Homeschooling in South Dakota? Here’s your plan.

South Dakota uses the term "alternative instruction" rather than "homeschool" in its statutes, and families should use this language when communicating with school officials. The framework under SDCL Chapter 13-27 is among the lightest in the country. You file a one-time notification with the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district within 30 days of beginning instruction, and the notification is purely informational — the superintendent has no authority to approve or deny it. No annual renewal is required unless the child's status changes (re-enrollment, move to a new district, or dual credit change).

The only required subjects are language arts (including reading and writing) and mathematics under SDCL 13-27-3. You must provide instruction for at least the equivalent number of days as the local public school calendar, which is typically 175 days. There are no minimum daily hours, no attendance tracking requirements, no standardized testing, and no progress reports. SDCL 13-27-4 confirms that alternative instruction students are not required to take standardized achievement tests.

One important detail: South Dakota's compulsory education age extends to 18, which is later than many states. Your one-time notification remains in effect until your child turns 18, graduates, or re-enrolls in public or nonpublic school. For families with sincerely held religious beliefs, SDCL 13-27-7 provides an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements for children who have completed the 8th grade.

South Dakota distinguishes between basic "alternative instruction" under SDCL Chapter 13-27, which is for individual families, and "alternative instruction programs" under SDCL 13-27-1.1, which is a more formalized structure designed for organized programs. The requirements are essentially the same — language arts, math, 175 days, one-time notification. Nearly all homeschool families use the basic alternative instruction pathway.

Use the right terminology. South Dakota law calls it "alternative instruction," not homeschooling. Using the statutory term when corresponding with your superintendent or school officials helps avoid confusion.

Notification is informational and one-time. Your superintendent cannot approve or deny your notification under SDCL 13-27-7. File within 30 days of beginning alternative instruction, include your child's name, birthdate, and resident district, and you are done. No annual re-filing is required unless the child's status changes.

Extracurricular access is guaranteed. Each public school district must allow alternative instruction students to participate in athletics, fine arts, and other activities, with the same eligibility requirements as enrolled students. One restriction: you cannot leave public school mid-semester and participate in activities that same semester.

Co-ops have a cap. Under SDCL 13-27-3, an alternative instructor may not instruct more than 22 students. Keep this in mind when organizing or joining group learning arrangements.

Religious exemption after 8th grade. Families with sincerely held religious beliefs may be exempt from compulsory attendance after their child completes the 8th grade under SDCL 13-27-7.

College preparation. South Dakota Board of Regents institutions (SDSU, USD, NSU, and others) have specific admission requirements for homeschoolers, typically including ACT or SAT scores, a parent-prepared transcript, and documentation of the home education program. Start building your transcript early.

Special needs. Your district must evaluate your child under federal Child Find requirements. Beyond evaluation, partial enrollment in public school is the primary mechanism for accessing services — an Attorney General opinion clarified that public schools must accept alternative instruction students for partial enrollment.