Parenting Classes

South Dakota Parent Education Program

South Dakota law requires that parties to any action involving the issue of child custody or parenting time complete a court-approved course concerning the impact of these proceedings on children. This requirement became effective September 1, 2022 (Supreme Court Rule 22-09).

The course is required to be completed within 60 days of the commencement of the court proceeding by service of a summons and complaint, petition, motion or other request concerning child custody or parenting time. Participation in the course is not required for a protection order proceeding or a proceeding involving the termination of parental rights.

A final decree or order cannot be entered until both parties have complied with this requirement and submitted a certificate of completion or have been provided a waiver for good cause by the court.

Participation in the course may only be waived or delayed by approval of a judge for good cause. Good cause may include a default by one of the parties or completion of an approved course within the past 5 years. A request for a good cause exemption may be made by completing the AFFIDAVIT ON COURT-APPROVED PARENTING COURSE.

Each party is responsible for arranging participation in the course and for payment or costs for participation in an approved course.

Class Must Be Court Approved

There are providers who claim to be "court approved." The ONLY Court approved providers are those listed below. The Court does not accept certificates of completion from other providers.

OnlineParentingPrograms.com by Able 2 Adjust, Inc.
Customer Support:
Classes/Prices:
  • Co-Parenting / Divorce Class $34.99
Sliding Scale:
  • Yes, discounts available – Contact Provider
Class Schedule:
  • Online classes available 24/7 and will take a minimum of 4 hours to complete.
Spanish Classes Offered? En Español?
  • Yes. Si.
  • Material for all sessions is available in Spanish. El material de todas las sesiones está disponible en español.
Certificate of Completion:
  • At the end of the class, parents will receive a Certificate of Completion to file with the Court.
Children in the Middle: End the Tug of War in Divorce
Approved:
  • The Children in the Middle: End the Tug of War in Divorce program has been approved to meet the criteria of Supreme Court Rule 22-09, court-approved parenting education for actions involving issues of child custody or visitation.
To Register:
Customer Support:
Class Prices & Schedule:
  • Online Self-Paced Course: $31.95
  • Online Zoom Instructor-Led Course: $50
  • Low-income option for those who apply on the website: $20
Class Schedule
  • Varied times and days for Zoom. Online self-paced is at your convenience.
Languages:
  • English only
Location:
  • Online and Zoom
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificates will be emailed to the participant once the course has been completed.
SMILE Program(Growing Up Together)
Approved:
  • The SMILE Program has been approved to meet the needs of Supreme Court Rule 22-09, Court-approved parenting education for actions involving issues of child custody or visitation.
To Register:
Customer Support:
  • Dawn Tassler 605-280-1968
Classes/Prices:
  • $20.00 per person, no one will be denied service due to inability to pay, no requirements to meet to have fee waived.
Class Schedule:
  • 3rd Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am Central Time and 6:00 pm Central Time. All classes will be held virtually.
Languages other than English:
  • Accommodations may be possible on a case by case basis
Location:
  • Pierre, South Dakota
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificate will be provided after class is completed
Common Sense Parenting(Growing Up Together)
Approved:
  • The Common Sense Parenting Program has been approved to meet the needs of the Parenting Education Laws (S.D.C.L. 25-10-5, 25-10-5.3, 26-8a-21, 26-8a-22.1, 26-10-1).
To Register:
Customer Support:
  • Dawn Tassler 605-280-1968
Classes/Prices:
  • Free
Class Schedule:
  • Classes are scheduled quarterly and held 1 day a week for 6 weeks.
Languages other than English:
  • Accommodations may be possible on a case by case basis
Location:
  • In person in Pierre, South Dakota
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificate will be provided after class is completed
CrossRoads of Parenting and Divorce
Customer Support:
  • Contact Shanna Moke at 605-370-4871 or Melanie Vanderpol-Bailey at 605-680-5066
Class Price:
  • $100 (no waivers or sliding fee available at this time)
Class Schedule:
  • Every 2-3 months depending on class sizes
Language:
  • English Only
Location:
  • Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificate will be provided after class is completed
SMILE Program(Catholic Social Services)
Customer Support:
  • 605-348-6086
Classes/Prices:
  • $20 for the course
Class Schedule:
  • One evening a week from 6:00-8:30 pm
Languages other than English:
  • English Only
Location:
  • Rapid City, South Dakota
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificate provided upon completion of class
Children 1st
Customer Support:
  • 712-898-7186
  • Office Hours Mon, Wed, Fri Noon to 4pm.
Class Price:
  • $55.00
  • Reduced to $25.00 if food stamp approved. Must provide copy of the food stamp approval letter, current and with registrant's name on it.
Class Schedule:
Languages other than English:
  • Spanish starting in October 2022. More info to follow
Location:
  • Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Certificate of Completion:
  • Upon completion the certificate will be mailed the next business day via United States Postal Service.
Other Information:
  • ALL 2022 Classes will be presented live on ZOOM. Students will be required to register and pay in advance. Times and dates are as published on the website.
  • Students may not be in a restaurant or bar for the class. Students may not be in a car or in bed during the class. Students must have childcare for their children during the class.
  • Students must be live on the call at all times during the class. ***Anyone that leaves the meeting for any reason will be excused and have to retake, reregister, and pay another fee. This also applies to unruly students. Classes of five (5) students or less are subject to rescheduling. Students will be notified 24 hours in advance of any cancellation.
Young Children in Divorce and Separation: Children Beyond Dispute
To Register:
Customer Support/Questions:
  • Call (605)271-6979 or above email. Also read about the YCIDS parent program at https://childrenbeyonddispute.com/parentsycids/
  • Fax: (605)271-6979
  • Questions:
    • Are these approved by South Dakota courts? Yes
    • What age are the focus of parenting classes? YCIDS focuses mostly on ages 0-4 due to their vulnerability to impact of separation dynamics and importance of development and attachment needs of this age group.
    • Can this be done virtually? Yes, if appropriate for the family situation.
Class Prices/Sliding Fee/Waiver:
  • Effective 7/1/24: Classes are $35 per parent for a 90-minute program/video. Parents that are currently receiving assistance through state aid programs are eligible for a sliding fee/waiver of class fees.
Class Schedule:
  • Individual in-person appointments are scheduled as allowed. Virtual appointments will be viewed at the parent's own pace and a 30-minute group discussion session will be scheduled with this provider (either virtually or in-person). Groups are scheduled as membership reaches 6.
Languages other than English? No
Location:
  • Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Certificate of Completion:
  • Following class video AND attendance at the 30-minute group discussion, the YCIDS certificate will be signed off on by Recourse Solutions for parents to present to the court. The certificate will not have a signature from Recourse Solutions if the parent has not attended the group discussion following the video course.
Understanding Me Up to Age 3 and Responsive Parenting
Approved:
  • South Dakota Early Child Enrichment has been approved to meet the needs of Supreme Court Rule 22-09, Court-approved parenting education for actions involving issues of child custody or visitation.
To Register:
Customer Support:
  • Rapid City: Autumn Gregory, 605-342-6464
  • Pierre: Brittany Wetergren, 605-773-4755
  • Aberdeen: Kristi Kranz, 605-226-5675
  • Brookings: Rachel Busman, 605-688-5730
  • Sioux Falls: Kristi Kranz, 605-312-8390
Classes/Prices:
  • Free. Currently, there is no charge for the classes as the organization is funded under the South Dakota Department of Social Services.
Class Schedule:
  • Each class meets for two hours. Classes are offered in person in various locations in South Dakota and online so that more parents and caregivers in remote areas can participate.
Languages other than English:
  • Accommodations may be possible on a case by case basis
Location:
  • Rapid City, Pierre, Aberdeen, Brookings, Sioux Falls, and Online
Certificate of Completion:
  • Attendance is maintained and certificates are provided for each session when the parents and caregivers complete assignments and participate in discussions.
Other Information:
  • These classes are intended for parents with children Birth to Age 3.
Children in the Middle: End the Tug of War in Divorce
Approved:
  • The Children in the Middle: End the Tug of War in Divorce program has been approved to meet the criteria of Supreme Court Rule 22-09, court-approved parenting education for actions involving issues of child custody or visitation.
To Register:
Customer Support:
Class Prices & Schedule:
  • Online Self-Paced Course: $31.95
  • Online Zoom Instructor-Led Course: $50
  • Low-income option for those who apply on the website: $20
Class Schedule
  • Varied times and days for Zoom. Online self-paced is at your convenience.
Languages:
  • English only
Location:
  • Online and Zoom
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificates will be emailed to the participant once the course has been completed.
Common Sense Parenting for Divorced or Separated Caregivers
Approved:
  • Common Sense Parenting for Divorced or Separated Caregivers has been approved to meet the criteria of Supreme Court Rule 22-09, court-approved parenting education for actions involving issues of child custody or visitation.
To Register:
  • To register, participants can call 605-338-0116
Customer Support:
Class Prices:
  • Classes are free, (Participants receive a book and workbook)
Class Schedule
Languages:
  • English only
Location:
  • We offer on-line or in-person options. In person classes are held at Children Home Society Shelter for Family Safety in Sioux Falls.
Certificate of Completion:
  • Certificate provided upon completion of class