South Dakota Homeschool High School Guide

Parent-issued diploma or certificate of completion recognized. No state homeschool diploma. GED/HiSET available as alternative credential.

Parent-created. No state template.

SD Board of Regents institutions have specific admission requirements including ACT/SAT scores, parent-prepared transcript, and documentation of home education program.

Program

High School Dual Credit Program

Eligibility

Grades 11-12 alternative instruction students; parent must sign MOU with SDDOE

How to enroll

Indicate dual credit participation on Alternative Instruction Notification; contact Board of Regents institution

Cost

Reduced tuition rate ($78.48/credit hour — half the regular reduced rate)

SDCL 13-28-37.1

SDCL 13-36-7

What's covered

Sports and Other activities

Eligibility

Same eligibility requirements as enrolled students. Students leaving mid-year are ineligible for balance of current season.

SDCL 13-36-7

South Dakota offers 2 different ways to homeschool. High school options like dual enrollment and sports access may vary by pathway.

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  Alternative Instruction : You file a one-time notification with the SD Department of Education or your local school district, teach language arts and math for at least 175 days, and that is all South Dakota requires. No testing, no curriculum approval, and no ongoing reporting. One of the simplest homeschool frameworks in the country.
• •
  Alternative Instruction Program : You operate under a more formalized alternative instruction program structure, with the same basic requirements — language arts, math, 175 days, and one-time notification. This pathway is designed for organized programs rather than individual families. Most families use the basic alternative instruction pathway instead.

Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for South Dakota