North Dakota vs South Dakota: Homeschool Laws Compared

North Dakota 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 6 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

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 North Dakota 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 sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
3. South Dakota's required list drops social studies, science, health, physical education, music, art, and computer science compared with North Dakota's. Match South Dakota's wording in your records.
4. South Dakota requires no testing or evaluation. Keep North Dakota's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in South Dakota against 7-16 in North Dakota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In South Dakota the answer is yes; in North Dakota it was yes, with conditions.

Moving from South Dakota to North Dakota

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

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in North Dakota rather than the state education department.
2. Start logging from your first day: North Dakota counts 700 hours over 175 days a year, and South Dakota set no minimum.
3. North Dakota's required list adds social studies, science, health, physical education, music, art, and computer science compared with South Dakota's. Match North Dakota's wording in your records.
4. North Dakota requires standardized testing, at specified grade levels. South Dakota had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Compulsory school ages are 7-16 in North Dakota against 6-18 in South Dakota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In North Dakota the answer is yes, with conditions; in South Dakota it was yes.

What stays the same

North Dakota and South Dakota match on the portfolio, progress reports, and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither North Dakota 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 South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Minnesota vs North Dakota 4 rules differ
• Minnesota vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Montana vs North Dakota 3 rules differ
• Montana vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Nebraska vs South Dakota 3 rules differ
• South Dakota vs Wyoming 5 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 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