How to Homeschool in South Dakota
Homeschooling is legal in South Dakota — and the state makes it remarkably simple. South Dakota has one legal path for homeschooling families, called Alternative Instruction, governed by SDCL 13-27-3. It is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country: a one-time notification, two required subject areas, no testing, no records mandate, and no required teaching qualifications. Whether you’re pulling your child out mid-year or planning ahead for next fall, here’s exactly what to do and what you don’t have to worry about.
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Is Homeschooling Legal in South Dakota?
Yes — homeschooling is completely legal in South Dakota. It is governed by SDCL 13-27-3, which recognizes Alternative Instruction as a valid alternative to public or nonpublic school enrollment under South Dakota’s compulsory attendance law (SDCL 13-27-1). The statute was substantially updated in 2021 to remove previous requirements like annual notification and mandatory standardized testing — making South Dakota’s law simpler and friendlier to homeschool families than it has been in decades.
South Dakota is classified as a low-regulation state. There is one legal path for homeschooling families:
- Alternative Instruction under SDCL 13-27-3: File a one-time Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) with either the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district within 30 days of beginning instruction. Provide instruction in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics, leading toward mastery of the English language. That’s the full scope of what the state requires. No teaching certificate. No testing. No reporting of progress. No annual renewal. One instructor may not teach more than 22 children.
The steps, requirements, and FAQs below all apply to this single path — Alternative Instruction — because in South Dakota, this is the path.
If you’re in South Dakota, you are in one of the easiest states in the country to homeschool legally. There is one path. There is one form. After you submit it, the state stays out of your way — no annual paperwork, no testing, no checking in, no curriculum approval.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you into thinking the freedom is fragile. South Dakota law was significantly strengthened for homeschoolers in 2021, and the framework is settled. Submit your AIN within 30 days of starting, teach the basics, and build the rest of your homeschool the way that works for your family. That’s it.
South Dakota Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
The information below applies to Alternative Instruction under SDCL 13-27-3 — the only legal homeschooling path in South Dakota.
| Requirement | South Dakota Details (Alternative Instruction) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory School Age | Begins the school year your child is 6 by September 1; continues until age 18 or graduation (SDCL 13-27-1) |
| Notification Required? | Yes — file the Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) with the SD Department of Education or your local school district within 30 days of beginning instruction. One-time per child. |
| AIN Must Include | Child’s name, birth date, resident school district, open-enrolled district (if applicable). Signed by parent, guardian, or person having control of the child. |
| Required Subjects | Basic skills of language arts and mathematics; instruction must lead toward mastery of the English language (SDCL 13-27-3) |
| Instruction Hours Required | None specified in statute |
| Teacher Qualifications | None — instructor is not required to be state-certified (SDCL 13-27-3) |
| Assessment Required | None — standardized testing requirement was removed in 2021 |
| Record-Keeping | Not required by statute; voluntary records strongly recommended |
| Immunization | Not applicable to homeschoolers — South Dakota’s immunization law applies to children entering a school, not those receiving Alternative Instruction |
| Max Students Per Instructor | 22 children (SDCL 13-27-3) |
| Regulation Level | Low |
How to Start Homeschooling in South Dakota: Step by Step
The following steps apply to Alternative Instruction under SDCL 13-27-3 — the only legal homeschooling path in South Dakota.
Confirm Your Resident School District
Your Alternative Instruction Notification asks for your resident school district. If you’re not sure which district you live in, the South Dakota Department of Education provides an interactive map tool that identifies your district from your physical street address. (A P.O. Box won’t work for this lookup — you need your actual home address.) Make a note of your resident district before you fill out the form. If you’re also open-enrolled in a different district, you’ll list that too.
File Your Alternative Instruction Notification with the South Dakota Department of Education
Under Alternative Instruction, you must file a written Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) within 30 days of beginning home instruction. You may file with either the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district — either one satisfies the requirement. Your AIN must include: the child’s name, birth date, resident school district, and open-enrolled district (if applicable). It must be signed by the parent, guardian, or other person having control of the child.
This is a one-time filing per child — not an annual renewal. The Department of Education provides an online notification system as well as paper PDF and Word versions of the form. You only re-file the AIN if your child’s status changes (you move to a different district, your child returns to public or nonpublic school, etc.) — and in those cases, an updated notification is required within 30 days of the change.
Formally Withdraw Your Child from Their Current School
If your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, formally withdraw before you begin homeschooling. If you’re starting mid-year, do this before your child’s first day of home instruction. If you’re starting after the school year ends, withdraw before the next school year begins so the school does not mark your child as absent or truant. Write a withdrawal letter addressed to the principal of the school your child currently attends, stating that your child is withdrawing to begin Alternative Instruction at home. We recommend sending it by Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested, and keeping a copy for your records.
If your child has never attended a public or private school, this step does not apply to you.
Teach South Dakota’s Required Subjects
Under Alternative Instruction, you are required to provide instruction in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics, given so as to lead toward mastery of the English language. That is the full statutory scope of required content. South Dakota does not require any specific number of instruction hours or days, does not mandate a curriculum, and does not require any particular textbook or program. You choose everything else. Before spending anything on curriculum, download Christy-Faith’s free Curriculum Recommendations — a curated list of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market, organized by subject.
Keep Voluntary Records — Even Though South Dakota Doesn’t Require Them
South Dakota’s Alternative Instruction statute does not require any specific recordkeeping. There are no mandatory attendance logs, no progress reports, no test result submissions, and no portfolio reviews. That said, we strongly recommend keeping records voluntarily. Good records support your child’s future — proof of education for college applications, military enlistment, employer background checks, dual credit enrollment, and any situation that asks for documentation of schooling. Voluntary records to keep: attendance, a list of curriculum and textbooks used, samples of student work, any test results (if you choose to test), and your stamped or signed copy of the AIN. Keep these at least two years; keep all high school records permanently.
How to Withdraw Your Child from Public School in South Dakota
If your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, formally withdraw before you begin homeschooling. If you are starting mid-year, do this before your child’s first day of home instruction. If you are starting after the school year ends, withdraw before the next school year begins so the school does not mark your child as absent or truant.
Here is the recommended approach:
- Write a withdrawal letter addressed to the principal of the school your child currently attends. State that your child is withdrawing to begin Alternative Instruction at home under SDCL 13-27-3.
- Send by Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested. This creates a documented paper trail of the date and delivery.
- Keep copies of everything — your letter, any postal receipts, and any responses from the school.
- Local schools may have specific forms or procedures. Contact your school to ask about their process.
- If your child has never attended a public or private school, this section does not apply to you.
For individualized guidance on the withdrawal process — especially if your situation is complicated — listen to Episode 101 of The Christy-Faith Show, which covers the legal framework and how to start with confidence.
South Dakota Homeschool Notification Requirements
Under Alternative Instruction, South Dakota requires a written Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) filed once per child. Here is what the law requires:
- Who receives the notice: The South Dakota Department of Education OR your local school district — either one satisfies the requirement.
- Timing: Within 30 days of beginning home instruction.
- One-time filing: The AIN is filed once per child. No annual renewal is required.
- What to include: The child’s name, birth date, resident school district, and open-enrolled district (if applicable). The form must be signed by the parent, guardian, or other person having control of the child.
- Standard form provided by the DOE: The Department of Education provides an online notification system as well as downloadable PDF and Word versions of the standard form. The form is the required format.
- How to send a paper form: If you submit a paper AIN rather than using the online system, we recommend Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested. Keep a copy for your records.
- Updated notifications: File an updated AIN within 30 days if your child moves to or open enrolls in another district (while still homeschooling), or if your child returns to public or nonpublic school.
The AIN is a notification — not a request for permission. The Department of Education and the school district do not approve or deny your choice to homeschool. Once your AIN is on file, you are compliant with SDCL 13-27-3 and can begin instruction.
Homeschool Assessment Requirements in South Dakota
There are no standardized testing or assessment requirements for South Dakota Alternative Instruction students. South Dakota’s law previously required nationally standardized achievement tests in 4th, 8th, and 11th grades, but that requirement was removed in 2021 when the legislature passed Senate Bill 177. Today, the state does not require:
- No state standardized testing — Alternative Instruction students are not required to take any state-administered test.
- No nationally standardized achievement test — the previous 4th, 8th, and 11th grade testing requirement no longer applies.
- No progress evaluations — no qualified evaluator review, no portfolio submission, no annual report.
- No score thresholds or remediation triggers — there is no minimum score the state can require, because there is no test the state can require.
One important exception: If your child is enrolled in a public school for more than 50% of the school day (for example, taking multiple part-time classes through your local district), they are considered enrolled and are subject to the same testing requirements as full-time public school students. This only applies if your child crosses the 50% enrollment threshold — full-time homeschoolers are entirely exempt.
You may still choose to administer standardized tests. Many South Dakota families do — for their own progress tracking, for college planning, for placement, or for the practice experience. Whether to test, when to test, and what test to use is entirely up to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling in South Dakota
Yes — completely legal. Homeschooling in South Dakota is recognized under SDCL 13-27-3 as Alternative Instruction. South Dakota has one legal path: file a one-time Alternative Instruction Notification with either the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district within 30 days of starting, and provide instruction in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics. There is no testing, no records mandate, no annual renewal, and no teaching certification required.
Yes — you must file a one-time Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) within 30 days of beginning home instruction. You may file with either the South Dakota Department of Education or your local school district — either one satisfies the requirement. The AIN must include your child’s name, birth date, resident school district, and open-enrolled district (if applicable), and must be signed by the parent or guardian. The Department of Education provides an online notification system as well as downloadable paper forms. The AIN is filed once per child — no annual renewal is required.
None. Under SDCL 13-27-3, the person providing Alternative Instruction is not required to be state-certified. You do not need a teaching certificate, a college degree, or any specific credential to homeschool in South Dakota. The only related restriction in the statute is that one instructor may not teach more than 22 children.
Under SDCL 13-27-3, your program must include instruction in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics, and all instruction must be given so as to lead toward mastery of the English language. Those are the only subjects required by statute. You are free to teach science, history, art, music, foreign languages, religious studies, and anything else you choose — but the law itself only mandates language arts and math. South Dakota does not require any specific curriculum, textbook, or instructional approach.
Yes. There is no requirement to begin Alternative Instruction at the start of the school year. File your Alternative Instruction Notification within 30 days of beginning home instruction, and formally withdraw your child from their current school before your first day of home instruction. We recommend sending the withdrawal letter by Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested. South Dakota does not specify a required number of instruction days or hours, so there is no pro-rating or catching-up calculation to worry about.
No. South Dakota does not require Alternative Instruction students to take any standardized test. The state previously required nationally standardized testing in 4th, 8th, and 11th grades, but that requirement was removed in 2021. The one exception: if your child is enrolled in public school for more than 50% of the school day, they are treated as a public school student and are subject to the same testing requirements as enrolled students. Full-time homeschoolers are entirely exempt.
Under SDCL 13-27-1, you must begin complying with South Dakota’s compulsory school law the school year your child is or will be 6 by September 1. The compulsory age continues until your child turns 18 or graduates from high school — whichever comes first. For your Alternative Instruction Notification, file before the 30-day mark after you begin home instruction, which typically means the school year your child turns 6 by September 1.
No on both counts — South Dakota’s Alternative Instruction statute does not require any specific recordkeeping, and South Dakota’s school immunization law applies only to children entering a school, not to children receiving Alternative Instruction at home. That said, we strongly recommend keeping voluntary records anyway: attendance, curriculum used, samples of student work, any test results you choose to administer, and a stamped or signed copy of your AIN. These records support your child’s future — college applications, military enlistment, dual credit enrollment, and any situation that asks for proof of education. Keep general records at least two years; keep all high school records permanently.
You Can Do This
I know what it feels like to be exactly where you are right now — staring at requirements, wondering if you’re actually qualified for this, and somewhere in the back of your mind asking: but what if I mess this up?
Here’s what 20+ years in education and homeschooling my own four kids has taught me: the parents who do this well are not the ones with teaching degrees. They’re the ones who care deeply, who stay curious, and who show up for their kids every single day. That’s why you’re here. That’s the qualification that matters.
And honestly — if you’re in South Dakota, you have less to worry about than parents in almost any other state. One form. Two required subjects. No testing. No annual paperwork. The South Dakota legislature gave families an enormous amount of freedom in 2021, and that freedom is yours to use. The state’s only saying: teach your child to read and do math, and write your name on a form once. The rest? It’s the family you’re building, the curiosity you’re nurturing, the books you’re reading together at the kitchen table. That’s where the real homeschool happens, and you get to design every bit of it.
If you want to go deeper — not just the legal requirements, but the full picture of how to build a homeschool that actually works — my book Homeschool Rising, published by Wiley, was written for exactly this season. And when you’re ready for an ongoing community of families who get it, Thrive Homeschool Community is where we do life together every day.
Start with the Roadmap below. You’ve already taken the hardest step.
Start Your South Dakota Homeschool Journey — Free
The exact 8 steps to start your homeschool — in order, without the chaos. A 26-page roadmap and a free 3-part training video series, delivered instantly.
Start Here: Free Homeschool Roadmap →Free · Instant access · No spam
Want to Go Deeper? Start With These Episodes.
Three episodes of The Christy-Faith Show built specifically for families just starting out. Listen in order — each one picks up exactly where the last left off.
How to Start Homeschooling (Part 1/3) — The Legal Stuff & Choosing the Right Approach
South Dakota’s legal framework explained clearly, your homeschool approach options, and exactly how to choose the right path for your family.
Listen now →Finding Homeschool Curriculum & Resources // How to Start Homeschooling (Part 2/3)
How to find curriculum without getting overwhelmed — and the mistake almost every new homeschool family makes when buying their first materials.
Listen now →Creating Your Schedule & Finding Socialization // How to Start Homeschooling (Part 3/3)
Build a schedule that works for real family life, and find your South Dakota homeschool community — the socialization question answered for good.
Listen now →South Dakota Homeschool Resources
- Free Curriculum Recommendations — Christy-Faith’s curated list of the most reputable homeschool programs, by subject
- The New Homeschooler Roadmap — Free 26-page guide + 3-part training video series
- How to Homeschool by State — Guides for all 50 states
- Thrive Homeschool Community — Ongoing support, encouragement, and community
- Homeschool Rising by Christy-Faith — Discover why there is no better place to educate a child than in a loving home with a motivated parent.
- Christy-Faith’s List — Curated South Dakota homeschool resources and organizations
Disclaimer: The information on this page is intended for general guidance only — not legal advice. It reflects our best understanding of the state Department of Education. Homeschool laws can change. Always verify current requirements with an up-to-date legal source. Last update: April 2026.
