Minnesota vs South Dakota: Homeschool Laws Compared

Minnesota is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while South Dakota requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, required subjects, testing or evaluation, compulsory school ages, 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 Minnesota to South Dakota

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

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the state education department in South Dakota rather than the local school district.
2. South Dakota's required list adds language arts and drops reading, writing, literature, fine arts, science, history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, health, and physical education compared with Minnesota's. Match South Dakota's wording in your records.
3. South Dakota requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Minnesota's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
4. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in South Dakota against 7-17 in Minnesota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In South Dakota the answer is yes; in Minnesota it was yes, with conditions.

Moving from South Dakota to Minnesota

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

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in Minnesota rather than the state education department.
2. Minnesota's required list adds reading, writing, literature, fine arts, science, history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, health, and physical education and drops language arts compared with South Dakota's. Match Minnesota's wording in your records.
3. Minnesota requires standardized testing, annually. South Dakota had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
4. Compulsory school ages are 7-17 in Minnesota against 6-18 in South Dakota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Minnesota the answer is yes, with conditions; in South Dakota it was yes.

What stays the same

Minnesota and South Dakota match on hours or days per year, the portfolio, progress reports, and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Minnesota 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

• Florida vs Minnesota 6 rules differ
• Iowa vs Minnesota 5 rules differ
• Iowa vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Minnesota vs North Dakota 4 rules differ
• Minnesota vs Wisconsin 6 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
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table