South Dakota does not provide funding for private education.

Schools must offer instruction in language arts and math for an equivalent period of time as public schools. All nonpublic schools must provide regular courses in the constitutions of the United States and the state of South Dakota beginning no later than eighth grade and continuing through high school.

Instructors do not have to be certified. In nonaccredited schools, instructors cannot teach more than 22 students.

In South Dakota, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Department of Education.

The number of hours in the school term for kindergarten may be no less than 437.5 hours, for grades one through five may be no less than 875 hours, and for grades six through 12 may not be less than 962.5 hours, exclusive of intermissions. An intermission is the time when pupils are at recess or lunch.

Schools must keep enrollment information as well as request birth certificates to ensure student age and identity.

Students must be immunized or provide documentation of a medical or religious exemption.

Transportation is not provided by the state or district for private schools students. All school busses must be inspected annually.

Students must annually take a standardized achievement test.