Position: STRONGLY Support
Status: Withdrawn
This is a bill introduced at the request of the FAIRSD Board. As we announced last summer, FAIRSD stands firmly against ESA's and vouchers. When lawmakers offer taxpayer funds to homeschoolers, they also gain the power to decide how that money is spent. Once a family accepts those funds, the government has a justification to set rules, create oversight mechanisms, and madate things such as curriculum, testing, teacher qualifications, or reporting requirements. This is not a hypothetical. It's a well-established pattern in education policy: funding and regulation go hand in hand and they should. The recipients of funds should be held accountable to the taxpayer.
The introduction of HB 1158 underscores the fact that if homeschoolers accept government funds, the government will dictate the terms. They are fighting for control of us even without money involved. Money tied to alternative instruction will ensure loss of freedom.
Update: The FAIRSD Board extends our sincere gratitude to legislative leaders and to all who engaged in the thoughtful and constructive dialogue concerning HB 1206. The concerns raised regarding the preservation of the independence and integrity of Alternative Instruction have been clearly heard and carefully considered.
After careful examination, we believe it is both prudent and responsible to allow additional time to fully address the concerns raised and ensure absolute clarity in our purpose. We intend to return next session with a stronger, more precise bill that reflects our unwavering commitment to Alternative Instruction freedom.
Position: STRONGLY Oppose
Status: Withdrawn
RED ALERT! 🚨 HB 1158 attempts to strip our freedoms. It requires annual notification for every alternative instruction student.
It also requires annual testing for every alternative instruction student in grades 3-8 and 11. They would be required to take the same state assessment as public school students, which is aligned with the state's content standards. The Board of Education Standards will dictate to us when, where, and how our children will be tested.
Of course, FAIRSD will be leading the charge to kill this bill. Please stay tuned for more information and action alerts.
Update: This bill was withdrawn by its sponsor.
Position: Watch for amendments that would affect Alternative Instruction
Status: Passed House of Representatives
The FAIRSD Board has done extensive research into HB 1003, which amends existing law to additionally require background checks for all private school staff. We have consulted with our HSLDA lawyer and have had discussions with Dr. Graves, the SD Secretary of Education. Our board is confident that this bill will not impact Alternative Instruction. Our research and consultation have shown that SD Codified Law and Administrative Rule define "school," and its definition is entirely distinct from Alternative Instruction. The codes referenced in the bill are all under the title "Chapter 13-10 School District Employees." The intention of the bill is clear. FAIRSD Board members are in ongoing conversations about the bill with the Secretary. Our lobbyists will be present for the hearing, and we will notify the SD homeschool community of any imminent threats.
Update: The bill was amended in the House Education Committee to specify "accredited schools."
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Connect with your legislators
Step 1: Figure Out Which Legislative District You Live In
Step 1: Figure Out Which Legislative District You Live In
Step 1: Figure Out Which Legislative District You Live In
It is critical to know which district you live in so you can communicate with your lawmakers. Click here to find your legislative district.
Step 2: Email Your Legislators
Step 1: Figure Out Which Legislative District You Live In
Step 1: Figure Out Which Legislative District You Live In
We want to establish relationships with our legislators before the session begins. Please individually send your legislators
(1 Senator, 2 Representatives) a personalized email introducing them to your family.
- Tell them a little bit about you, your famiy, your homeschool and even include some pictures if you like.
- Stress how much you value your parental rights to determine the best upbringing and education for your children and how much you value the freedom that South Dakota offers.
- Tell them it's important to you to have legislators who also value your parental rights.
- If you moved to SD seeking homeschool freedom, please let them know.
- If you have left the public schools, be sure to tell them why you made that decision.
- Keep it professional and cordial and thank them for their service to our state. IMPORTANT: Be sure to type "Constituent" in the subject line and conclude with your address and phone number in your signature.
Click here to find their emails. Click on their name and it will pull up contact information. Send 3 emails and put their numbers in your phone for quick contacts later.
Step 3: Grab Your Free Interactive Guide
Step 3: Grab Your Free Interactive Guide
Step 3: Grab Your Free Interactive Guide
FAIRSD Committee Members have worked hard to put together this interactive guide to help families learn more about civics in South Dakota.
Sign up below. We will only use your information to send you the link to the guide and for important action alerts specific to your district. No spam. Scroll down to get your guide.
Step 4: Get Connected & Spread the Word
Step 3: Grab Your Free Interactive Guide
Step 3: Grab Your Free Interactive Guide
- Make sure you're getting our emails, sometimes they go to spam, mark them as important so they go to your inbox. Please check that our emails are not landing in your junk or spam.
- Please reach out at action@fairsd.net with any questions.
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
- Spread the word. Make sure that everyone in your community is looped in and receiving updates.
- Partner with us and help provide the funds to pay for our lobbyist. DONATE HERE
Position: Support as amended
SB 113 is a bill to establish in South Dakota codified law the fundamental rights of parents to direct the upbringing, education and care of children.
Status: The bill was amended on the Senate floor. The amendment essentially gutted the bill. It then was sent to a conference committee for concurance. An amendment was proposed to restore the original intent of the bill. THe House voted against it and the bill died.
Position: Support
End the free pass for our libraries to expose children to graphic, obscene content.
In South Dakota, libraries and educational institutions currently have an "affirmative defense" exemption from laws regulating materials deemed harmful to minors. This allows them to provide content that would otherwise be illegal for a private citizen to share with a child.
HB 1239 eliminates this exemption, ensuring that our libraries are held to the same legal standards for protecting minors from harmful, obscene content.
Status: Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 5-2. It will be heard on the Senate floor on Monday, March 10.
Position: Support as amended
FAIRSD believes parents should have the freedom to direct their child's educational path, whether that be enrolling their school-aged child in public school, private school, or alternative instruction. SB71 further expands the rights of parents by allowing them to decide when formal education is no longer benefiting their child. As the law currently reads, if a 17-year-old student is not succeeding in a public school, a parent only has the choice to file an Alternative Instruction Notification, or risk truancy charges. FAIRSD believes Alternative Instruction is a choice parents should make willingly and with the ability to meet the requirements of the law. Alternative Instruction should never be forced upon a family. SB 71 offers legal relief to parents, students, and school districts.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Rhoden.
Position: Support as amended
UPDATE: This bill was amended in the Joint Appropriations Committee. The amendment secures many of the services that were slated to be cut by the origninal bill.
Homeschool parents and children especially treasure our libraries. In the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 State of South Dakota Budget, the SD State Library is slated for near elimination. If this bill is passed 12.5 staff members will be terminated. In addition, virtually all resources and support for K-12, Public, and Academic Libraries in South Dakota will be eliminated. This includes resources that we all value such as support and training for our librarians, databases, audiobook services, and Interlibary loan.
Additonal information can be found at https://www.sdlibraryassociation.org/page/Advocacy
Status: Signed into law by Governor Rhoden.
Position: Support as amended
Of the options presented by school choice proponents, FAIRSD generally prefers a tax credit. FAIRSD opposes ESAs and vouchers for Alternative Instruction because taxes are paid to the government and subsequently returned to the parent with additional regulations. A tax credit represents a fundamentally different approach. FAIRSD is committed to first and foremost advancing, protecting, and securing our homeschool freedoms. We will never compromise if any government oversight or regulation would be included that would threaten our freedoms
even for a tax credit bill.
SB 190 introduces a property tax credit for eligible education expenses to support children with an Alternative Instruction notification on file that is free of government interference. This bill presents a refreshing change in the recent legislative discussions surrounding school choice.
South Dakota law offers three options for parents to fulfill compulsory education requirements. Parents educating their children at home save the state and taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. This bill provides reasonable support for parents who choose not to burden public schools and the state budget by providing an education for their children at home.
FAIRSD appreciates Senator Carley’s support for parents. As with any bill going through the process, there can be modifications and refinements that will enhance it. Nevertheless, SB 190 represents a positive step forward.
Update:The bill was amended in the Senate Education Committee to include a list of eligible education expsenses. This is a good amendment to the bill.
Status: Lost in the Senate 11-24.
Position: Neutral
This bill creates a fourth legal option for compulsory education in SD. It does not impact current Alternative Instruction laws.
Status: Heard in the House Education Committee. Final motion was to send the bill to the 41st Legislative Day essentially killing the bill. The vote was 8-7.
Position: Neutral
FAIRSD worked with Leader Odenbach to create Amendment 1020B which effectively creates the fourth legal option for compulsorty education.. FAIRSD sent a letter to Leader Odenbach and the Legislators that can be viewed here acknowledging the amendment..
When this bill was filed, FAIRSD strongly opposed this bill. In its original form, the bill would have changed current Alternative Instruction law.
Status: Heard in the House Education Committee. Final motion was to send the bill to the 41st Legislative Day essentially killing the bill. The vote was 9-6.
Victory! SB 57 was defeated.
Thanks to the action you all took, this bill, which sought to repeal the right of a homeschooled student to open enroll and participate in activities, was defeated 5-2.
Please help us thank our supporters! See info below.