Below is a summary of South Dakota Homeschool Laws to help you ensure your homeschool is compliant.
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Note: The information below is not to be considered legal advice. I’m a homeschool mom with an interest in helping you, not a lawyer. I strongly recommend that you contact your state education department if you have questions specific to your circumstances.
Homeschool
South Dakota only has requirements to notify the state and teach required subjects.
Can I Teach?
There is no requirement for you to meet in order to teach.
Do I Have to Notify the State?
Yes. You must file an Alternative Instruction Notification either using the state’s online form or a paper form. The paper form can be submitted to the South Dakota Department of Education or directly to your local school district.
The notification must be submitted at least 30 days before starting your homeschool program or whenever you change school districts.
Required Subjects
South Dakota has a requirement to ensure you teach Language Arts and Mathematics, at minimum.
Documentation Recommendation
The South Dakota Department of Education recommends that you maintain attendance records and a gradebook, however it is not required.
How Many Days a Year do I Have to Teach?
South Dakota’s laws do not mandate a specific number of days or hours for homeschool.
As a reference point for you planning, public school require:
- 438 hours for Kindergarten
- 875 hours for Grades 1-5
- 963 hours for Grades 6-12
While it’s not mandatory, I strongly recommend maintaining attendance records.
Compulsory Attendance Age
The compulsory attendance age is the age range in which your child must be attending school of some type.
In South Dakota, your child must attend school if they are 6 years old on or before September 1st until they are 18 years old or graduate high school.
Public School Sports
The South Dakota High School Activities Association allows homeschoolers to participate in its activities as long as they meet normal eligibility requirements.
Contact your local school for more information.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this summary of South Dakota Homeschool Laws gets you started on your homeschool journey with your family!
If you’re just getting started, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed.
The Home Learning Kit can help!
It’s a package of handy learning tools to make your homeschool more fun and engaging, curated by yours truly. Check it out!
