Homeschooling in South Dakota, Made Simple

Homeschooling in South Dakota? South Dakota keeps homeschooling refreshingly low-hassle: file one short notification form, teach the basics, and you’re free to educate your child your way. The real challenge families run into isn’t the paperwork — it’s the workload of teaching every subject alone. That’s what Get Classically Educated was built to solve. Live, expert-led classical classes carry the teaching load, so your child gets a rigorous education and your family keeps its time — on just four hours a week.

Explore GCE: Elementary · Middle School · High School · Homeschooling by State

Is Homeschooling Legal in South Dakota?

Not legal advice. Get Classically Educated is an education provider — not a law firm or legal counsel. This is a plain-English summary for general information only; homeschool laws change and can vary by district, so always confirm current requirements with your state before you begin.

Yes. South Dakota recognizes homeschooling (called “alternative instruction”) as a legal option, and it’s one of the more hands-off states in the country. Here’s what’s required:

• File a notification form. Within 30 days of starting, submit the Department of Education’s standard notification form to either the DOE or your local school district. It lists your child’s name, birth date, resident district, and open-enrolled district (if applicable), signed by the parent or guardian.
• Refile if you transition. If you move to a different school district, or enroll your child in a public or nonpublic school, file another notification form within 30 days of the change.
• No group limits beyond one rule. No single individual may homeschool more than 22 children.
• No teacher qualifications and no immunization requirement for homeschoolers.

None of this requires you to teach every subject alone — and that’s where we come in.

What South Dakota Requires You to Teach

Not legal advice. The subjects and rules described here are general information. Get Classically Educated is an education provider, not a law firm or legal counsel — confirm requirements with your state.

South Dakota’s standard is simple and broad: your program must include, at minimum, instruction in the basic skills of language arts and math that leads to mastery of the English language. There’s no state-mandated subject list beyond that, and no testing to prove it.

Here’s where Get Classically Educated fits, and we’ll be straight with you about it: our program covers the language arts requirement deeply — reading, writing, great books, logic, and rhetoric are the heart of a classical education, and we add history, government, science, and hands-on research on top. The one piece we intentionally leave to you is mathematics, so you can pair GCE with whatever math curriculum fits your child. Because our program only takes about four hours of live class a week, you’ll have plenty of room to add it. You stay fully compliant with South Dakota law, and your child gets a classical education most schools can’t touch.

How to Start Homeschooling in South Dakota

Not legal counsel. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Verify the current steps with your state or school district before you begin.

1. If your child is currently in public school, plan your withdrawal alongside your notification.
2. File the DOE’s standard notification form with either the state or your local district within 30 days of starting.
3. Choose a curriculum covering language arts and math, and begin — no testing or approval to wait on.
4. If you ever move districts or transition your child into a school, refile the notification form within 30 days.

We take the heaviest part — the actual teaching — off your plate.

Why South Dakota Families Choose Get Classically Educated

South Dakota gives you the freedom to homeschool. We give you a way to do it well without losing your life to it. That promise has a name: 4 Hours to Freedom. Your child attends about four hours of live, expert-led class each week and does no more than four hours of independent work a day — leaving real time for family, faith, activities, and rest.

What sets the program apart:

• Live, expert-led classes. Real teachers, real discussion — not videos your child watches alone.
• A true classical education. The trivium — grammar, logic, and rhetoric — taught through great books, writing, and Socratic discussion, so your child learns to think, not just memorize.
• Science, research, and experiments built in. The base program trades rote math drills for hands-on science and real research skills.
• Grades 3 through 12, one continuous journey. A coherent, rigorous path from the elementary years to graduation.
• One flat tuition. $1,200 per year for the full-year base program — no per-course surprises.

South Dakota Homeschool FAQ

Do I have to notify the state to homeschool in South Dakota?
Yes — file the DOE’s standard notification form with either the state or your local school district within 30 days of starting.

Does my child have to take a standardized test?
No. South Dakota does not require homeschoolers to test, though the DOE does offer a free standardized test for grades 4, 8, and 11 if you choose to use it.

South Dakota requires math — does GCE include it?
The GCE base program does not include math; it focuses on classical subjects plus science and research. You pair it with any math curriculum you like. Because the program is only about four hours of class a week, you’ll have time to add it easily and stay compliant.

What grades do you serve?
Grades 3 through 12 — one continuous classical education from the elementary years through high school graduation.

How much time does it take each week?
About four hours of live class per week, with independent work capped around four hours a day. We call it 4 Hours to Freedom.