How to Homeschool in North Dakota

"Home education" is defined as "a program of education supervised by a child's parent in accordance with the requirements of this chapter." N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-01.

Initial and Renewal Applications

A parent intending to supervise home education must submit at least 14 days prior to the beginning of home education an annual statement with the superintendent of the public school district in which the child resides.

The statement must include the names and addresses of the parent who will supervise and the child who will receive home education; the date of birth and grade level of the child; the intention of the parent to supervise home education; the qualifications of the parent who will supervise home education; a list of public school courses in which the child intends to enroll and the public school district offering the courses; a list of extracurricular activities in which the child intends to participate and the public school district or approved nonpublic school offering the activities; proof of immunizations; and proof of identity. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-02.

The home education must include instruction in those subjects required by law to be taught to public school students and must have a duration of at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year. The state provides exact guidance for elementary, middle and high school curriculum requirements. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-04 and §15.1-21-01.

The parent supervising home education must maintain an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, including any standardized achievement test results. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-05.

A parent is qualified to supervise home education if he or she has a high school diploma or a general education development certificate. However, a parent who does not meet these qualifications must be monitored for the first two years of home education by a teacher licensed or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board.

If the child being instructed receives a composite standardized achievement test score below the 50th percentile nationally, the required monitoring must continue for at least another school year and until the student reaches the 50th percentile nationally. N.D. Cent. Code §§15.1-23-03, 06 and 07.

A student receiving home education must take the standardized test used by the school district in which the student resides in grades four, six, eight, and ten or, if requested by the parent, a nationally normed standardized achievement test. The student may take the test in his or her learning environment or, if requested by the parent, in a public school. The test must be administered by an individual licensed or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-09(section 1).

There is no applicable standardized testing requirement if a parent or legal guardian of a student who holds a teaching license recognized by education standards and practices board; holds a baccalaureate degree; or meets or exceeds the national teacher exam cutoff score notifies the school district in which the child resides that the parent objects to the standardized tests for philosophical, moral, or religious reasons. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-09(section 2).

If the student takes the standardized test used by the school district in which he or she resides, then the school district is responsible for the cost of the test and ensuring that a licensed district employee administers the test. If the student takes a nationally normed standardized test not used by the school district in which the child resides, then the parent is responsible for the cost of the test and the cost of administering the test. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-10.

The parent supervising home education must file the results of the student's standardized achievement test with the superintendent of the student's resident district. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-11.

If a student receiving home education receives a basic composite score lower than the 30th percentile on a standardized achievement test then that student will be assessed for potential learning problems by a multidisciplinary assessment team. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-11.

A high school diploma may be issued to a student by the student's school district of residence, a state-approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota Center for Distance Education if the student, through home education, has met the issuing entity's requirements for high school graduation and the student's parent or legal guardian provides the issuing entity with the required documentation. A student who, through home education, has completed at least twenty-two units of high school coursework from the minimum required by law may also be eligible to be issued a high school diploma by one of the above-named entities. The student's parents or legal guardian must supply the required documentation. For a diploma requested by this latter method, the issuing entity may indicate on the diploma that the student was home educated. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-17.

A North Dakota homeschooled student is eligible to apply, with verified documentation, for either the North Dakota Academic Scholarship or the Career and Technical Education Scholarship. Completion of the Home Education Transcript for the North Dakota Scholarship Program is a requirement. N.D. Cent. Code §§15.1-21-02.5, 15.1-21-02.4.

"A child receiving home education may participate in extracurricular activities either: under the auspices of the child's school district of residence; or under the auspices of an approved nonpublic school, if permitted by the administrator of the school." In either case, the child is subject to the transfer rules of the constitution and bylaws of the North Dakota high school activities association. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-16.

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201
Bismarck, ND 58505-0440
Phone: (701) 328-2260
Fax: (701) 328-2461
Website: http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/

Source: United States Department of Education - North Dakota State Regulations

Intent to Home School Notification

A North Dakota Statement of Intent to Home Educate (SFN 16909)​ must be submitted to the local school superintendent annually. A parent must wait 14 days from the time the Statement of Intent is submitted before beginning home education.

Required Subjects

A parent supervising Home Education shall include instruction in those subjects required by law to be taught to public school students. The instruction must have a duration of at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-04

Record Keeping

A parent supervising Home Education shall maintain an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, including any standardized achievement test results. If the child transfers to a public school district, the parent shall furnish the record, upon request, to the school district superintendent or other administrator. N.D. Cent. Code §15.1-23-05

Testing

While in grades four, six, eight, and ten, each child receiving home education shall take a standardized achievement test used by the school district in which the child resides (All school districts in North Dakota are required to take the NDSA which is a criterion based test). The NWSA will fulfill the testing requirement for home educated students. If the parent does not wish to have their child take the NDSA, they will be required to take a nationally normed standardized achievement test of their choice and submit the test scores, including the composite score, to the superintendent or county superintendent if the district does not employ a superintendent.

Extra Curricular Activities

A child receiving home education may participate in extra-curricular activities either:
Under the auspices of the child's school district of residence; or
Under the auspices of an approved nonpublic school, if permitted by the administration of the school.

* The child participating under the auspices of the child’s school district of residence is subject to the same standards for participation in extra-curricular activities as those required of full-time students enrolled in the school. The child is subject to the transfer rules as provided in the constitution and by-laws of the North Dakota High School Activities Association.

Diplomas

Diplomas may be issued through a child’s school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota Center for Distance Education. Policies regarding issuance of high school diplomas to home educated students are established by the local school boards.

Academic/CTE Scholarship

A home-educated student is eligible to apply for the Academic/CTE Scholarship. The window for applications to be submitted is January through the first Friday in June. Home-educated students must file with the NDDPI the Home Education Transcript for the North Dakota Scholarship Program form. The form must be notarized and submitted with the supporting documentation requested in the form.

North Dakota Home Schooling Links

• North Dakota Home School webpage
• North Dakota Statement of Intent to Home Educate (SFN 16909)​
• North Dakota Supervision" Guidance
• North Dakota Home School Law (NDCC 15.1-23)
• North Dakota Law Chapter 15.1-21 Curriculum and Testing
• North Dakota School Attendance Law
• North Dakota Inoculation Prior to Admission to School
• Home Education Transcript for the North Dakota Scholarship Program (SFN 60374)
• North Dakota Attorney General Opinion on Open Enrollment for Home Educated Students

Source: North Dakota Department of Education