Homeschooling in South Dakota: what the law requires and who pays
SDCL 13-27-1 lets a child receive alternative instruction under 13-27-3 instead of attending a public or nonpublic school. We have not found an official source saying a South Dakota program pays homeschooled students.
What South Dakota’s law requires
- The law that allows it
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SDCL 13-27-1 lets a child receive alternative instruction under 13-27-3 instead of attending a public or nonpublic school.
“shall cause the child to regularly attend a public or nonpublic school or receive alternative instruction, as set forth in § 13-27-3” SDCL 13-27-1 (compulsory attendance)
- Telling the state or district
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Parents file an Alternative Instruction Notification with the Department of Education or the local district.
“Parents/guardians who choose to provide alternative instruction pursuant to SDCL 13-27-3 are required to file an Alternative Instruction Notification .” South Dakota Department of Education, Home Schooling (Alternative Instruction Notification)
The notification is filed once per child, unless the child changes status.
“Individuals are only required to submit a notification one time for each child, unless a transition has occurred.” South Dakota Department of Education, Home Schooling (Alternative Instruction Notification)
An update is due within 30 days if the child moves or open enrolls to another district while still homeschooling, or stops homeschooling.
“An updated notification indicating a change in status for a child must be submitted within 30 days of any of the following” South Dakota Department of Education, Home Schooling (Alternative Instruction Notification)
- What and how long to teach
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Instruction is in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics, given so as to lead to mastery of English.
“the child is being provided with alternative instruction in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics” SDCL 13-27-3 (alternative instruction, notification, requirements)
- Testing or evaluation
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The department's guide for districts lists standardized testing as not required for alternative instruction learners.
“STANDARDIZED TESTING NOT REQUIRED” South Dakota Department of Education, Alternative Instruction Notification: instructions for school districts (PDF)
- Who may teach
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The instructor does not need to be certified, and no one may instruct more than 22 children.
“The person providing instruction is not required to be certified.” SDCL 13-27-3 (alternative instruction, notification, requirements)
- Ages the law covers
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Compulsory attendance runs until age 18 (or graduation); it starts with the age-5 or age-6 rules in 13-27-1.
“until the child is eighteen years old, has graduated, or is excused or withdraws as provided in this chapter” SDCL 13-27-1 (compulsory attendance)
The state’s own page for families: South Dakota Department of Education, Home Schooling (Alternative Instruction).
State money for homeschoolers in South Dakota
We have not found an official source saying a South Dakota program pays homeschooled students.
South Dakota Partners in Education: amount and how to apply Private schools in South Dakota
Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: South Dakota next to every other state.
Questions parents ask
Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in South Dakota?
Parents file an Alternative Instruction Notification with the Department of Education or the local district. The notification is filed once per child, unless the child changes status. An update is due within 30 days if the child moves or open enrolls to another district while still homeschooling, or stops homeschooling.
Do homeschoolers in South Dakota have to take tests?
The department's guide for districts lists standardized testing as not required for alternative instruction learners.
Can a homeschooler in South Dakota get state money?
We have not found an official source saying a South Dakota program pays homeschooled students.
Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.
Homeschool law in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming