue to participate in activities that semester as an alternative instruction student.
- •You may be asked to submit transcripts from the previous semester to prove academic eligibility.
- •You must follow South Dakota High School Activities Association rules on activities eligibility.
- •You must fill out the SDHSAA alternative instruction checklist and provide it to your school.
- Homeschoolers allowed to participate in district activities without taking classes (SDCL 13-36-7)
The statute that explicitly gives homeschool students the right to join sports and school activities without being enrolled full-time.
- SDHSAA Athletics Eligibility Handbook (PDF)
The complete rulebook governing athletic eligibility for all South Dakota high school students, including specific sections covering homeschoolers.
- SDHSAA Alternative Instruction checklist form (PDF)
The required form homeschool students must submit to their local school to establish eligibility for SDHSAA-sanctioned activities and sports.
- South Dakota High School Activities Association
The governing body for high school sports and activities in South Dakota — the source for official rules, forms, and event information.
Loan of Textbooks
- Public schools are legally required to loan texts to homeschool children upon request
Requires public school districts to lend textbooks to homeschool families free of charge, just as they do for their own enrolled students.
Truancy
- Neglect of duty by school officials; harboring or employing a truant child (misdemeanor)
Makes it a misdemeanor for school officials to neglect truancy enforcement, or for an employer to knowingly hire a child who should be in school.
- Complaints against persons responsible for truancy — contents and verification
Describes the formal legal process for filing a complaint when a parent or guardian is responsible for a child's truancy from school.
School Placement After Homeschooling
- •High schools are not required to accept homeschool credits even if taken from a nationally accredited program.
- Primary and secondary education placement after alternative instruction
Governs how public schools must assess and place students who are returning to traditional school after a period of homeschooling.