Iowa vs South Dakota: Homeschool Laws Compared

South Dakota is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice but no testing or evaluation, while Iowa requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, required subjects, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

5

Same in both

4

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Iowa to South Dakota

Once you are a South Dakota resident you homeschool under South Dakota's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. File a notice of intent with the state education department once you are a South Dakota resident. Iowa did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. South Dakota's required list drops reading, science, and social studies compared with Iowa's. Match South Dakota's wording in your records.
3. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in South Dakota against 6-16 in Iowa, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
4. South Dakota has no ESA program. Iowa's Iowa Students First Education Savings Account is for Iowa residents, so budget without it.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In South Dakota the answer is yes; in Iowa it was yes, with conditions.

Moving from South Dakota to Iowa

Once you are a Iowa resident you homeschool under Iowa's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. There is no notice to file in Iowa. Before you leave, send South Dakota's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. Iowa's required list adds reading, science, and social studies compared with South Dakota's. Match Iowa's wording in your records.
3. Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in Iowa against 6-18 in South Dakota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
4. Iowa runs Iowa Students First Education Savings Account. Check whether your family qualifies; South Dakota had no comparable program.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Iowa the answer is yes, with conditions; in South Dakota it was yes.

What stays the same

Iowa and South Dakota match on hours or days per year, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, and progress reports. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Iowa nor South Dakota takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Iowa vs Minnesota 5 rules differ
• Iowa vs Missouri 3 rules differ
• Iowa vs Nebraska 5 rules differ
• Iowa vs Wisconsin 6 rules differ
• Minnesota vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Montana vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Nebraska vs South Dakota 3 rules differ
• North Dakota vs South Dakota 6 rules differ
• South Dakota vs Wyoming 5 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table