Things You'll Need:
- Notarized application
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Step 1
In order for a homeschool to be established, there are no special qualifications for the parent when it comes to education requirements in South Dakota. Officially a homeschool is referred to as alternative instruction or alternative education and there must not be more than 22 students involved at one site.
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Step 2
A notarized application must be submitted to the local superintendent. The form that must be used is the one that has been created by the Secretary of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs. It must include the name of any instructors that will be used, the place of instruction, and a description of the basic skills that will be taught in the alternative learning environment. This certificate is considered a confidential document.
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Step 3
The first time this form is submitted, it must also be accompanied by a copy of the child’s birth certificate or a notarized affidavit that has two witnesses verifying that the child mentioned in the paperwork is truly the child that is involved. A copy of the child’s birth certificate is then required to be kept at the residence where instruction takes place. It is also a good idea to keep attendance records and a portfolio of student work. These two items can be used to prove that attendance requirements are being maintained, and that adequate instruction is being given.
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Step 4
South Dakota does not require a child to begin school until six-years-old. On top of that, a parent can waive the need for a child under the age of seven to attend school. This means that there are no requirements for kindergarten homeschoolers.
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Step 5
State law requires children that are in grades two, four, eight and 11 to participate in standardized testing. This testing may be monitored by the local school district, but they have no right to enter the home of a home school. This test can be the same one that the local district administers, or it can be entirely different. Realize that if testing shows that the child involved is not performing adequately, the homeschool request for the next year could very well be denied.
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Step 6
Both language arts and math are expected to be a part of the curriculum in any homeschool.
