Is testing required?
No statewide testing requirement was identified in the available sources.
SD
Low regulationSouth Dakota homeschool testing requirements
Testing rules vary dramatically by state. This page gives parents the current South Dakota testing/evaluation summary, frequency, and practical next steps without burying the answer in legal language.
Plain-English note: this is a parent guide, not legal advice. Use the official source links at the bottom of the page before a deadline or filing decision.
How often?
Not required.
Recordkeeping connection
The available HSLDA guidance says South Dakota's alternative instruction statute does not require routine recordkeeping, but families should keep attendance records, curriculum information, work samples, correspondence, filed notification forms, and permanent high school records.
Notification connection
Yes. Families must file the standard alternative-instruction notification form. Deadline: Within 30 days of beginning homeschooling. File another notification within 30 days if you move to a different district or enroll the child in a public or nonpublic school.
Practical testing file
- 1Name of test, evaluator, or portfolio reviewer if used.
- 2Date completed and school year covered.
- 3Score report, evaluator letter, portfolio receipt, or parent summary.
- 4Copy of anything submitted to a district, umbrella school, or state office.
Free printables
Download the homeschool starter kit
Print these before you start: a state startup checklist, letter-of-intent template, attendance tracker, and high-school transcript template.
New homeschool families
State homeschool startup checklist
A printable first-week checklist for choosing your pathway, handling notices or withdrawal, tracking deadlines, and setting up records.
Download PDF →
Notice or withdrawal paperwork
Homeschool letter of intent template
A parent-safe fill-in notice/withdrawal template with reminders to use official state forms when required.
Download PDF →
Recordkeeping
Homeschool attendance tracker
A simple school-year tracker for days, hours, holidays, field trips, and notes you can keep with your records.
Download PDF →
High school planning
Homeschool transcript template
A fill-in high-school transcript starter with course records, credit summary, and parent certification lines.
Download PDF →
These printables are general planning tools, not legal advice. Always verify the current rule on your state page and official source links before filing deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Dakota require standardized testing for homeschoolers?
No statewide testing requirement was identified in the available sources.
How often do South Dakota homeschoolers test or evaluate?
Not required.
Where should I store results?
Keep testing or evaluation records with your South Dakota homeschool records, even if the state does not require submission every year.
See testing in context
Testing is only one compliance field. Review the complete South Dakota requirement hub before your school year starts.
South Dakota homeschool requirementsSources for South Dakota
- https://hslda.org/legal/south-dakota
- https://hslda.org/post/how-to-comply-with-south-dakotas-homeschool-law
- https://hslda.org/post/public-school-access-for-homeschoolers-in-south-dakota
- https://doe.sd.gov/parents/alternativeinstruction.aspx
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/13-27-3
- HSLDA state law summary
Last verified: 2026-04-21. Last updated: 2026-04-21.