South Dakota schools teach prenatal growth using required visuals

The Board of Education Standards must recommend teaching resources, and school districts must use them in health or science classes. The requirement applies to South Dakota school districts when they provide a health or science curriculum.

Instruction must include a high-definition ultrasound video and a second visual showing development from fertilization through birth. These requirements apply to instruction in prenatal human growth and development under the preceding section. The ultrasound video must show the brain, heart, and other major organs at various stages of prenatal development. The second visual may be a computer-generated rendering, animation, or high-definition ultrasound video. It must note significant points in cellular growth and organ development. Each video, rendering, or animation shown under this requirement must be at least three minutes long.

Instruction may not use materials produced or provided by certain abortion-related entities. The exclusion applies to books, articles, outlines, handouts, videos, and other materials used for the required instruction. The exclusion covers entities that perform or promote abortions, contract or subcontract with such entities, are affiliated with them, or regularly refer people to them.