Listed below is a basic summary of the information known about South Dakota Home Schooling. This is not intended for legal guidance, just a help aid to those considering or engaged in home schooling.
(Legal Disclaimer) Neither St Margaret's Fellowship or any of its members assume any responsibility for the use or accuracy of this infomation.
1. Tests need to be taken in grades 2, 4, 8 and 11. If your 11th grader is age 16 or older, they are no longer under compulsory attendance (though that may be changing this legislative season). At this point, the 11th grade test results need not be reported to the local district, as the student is no longer of compulsory age.
2. The nationally standardized achievement test need only test skills in mathematics and language arts.
3. The local public school district may provide the test or another test may be chosen by and provided at the expense of the child's parent, guardian or school giving alternative instruction (recommended).
4. The test results can be returned to the school with the annual filing of the exemption certificate (I recommend filing in July).
5. You are not required to take the Dakota Step or any other test your local school district takes.
6. If you choose to take the school district's test, you need only to take the mathematics and language art sections. You must test on their timetable.
7. One supplier of a standardized test (CAT-E) for home educators is Seton Testing Services at www.setonhome.org or 540-636-1250. Each test is $25, which includes the test and scoring. Tests are scored and results are returned in one week. Tests can be administered at home and are available for grades K-12.
8. Seton Educational Media also carries the Spectrum Test Prep which reviews content covered by the CAT test. Includes test-taking strategies and techniques for improving scores. Available for grade levels 1-8 for $9 Test preps provide practice for test taking. Submitted by Nancy Gerdes
South Dakota Legislative Contact Information
House Lobby 773-3851
Senate Lobby 773- 3821
Or house@state.sd.us (include the Legislator's name in the subject box
Fax number: Fax must be addressed to a specific legislator (605) 773-6806
Home Schooling/Alternative Instruction in South Dakota Click here for a link
Parents/guardians who currently provide alternative instruction pursuant to SDCL 13-27-3 are required to file an Application for Public School Exemption Certificate (available below) annually. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, the exemption applications will no longer be mailed out to parents/guardians. Therefore, the application must be obtained here, from the local school district, or directly from the Department of Education. The completed application must be filed with the superintendent of schools in the public school district in which the parent /guardian resides.
Parents/guardians who wish to begin providing alternative instruction pursuant to SDCL 13-27-3 must also complete an Application for Public School Exemption Certificate. The completed application must then be submitted to the local public school administration office.
•
Parent Responsibilities
Parent Responsibilities •School District Responsibilities
School District Responsibilities •Department of Education Responsibilities
Department of Education Responsibilities •Interscholastic Activities
Interscholastic Activities •Home School Data
Home School Data Codified Laws
Administrative Rules
The statutes listed below provide information regarding alternative instruction in South Dakota. The statutes are available online at http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/.
•SDCL 13-27-1 - Ages of Compulsory Attendance
SDCL 13-27-1 - Ages of Compulsory Attendance •SDCL 13-27-2 - Attendance Excused by School Board
SDCL 13-27-2 - Attendance Excused by School Board •SDCL 13-27-3 - Provider for Alternative Instruction Attendance Excused by School Board
SDCL 13-27-3 - Provider for Alternative Instruction Attendance Excused by School Board •SDCL 13-27-3.1 - Law that Requests Birth Certificates
SDCL 13-27-3.1 - Law that Requests Birth Certificates •SDCL 13-27-3.2 - Maintenance of Birth Certificates
SDCL 13-27-3.2 - Maintenance of Birth Certificates •SDCL 13-27-3.3 - Report to State’s Attorney of Children for whom Birth Certificate not Furnished
SDCL 13-27-3.3 - Report to State’s Attorney of Children for whom Birth Certificate not Furnished •SDCL 13-27-3.4 - Certified Copy of Birth Certificate to be Provided to Certain Persons at No Cost
SDCL 13-27-3.4 - Certified Copy of Birth Certificate to be Provided to Certain Persons at No Cost •SDCL 13-36-4 - High School Interscholastic Activities Association-Qualifications-Power & Authority
SDCL 13-36-4 - High School Interscholastic Activities Association-Qualifications-Power & Authority •SDCL 13-27-7 - Applications for Excuse From Attendance
SDCL 13-27-7 - Applications for Excuse From Attendance •SDCL 13-27-9 - Certificates of Excuse Copies Maintained
SDCL 13-27-9 - Certificates of Excuse Copies Maintained •SDCL 13-27-20 - Verification of Contents of Complaint
SDCL 13-27-20 - Verification of Contents of Complaint •SDCL 13-27-29 - Placement in an Accredited School from an Unaccredited Program
SDCL 13-27-29 - Placement in an Accredited School from an Unaccredited Program •SDCL 13-34-23 - Loan of Textbooks
SDCL 13-34-23 - Loan of Textbooks •SDCL 13-36-7 - Participation in Interscholastic Activities
SDCL 13-36-7 - Participation in Interscholastic Activities
