How to Start Homeschooling in South Dakota

Required hours

No state minimum

Required subjects

2 subjects

Notice

Required

Testing / evaluation

Not required

Recordkeeping

Recommended

Jump to the full South Dakota requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.

Step by step

1. 1

   Understand South Dakota's homeschool law

   South Dakota has light but formal homeschool requirements with no mandated hour or day minimums, and you'll file notice with the state Department of Education.

2. 2

   Withdraw from public school (if enrolled)

   The path out of public school in South Dakota routes through the state rather than the local district. After a written withdrawal to the current school, families file a state-level notice of intent before instruction starts at home. Homeschool Fox can draft the withdrawal letter for you. It fills in the student, district, and date fields automatically.

3. 3

   File your notice of intent

   Yes, South Dakota requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify the state Department of Education.

4. 4

   Plan your subjects

   South Dakota requires instruction in the following subjects: language arts and math. Beyond these requirements, you have flexibility to add subjects that interest your family.

5. 5

   Set your hours or days target

   South Dakota does not mandate a specific number of instructional hours. Families have flexibility in determining their own schedule and pace of learning.

6. 6

   Track your hours and keep records

   Log activities as they happen so hours, attendance, and subject coverage build up automatically. Homeschool Fox lets you log from your phone or by voice and generates a South Dakota-specific compliance report when you need it.

Free tool

Calculate your homeschool pace

South Dakota doesn't mandate a minimum. Use 900 hours/year as a general guide to stay on pace.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for South Dakota

Everything South Dakota expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

• Required hours or days
• Required subjects & core hours
• Daily activity logs
• Attendance records
• Notes & portfolio records
• Printable PDF reports
• High school transcripts
• State-specific progress tracking

More South Dakota guides

• South Dakota Homeschool Requirements Hours, notice, assessment, and subjects at a glance.
• Homeschooling High School in South Dakota Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
• Record Keeping in South Dakota What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.