South Dakota
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 6 (by the first day of September) and 16. Under age 7, a parent will be granted a waiver of compulsory attendance if requested. (§ 13-27-1) As of July 1, 2010, compulsory age is lowered to 5 as of Sept. 1, with no waiver available.
• Required Days of Instruction: Equivalent period of time as public schools (§ 13-27-3)
• Required Subjects: Language arts and math. (§ 13-27-3)
• Teacher Qualifications: None.
• Standardized Tests: (§ 13-27-3) Children who are in grade levels tested (2, 4, 8, 11) under the state testing program must take a standardized achievement test that "may be monitored by the school district…." However, the school district has no authority to enter the home. The test may be the same standardized test designated for use in the local school district, or any other nationally standardized achievement test.
"If subsequent achievement test results reveal less than satisfactory academic progress in the level of achievement, the school board may refuse to renew the child's certificate of excuse." (§ 13-27-7)
• Homeschools and non-accredited private schools are referred to in statutes as "alternative instruction" or "alternative education."
"A child shall be excused from school attendance, pursuant to § 13-27-2, because the child is otherwise provided with alternative instruction for an equivalent period of time, as in public schools, in the basic skills of language arts and mathematics."
1. Parents homeschooling their children must submit a notarized application for an excuse to the local superintendent. It must include the names of the teachers, place of instruction, and description of the basic skills taught. Parents must use the form written by the Secretary of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs.
2. The first time (only) an application for excuse is filed for a specific child, the parents must include either a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, or an affidavit witnessed or notarized by two or more witnesses swearing or affirming that the child for whom the excuse is being requested is the same as the person "appearing on the child's birth certificate." (§ 13-27-3.1)
3. At all times a child is being homeschooled, the parents must keep on file at home a certified copy of the child's birth certificate. (§ 13-27-3.1)
4. No individual may teach more than twenty-two children.
5. The Secretary of the Department of Education "may inspect the records of an alternative education program with 14 days' written notice if the secretary has probable cause to believe the program is not in compliance." (§ 13-27-3). The records to be inspected are limited to attendance and evidence showing academic progress. This statute does not give officials authority to enter a home. Before any homeschooler's records can be inspected, the state has the burden of proving it has reliable evidence that the family is not in compliance. Suspicion or an anonymous tip is not sufficient. Rarely do school officials have evidence of sufficient quality and quantity to satisfy the probable cause standard so as to authorize them to review any homeschoolers' records.
6. Parents may appeal a denial to homeschool to the state board of education, which will conduct a hearing. (§ 13-27-8). On appeal, "the burden of proving noncompliance with § 13-27-3 shall be upon the secretary of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs. The state board's decision shall be final as to the secretary's right to appeal."
7. Homeschoolers' privacy is expressly protected by §§ 13-27-2 and 13-27-9, which makes the certificate of excuse a confidential document.
Reference: Click Here
South Dakota State High School Graduation Requirements
- English units: 4. Must include 1.5 units writing; 1.5 units literature, including .5 unit American literature; and .5 unit speech.
- Eff. Class of 2010: Same as existing requirements, both for Standard and Advanced diploma.
- Math units: 2-3. 5 units math and laboratory science, of which at least two units must be math.
- Eff. Class of 2008: 3, incl. 1 unit Algebra I or higher.
- Eff. Class of 2010: Advanced program: 3, incl. Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry. Standard: 3, incl. Algebra I. All students must complete Advanced high school program unless excused by parent/guardian and school counselor or school administrator, in which case the Standard high school program requirements must be fulfilled.
- Social studies units: 3. Must include 1 unit U.S. history; .5 unit U.S. government; .5 unit geography.
- Eff. Class of 2010: 3. Requirements same as existing plus .5 unit world history.
- Science units: 2-3, incl. 2 units lab science. 5 units math and laboratory science, of which at least two units must be laboratory science.
- Eff. Class of 2008: 2 units lab science
- Eff. Class of 2010: Advanced program: 3 units lab science, incl. biology and chemistry or physics. Standard: 2 units lab science
- P.E./Health units: 0
- Eff. Class of 2010: .5 unit unit health or physical education.
- Arts: 1 unit fine arts.
- Foreign language: 0
- Eff. Class of 2010: Advanced and Standard programs: Students must choose 2 units, with any combination of world language, computer studies, approved career and technical education courses, or additional math or science courses.
- Electives units: 8.5
- Eff. Class of 2010: 6 or 5. Advanced and Standard programs require 5 and 6 units electives, respectively.
- Other units: .5 unit laboratory computer studies. Eff. Class of 2010: Advanced program and Standard program: .5 unit economics or personal finance. 2 units "required offerings" – students select any combination of world language, computer studies, approved career and technical education courses, or additional math or science courses.
Other diploma options: State will offer honors/college prep curriculum option effective with the Class of 2010. State does not offer technical diploma option or proficiency-based credit option.
Technical notes and citations: Eff. Class of 2010: All students must complete the Advanced graduation requirements unless excused by a process set forth in statute. The "Advanced" diploma is referred to as "recommended" in statute; the "Standard" diploma is referred to as "basic" in statute. Student transcripts reflect if a student completed the Advanced high school program. "Both programs shall include a rigorous high school curriculum..."
S.D. ADMIN. R. 24:43:01:01, 24:43:11:01 through 24:43:11:06; S.D. CODIFIED LAWS § 13-33-19, § 13-1-12.1, 13-33-4
Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.
A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.
Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in South Dakota
Colleges in South Dakota