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provide for the establishment of education savings accounts.

South Dakota creates a new education savings account program that gives money to families whose children attend private schools or receive alternative education (like homeschooling or virtual school) to cover tuition, fees, computers, tutoring, and related educational expenses. The state Department of Education will establish individual accounts for participating students and deposit funds into them annually from the state education budget.

clarify standards for the consideration of open enrollment applications.

HB1207 clarifies what standards school districts can use when deciding whether to accept or reject open enrollment applications—limiting them only to program capacity and student-teacher ratios while explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or disability. The bill also strengthens protections for siblings by requiring that if denying an application would separate children from the same household into different school districts, both the home and receiving districts must approve enrollment to keep them together.

provide for the creation and funding of Oceti Sakowin community-based schools.

This bill creates a new process for establishing Oceti Sakowin community-based schools—schools that teach South Dakota Native American history, culture, and standards alongside regular academics. Nonprofits can apply to local school district boards for sponsorship to operate these schools, and the application must include details about the school's mission, structure, staff qualifications, facilities, and how it will measure student success.

provide for the use of screening instruments in determining kindergarten readiness.

This bill allows children who turn five between September 2 and December 31 to start kindergarten early if they pass approved developmental and readiness screening tests showing they have advanced abilities and are socially and emotionally prepared. Previously, South Dakota only allowed children who turned five by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten that year. School districts must use screening instruments approved by the Department of Education and can only administer them at a parent's request.