Homeschooling in South Dakota
If you’re thinking about homeschooling in South Dakota then you’re in the right place. Before you get started, it’s important to get familiar with the correct steps to successfully homeschool in the beautiful Mount Rushmore State.
We’ve compiled a list of useful resources and information to help guide you towards homeschool success! From the best homeschool programs in South Dakota to local homeschool support groups and organizations, this article will serve as a one-stop shop for a smooth and exciting South Dakota homeschooling journey.
- How to Start Homeschool in South Dakota
- South Dakota Homeschooling Laws
- South Dakota Homeschool Associations
- South Dakota Homeschool Groups and Co-ops
- South Dakota Homeschool Field Trips
- South Dakota Standardized Testing and Test Prep
- Why Time4Learning is the Leading Homeschool Curriculum in South Dakota
- How to Build the Best Homeschool Curriculum for PreK-12 in South Dakota
This information should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.
How to Start Homeschooling in South Dakota
To homeschool in South Dakota, parents must complete the following steps:
- Every year, complete and file a notification for Public School Exemption
- Return the completed exemption form to the public school district office, where you reside
- Choose the best homeschool curriculum that includes required subjects of language arts and math
- Participate in standardized tests in grades 4, 8 and 11.
- Keep good records.
- Have fun learning together!
Welcome to Homeschooling Guide
Download this FREE resource where experienced homeschoolers share their stories for how to begin homeschooling, understanding your child academically, planning your days, and much more.
South Dakota Homeschooling Laws
In South Dakota, homeschool requirements include completing a Public School Exemption form and providing a homeschool education for an equivalent time period to public schools. Parents do not need to be certified in teaching but they do need to include the required subjects of language arts and mathematics into their chosen curriculum. Parents must also not instruct more than 22 children.
For more details on homeschool requirements visit our South Dakota Homeschool Laws page.
South Dakota Homeschool Associations
If you’re new to homeschooling in South Dakota, then you will find local homeschool associations to be very helpful on your journey. Homeschool associations are often referred to as homeschool organization and are meant to provide homeschool families with legal information, paperwork, and important updates related to homeschooling in South Dakota. Visit our South Dakota Homeschool Associations page for more information.
South Dakota Homeschool Groups and Co-ops
Taking on your child’s education and becoming a homeschool parent should not be overwhelming. Thanks to the growing community of South Dakota homeschool families there are several local support groups and cooperatives that you can join. You’re homeschool journey doesn’t have to be a lonely one! Visit our South Dakota Homeschool Groups and Co-ops page for more information.
South Dakota Homeschool Field Trips
Homeschooling in the Mount Rushmore State offers several educational destinations that will inspire a love of learning in your child. South Dakota’s expansive and great outdoors, historical sites, and museums are just some of several field trip ideas to include in your homeschool curriculum. Visit our Homeschool Field Trips in South Dakota blog post to discover ideas for your next learning adventure. Please make sure to contact each site before you plan your visit, as COVID-19 may have impacted their hours of operations.
South Dakota Standardized Testing and Test Prep
In South Dakota, homeschool laws require students in grades 4, 8, and 11 to receive a standardized achievement test provided by the Department of Education. Parents are also free to choose another nationally standardized achievement test, at their expense. Time4Learning offers test prep resources and a curriculum that not only provides standards-based instruction in the core subjects, but also offers practice test simulations in 3rd-8th grade.
Many traditionally school students use Time4Learning as an afterschool program to prep and improve scores on upcoming tests. Learn more on our South Dakota Test prep page.
Why Time4Learning is the Leading Homeschool Curriculum in South Dakota
Now it’s time to consider your homeschool curriculum. Time4Learning has been a common choice for many homeschool families in South Dakota looking to include a curriculum that gives them complete freedom to pick and choose programs and resources that will best fit the learning needs of each of their students. Knowing that parents are required to teach certain subjects and maintain good records it is important to be appropriately prepared.
Here are a few reasons why Time4Learning is one of the leading home school programs in South Dakota:
- PreK-12th grade coursework is correlated to state standards and helps students get prepared for required testing.
- Membership includes core subjects of math, language arts, science, and social studies. Other subjects are available depending on grade level.
- Members have access to 3,500+ multimedia lessons, printable worksheets and graded activities in a student-paced environment that brings concepts to life.
- It has a low monthly price, does not require a contract, and provides a money-back guarantee.
- Our automated grading and reporting system helps parents keep good records with just a few clicks!
- Our self-paced lesson plans let your child work ahead or slow down as needed to master all essential concepts.
- Our curriculum promotes mastery, independent learning, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Additional electives are available for an additional fee.
How to Build the Best Homeschool Curriculum for PreK-12
Embarking on your homeschooling journey in South Dakota can be an extremely exciting and rewarding experience. Now that you’ve learned about all the resources, requirements and information available, you can get started on finding the right homeschool curriculum for your child. If you are new to homeschooling having the right tools and resources can make all the difference. So how do you know which one is right for your child? How do you even find the time to research each one?
Being familiar with your child’s learning style is the first step in helping you make an informed decision. Many parents also find that one program is usually not the answer, which is why many families end up mixing and matching various homeschool programs to give their children a more thorough learning experience. Learn more about how to build the best homeschool curriculum for PreK-12.
South Dakota Unit Study Supplement
Help your homeschooler learn interesting history and geography facts about South Dakota in the Time4Learning unit study supplement.
Online Curriculum for Homeschool, Afterschool and Summer Use
In addition to being an award-winning choice for homeschool families, Time4Learning also offers an online after school program to help build your child’s skills. View our lesson demos and discover why thousands of families in South Dakota are already using it!
Give your student the chance to get back on track or explore exciting electives and get ahead for the next school year with Time4Learning’s online summer school. Our educational materials will engage and challenge your child to succeed.
