South Dakota families homeschool through “alternative instruction.” Notification is filed once with the state Department of Education, with periodic standardized testing through grade 11.
Legal framework
Alternative instruction is governed by South Dakota Codified Laws §13-27-3. The South Dakota Department of Education operates the online notification system and publishes current guidance.
Notification & registration
Parents file a one-time Notice of Intent for Alternative Instruction with the South Dakota Department of Education. Re-filing is required only if the family moves to a new district or chooses to discontinue.
Recordkeeping
South Dakota requires students to take a nationally standardized achievement test in grades 4, 8, and 11, with results submitted to the Department of Education. Other recordkeeping is not collected by the state.
Graduation requirements
South Dakota does not prescribe specific high school graduation requirements for alternative-instruction students. The parent determines completion. Aligning the transcript with South Dakota public high school graduation requirements is a useful reference.
Who issues the diploma
The parent operating the alternative instruction program issues the diploma in the name of the family's program.
College & military recognition
South Dakota Board of Regents universities and the South Dakota technical colleges admit alternative-instruction graduates routinely. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the South Dakota Department of Education. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.