Homeschooling in South Dakota: Laws, Requirements, and How to Get Started

Your nine-year-old asks why your grocery bill keeps climbing. You realize they're paying closer attention to the world than you thought, and you want to give them an education to match.

That's what most homeschoolers are working toward, and South Dakota makes it more achievable than most states. The requirements are minimal, with no excessive requests such as teacher certifications or mandatory record-keeping.

For most parents who want more for their children, this is one of the best paths to take. Many parents today are looking for something more practical for their kids. They need an education that helps them understand how money works, why prices are at an all-time high, and how things work in everyday life.

While not every curriculum focuses on those real-world skills, homeschooling gives families the flexibility to include them intentionally. Luckily, South Dakota's homeschool laws are flexible enough to give you the freedom needed on this journey.

This guide covers everything you need to know, including the legal requirements, first steps, curriculum choices, and the community that's already out there to support you.

Is Homeschooling Legal in South Dakota?

Homeschooling in South Dakota (The Mount Rushmore State) is legal. The state is considered one of the more straightforward states for homeschooling families. It operates under what the state calls alternative instruction. This means parents can take direct responsibility for their child’s education, and don't necessarily have to enroll them in a public school.

Who Can Homeschool?

A parent or legal guardian can homeschool their child. You don’t need a teaching degree, special certification, or prior classroom experience. What matters most is your willingness to stay consistent and build a learning rhythm that works for your family.

South Dakota Homeschool Laws and Requirements Explained

Home education in South Dakota operates under a single legal pathway, which is the alternative instruction under the state's Codified Law SDCL 13-27-3.
Here’s what that means for your family:

• No teacher certifications required. Any parent or guardian can teach
• No minimum instructional-hour requirement, but you must provide instruction for at least 175 days each year, equivalent to the local school district.
• No annual state assessment. You measure your family's progress.

Filing the Homeschool Affidavit

Compulsory education in South Dakota covers children ages 6 to 18 or until graduation. You only need to file an alternative instruction notification once when homeschooling begins, not every year.

This form typically includes:

• Your kid’s name and birth date
• Resident school district
• Signature as the parent or legal guardian
• information for the return of the form

It’s a simple process, and the official step that transitions your child from public school enrollment to homeschooling.

Required Subjects

South Dakota requires instruction in:

• The basic skills of language arts
• Mathematics

Beyond that, you have enough flexibility to include other subjects such as science, history or civics based on your kid's interests. If you need some additional pointers on the necessary subjects, we have a detailed guide on the best resources for kids to learn languages.

Attendance Expectations

South Dakota does not set a specific instructional-hour requirement for homeschool families, but families must provide at least 175 days of instruction each school year. The schedule can be organized by the parent, as long as that annual requirement is met.

Standardized Testing Rules

Homeschooled students in South Dakota typically do not have to participate in standardized testing, but you can choose to do this as due diligence. It helps you assess your child's progress and how they measure against other kids in similar grade levels.

How to Start Homeschooling in South Dakota: Step-by-Step

The paperwork required in this process is minimal, which makes things easier, especially for families new to this learning model. Here is a step-by-step guide for you to follow.

Step 1: File Your Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN)

The AIN is the one form that makes your homeschool official in South Dakota.

• Where to File: Submit online through the South Dakota Department of Education's (DOE) portal, or file on paper with your local school district. The DOE's interactive map can help you identify your correct district based on your address.
• When to File: Filed annually for the upcoming school year or within 30 days of starting mid-year
• What You Need: Your child's name, age, and school district. You'd also be required to state your residence or address. The birth certificate isn't required.

Once this is done, you can begin schooling immediately. You don't have to wait for approval because the notification takes effect immediately upon filing. The only time you'd be required to refile is if you're moving to a new district.

If you're still working through the early decisions, including what style of homeschooling fits your family, or what a typical first day should look like, our guide on how to start homeschooling can walk you through this practically, emphasizing every move you need to make on this journey.

Step 2: Choose Your Required Subjects and Curriculum

The Mount Rushmore State doesn't have many requirements for subjects to teach, but the little it gives should be followed judiciously. The subject requirements are limited to the 5 areas listed above.

These are non-negotiables to add to your subject list and curriculum. Everything else is your choice, and no one will dictate what curriculum to use in teaching your child.

Step 3: Keep Basic Records

The state doesn't require recordkeeping, but every guide you check would advise you to keep one for your kids. Why? These records will be useful when your child wants to re-enroll in a public school, apply to colleges, and participate in public school curricula. You can start by keeping attendance logs, some work samples, and test results.

Choosing the Right Homeschool Curriculum

This is the section where most parents get stuck because many guides skip it. The freedom South Dakota offers can also make it more challenging, especially when it comes to choosing among the numerous resources available.

Some common approaches most families look to are classical, eclectic, unit studies, and online programs. Each of these models has its own relevance and strengths. For instance, the unit study is a topic-based approach that allows parents to explore a specific theme in depth across multiple subjects.

A very relatable example here is writing a grocery list or going to the supermarket. Kids get to learn math by adding the prices, languages by listing out the ingredients, and life skills by making choices based on needs and wants.

It's also very important to choose curricula that speak to your kids and align with their learning styles. Do your research based on the options highlighted and find what works.

Real-World Learning Approach

Many parents who start homeschooling are looking for an education that prepares their kids for the world around them. That often means getting materials and resources that extend beyond the usual memorization and academic basics into ideas that shape daily life.

How does money really work? How will kids grow to be adults who can form their own opinions and defend them with clarity? These are the conversations that build such a mindset, and many traditional programs focus more on academic benchmarks than real-world application, which is why some families choose to supplement with additional resources.

The Tuttle Twins Homeschool Hub gives South Dakota families exactly that. It covers economics, American history, and civics, through stories kids actually want to read, and helps them understand how the world works from preschool through the teen years.

The Homeschooling Community in South Dakota

Many families worry about isolation, but this is rarely ever the case for anyone taking this learning path. South Dakota has homeschool groups, co-ops, and communities that range from regional support groups to social organizations to resource-driven gatherings.

Let's discuss every one of them and how they could be relevant to your journey.

Co-ops and Learning Groups

Homeschool co-ops help families give their kids a structured learning experience alongside their peers while simultaneously allowing parents to take a break from solo teaching.

Examples include Black Hills Homeschool Co-op in Rapid City and ACE Academy in Sioux Falls. These organizations are relevant for enrichment classes, hands-on group activities, and support for families homeschooling in the state.

Statewide, there is the South Dakota Christian Home Educators (SDCHE), which curates field trips, graduation ceremonies for seniors, and other statewide events. The families in these groups are already the best resource you'll find because the majority of them have navigated the first steps or year, found what works, and would be willing to help you find what works for your family as well.

Activity Access and Public School Extracurriculars

Families homeschooling in this state are not limited to the resources and support we've listed. South Dakota also grants homeschool students the right to participate in athletics, fine arts, music, and other school-sponsored activities in their home district.

However, for this to work, your child has to meet the same eligibility standard as enrolled students. For SDHSAA-sanctioned sports, a previous semester transcript confirming academic eligibility may be required.

To access this opportunity, start by contacting the activities director at your local school district and asking for the homeschool participation policy in writing. Confirm all requirements needed, deadlines, and other details that might be relevant to your enrollment.

FAQs

What is the Best Grade to Start Homeschooling?

The best grade to start home education is when it feels right for your child, but generally, more parents start as early as kindergarten because they want to shape their kids' learning experience from a young age.

Can Homeschoolers in South Dakota Go to College?

Yes. Many colleges actively welcome homeschool students because they show strong independent learning skills and creativity. If you have college plans for your kids, ensure they have a solid transcript and keep adequate records of grades, credits earned, and GPA in preparation for college applications.

Can I Homeschool More Than One Child at a Time?

Yes, you can. However, you'd have to file a separate AIN for each child. Keep in mind that South Dakota's laws also limit one instructor to a maximum of 22 students. That ceiling is well above what any family would reasonably hit.

Is Homeschooling Expensive?

The overall cost really depends on the approaches you take. The average estimate is around $500 to $2,500 per child each year. This would cover curriculum, books, supplies, field trips, and other activities. If you're able to cut costs on some of these resources, you could be spending less than estimated.

Conclusion

There’s an opportunity to build an education that reflects the conversations you want to have at home, about money, responsibility, and how to think through real-life decisions. This can become a reality when you take a more personalized approach with your kids and work with the right resources.

South Dakota's homeschooling laws already make this very easy, and from there, you can begin shaping the kind of conversations and learning experiences you want to have with your family each day.

When you're ready to build, the Tuttle Twins Homeschool Hub is a good resource to start with. Here, you'll find books, bundles, and guides curated for families who want their children to be ready for the real world.