South Dakota Homeschool laws and requirements

Click here to see a general overview of South Dakota homeschool laws published by the Department of Education

Click here to see HSLDA's guide to South Dakota legal requirements.

Age requirements for kindergarten, graduation and GED

Notification, the info they will ask for and when you need to update your form

Find your school district

Notification and what you are required to teach. How many children you can teach

Department of Education Notification info page

Department of Education Online portal to notify

Department of Education Paper form

Homeschool students are allowed to partially enroll i.e. take classes in the public school part time. 

This is the Attorney General opinion that clarified that public schools must accept homeschool students for partial enrollment. 

If a child is enrolled more than 50% of the day they are legally required to take standardized tests

A new school district must admit a homeschool child into their district unless doing so would result in inability to provide quality education

Timelines and approval process for open enrollment

Standards for acceptance or rejection of open enrollment

Department of Education FAQ on open enrollment and forms

Homeschoolers are allowed to participate in public school sanctioned activities in the district in which they reside, or open enroll to, without taking a minimum number of classes as long as they meet eligibility standards. 

Notes: 

1. 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 and there are specific requirements for that participation. 

2. 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 a Alternative Instruction student. 

3. You may be asked to submit transcripts for the previous semester grades to prove academic eligibility. 

4. You must follow South Dakota High School Activities Association rules on activities eligibility. Those can be found here, starting on page 8.

5. You must fill out the SDHSAA checklist and provide it to your school. Find that form here. 

South Dakota High School Activities Association Main Page

South Dakota High School Activities Association Activities Handbook

General laws on dual credit. Age/grade level, failing grades, tuition 

Dual credit general FAQ published by State of South Dakota

Eligibility requirements for Opportunity Scholarship

Opportunity Scholarship website

Board of Regents Scholarships

Public schools are legally required to loan texts to homeschool children upon request 

Neglect of duty by superintendent, president of board, school board, or truancy officer--Harboring or employment of truant child--Hindering attendance by child--Misdemeanor

Complaints against persons responsible for truancy--Contents of complaint--Verification--Dismissal

Bus/transportation inspection.

Primary and Secondary Education placement

Note: high schools do not have to accept homeschool credits even if they were taken from a nationally accredited program.  

School districts are required to conduct an evaluation at the request of a parent.

The federal law, Individuals with Disabilites Education Act (IDEA), requires public schools to identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities, whether or not they attend public school. This means that a parent may request the local public school conduct an evaluation when they suspect their child has a disability. 

While a child receiving alternative instruction has the right to an evaluation and a subsequent Individualized Educational Program (IEP) from the local school if found to have a disability that hinders academic performance, this is not mandatory and parental consent is required. 

School districts are not legally required to provide services (other than an evaluation) for children who receive alternative instruction. Some school districts do provide services for alternative instruction at their discrection.