South Dakota homeschool checklist for this year
Answer two questions and get the year's deadlines with their dates, the notice, testing and records, each linked to the law. Print it or tick it off here.
- South Dakota law
- This year's checklist
- Withdrawing from school
This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page. Laws change, and South Dakota's own statute and education department are the final word. The links below go straight to them.
Deadlines, forms and amounts checked on against the sources linked on this page.
South Dakota homeschool checklist, school year
Things to do, with their deadlines
File an Alternative Instruction Notification on the Department's form (online it goes to both the district and the Department).
Source: SD Department of Education: Home Schooling / Alternative Instruction Notification; SD Department of Education: Alternative Instruction FAQ (PDF, revised 9/10/26)File again if your child enrolls in a school or you move to another district.
Source: SD Department of Education: Home Schooling / Alternative Instruction Notification; SD Department of Education: Alternative Instruction FAQ (PDF, revised 9/10/26)
The state's own form: Alternative Instruction Notification (online, South Dakota Department of Education).
All year
Teach the subjects South Dakota names: language arts, mathematics.
Source: SDCL 13-27-3, alternative instruction (South Dakota Legislature)The law asks for none. The Department of Education recommends keeping a detailed academic record, including attendance and grades, because transcripts from the parent are needed for school activities, returning to public school, dual credit, college and scholarship applications.
Source: SD Department of Education: Alternative Instruction FAQ (PDF, revised 9/10/26)
Good habits (not in the law)
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Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.
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Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.
Where this comes from
- SDCL 13-27-1, duty of person controlling child (South Dakota Legislature) (the law)
- SDCL 13-27-3, alternative instruction (South Dakota Legislature) (the law)
- SD Department of Education: Home Schooling / Alternative Instruction Notification (state agency)
- SD Department of Education: Alternative Instruction FAQ (PDF, revised 9/10/26) (state agency)
- SD Department of Education: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program (state agency)
Checked on October 29, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and forms change; confirm a date with your school district or the state agency before you rely on it. For legal advice, ask a lawyer licensed in South Dakota; homeschool legal-help organizations and your state's homeschool groups can also point you to help. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.