Military-Connected Families and Students
Mlitary-connected students and their families face unique challenges. The South Dakota Department of Education is dedicated to supporting students and their school districts as they face frequent school transitions and the impact of deployments.
Who are Military-Connected Students?
- More than a thousand public school students in South Dakota are military connected.
- Military connected students move 6-9 times during their education - 3 times more often than their civilian peers.
- Are 2 times more likely to serve in the Armed Forces as adults then their civilian counterparts.
- More than 80 percent attend US public schools.
Resources for Students and Families:
Military Family Resources:
Helpful Resources for Families:
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC):
JROTC is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States and worldwide at US military bases. In South Dakota, JROTC falls under Career and Technical Education. For more information, see the program's content standards. Federal law permits students who are homeschooled and reside in the area served by a JROTC unit to participate without enrolling in the school.
Currently, the following school districts offer JROTC programs:
- Advance enrollment for military families (passed in 2019)
- Ellsworth AFB School Liaison Program
- IEP/504/IFSP transfers for military families (passed in 2025)
- Military Child Care
- Military OneSource
- MIC3
- tutor.com
Helpful Resources for Families:
- Accessing Special Education Services
- SDMyLife.com
- Our Dakota Dreams
- SD Air/Army National Guard State Tuition Assistance
- SD Board of Regents, Reduced Tuition for Military
- SD Alternative Instruction (Homeschooling)
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC):
JROTC is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States and worldwide at US military bases. In South Dakota, JROTC falls under Career and Technical Education. For more information, see the program's content standards. Federal law permits students who are homeschooled and reside in the area served by a JROTC unit to participate without enrolling in the school.
Currently, the following school districts offer JROTC programs:
- Flandreau Indian School
- Douglas School District
- Sioux Falls School District
- Rapid City Area Schools
Resources for Schools:
- Advance enrollment for military families (passed in 2019)
- Air & Space STEM Outreach
- Child Care Provider Search
- Child, Youth and Family Services, Army National Guard
- Department of Defense Education Activity
- Ellsworth AFB School Liaison Program
- IEP/504/IFSP transfers for military families (passed in 2025)
- Military OneSource
- South Dakota Birth to Three
- South Dakota National Guard
- South Dakota's page for the MIC3
How to Become a Purple Star School:
Information to come.
Questions? Contact (605) 773-3134.