Home School Parents/guardians who currently provide alternative instruction pursuant to SDCL 13-27-3 are required to file a Notice for Public School Exemption Certificate annually. This Home School link references SD Codified Law and responsibilities for Parents, Schools Districts, and Department of Education.
South Dakota students who receive alternative instruction are required to take a nationally standardized achievement test in Mathematics and Reading at grades, 4, 8 and 11(grade 2 no longer required). SD DOE provides a standardized test free of charge for home school students in grades 4, 8 and 11. The public school district is required to notify all home school settings within their district boundaries, about the testing requirement. The parent/guardian must pick up the test from the district – tests are never mailed out. If parents/guardians use a different test than the one provided by the state, it must be a nationally standardized achievement test. These different tests will be at the expense of the parent/guardian and results need to be shared with the school district.