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South Dakota · Light-touch
South Dakota asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.
VerifiedMarch 2026
Written from South Dakota's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.
Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
South Dakota asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: File an Alternative Instruction Notification within 30 days of the first time your child begins alternative instruction (homeschooling). File it with the South Dakota Department of Education (online system or paper form) or the local school district. A separate notification is needed for each child. This is a one-time filing — you will not repeat it each year. It goes to South Dakota Department of Education.
Cover the subjects the state names
South Dakota names 2 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. South Dakota does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
No testing or assessment
South Dakota does not require a standardized test or an evaluator's review. Plenty of families still keep a folder of work through the year — not because the state asks, but because it makes a transcript or a college application far easier to put together later. A note from the state: No assessment results are required to be submitted. Senate Bill 177 (effective July 1, 2021) removed the requirement for alternative instruction families to report assessment results. You may choose standardized tests at your own expense.
No program on file yet
We do not have a verified South Dakota education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking South Dakota Department of Education directly.
Is homeschooling legal in South Dakota?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in South Dakota. South Dakota is considered one of the easiest states for homeschoolers — minimal regulation, no notice required, and maximum family freedom.
Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in South Dakota?
Yes. South Dakota requires families to file a Notice of Intent by File an Alternative Instruction Notification within 30 days of the first time your child begins alternative instruction (homeschooling). File it with the South Dakota Department of Education (online system or paper form) or the local school district. A separate notification is needed for each child.. This is a one-time filing when you begin homeschooling.
How many instruction days are required in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.
What subjects are required by law in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires instruction in the following subjects: Language arts, Mathematics.
Does South Dakota require annual assessment for homeschoolers?
No. South Dakota does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.
Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in South Dakota?
Rules about homeschooled students taking part in public school sports and activities differ by state and by district. Check with your local school district and your state athletic association.
South Dakota asks for a one-time Alternative Instruction Notification for each child, filed within 30 days of starting and updated within 30 days if the child enrolls in a school, moves districts or stops homeschooling. Instruction must cover at least language arts and mathematics. Senate Bill 177 (effective July 1, 2021) removed the requirement to report assessment results. SDCL 13-36-7 gives alternative instruction students access to district activities.
The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with South Dakota's requirements and ignore the rest.
Last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with South Dakota Department of Education. This is information for families, not legal advice.