North Dakota Home Schooling - State Laws & Regulations

Please Note This Important Notice: North Dakota home schooling laws and regulations cannot be summarized in a short informational page or overview. It is incumbent upon you to perform due diligence in researching and familiarizing yourself with your state's legal's and regulations as they pertain to homeschooling. This information is provided for you to give you a starting point. This is not intended to be legal advice and is distributed for basic informational purposes only. For more information about the laws and regulations in this state please contact a state or local support group or your public library.

North Dakota Home Schooling
Compulsory School Age

Under North Dakota statutes, parents may legally fulfill the compulsory instruction requirements in a home education program "based in the child's home and supervised by the child's parent or parents."

15.1-23-01. Home education

Definition. For purposes of this chapter, "home education" means a program of education supervised by a child's parent, in the child's home, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

15.1-23-02. Statement of intent to supervise home education.

At least fourteen days before beginning home education or within fourteen days of establishing a child's residence in a school district, and once each year thereafter, a parent intending to supervise or supervising home education shall file a statement, reflecting that intent or fact, with the superintendent of the child's school district of residence or if no superintendent is employed, with the county superintendent of schools for the child's county of residence.

1. The statement must include:

a. The name and address of the child receiving home education;

b. The child's date of birth;

c. The child's grade level;

d. The name and address of the parent who will supervise the home education;

e. The qualifications of the parent who will supervise the home education;

f. Any public school courses in which the child intends to participate and the school district offering the courses; and

g. Any extracurricular activities in which the child intends to participate and the school district or approved nonpublic school offering the activities.

2. The statement must be accompanied by a copy of the child's immunization record and proof of the child's identity as required by section 54-23.2-04.2.

15.1-23-03. Home education - Parental qualifications.

A parent may supervise home education if the parent:

1. Is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board;

2. Holds a baccalaureate degree;

3. Has met or exceeded the cutoff score of a national teacher exam given in this state or in any other state if this state does not offer such a test; or

4. Meets the requirements of section 15.1-23-06.

15.1-23-04. Home education - Required subjects - Instructional time.

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.

15.1-23-05. Home education - Academic records.

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.

15.1-23-06. Home education - Required monitoring of progress.

A parent who has a high school diploma or a general education development certificate may supervise home education but must be monitored in accordance with section 15.1-23-07 for the first two years.

If a child receiving home education obtains a basic composite standardized achievement test score below the fiftieth percentile nationally, the parent must be monitored for at least one additional school year and until the child receives a test score at or above the fiftieth percentile.

If testing is not required by section 15.1-23-07 during the first two years of monitoring, the period of monitoring may not be extended, except upon the mutual consent of the parent and the monitor.

If a parent completes the monitoring requirements of this section for one child, the parent may not be monitored with respect to other children for whom the parent supervises home education.

15.1-23-07. Home education - Required monitoring of progress - Reporting of progress - Compensation.

1. If monitoring is required under section 15.1-23-06, the school district shall assign and compensate an individual to monitor a child receiving home education unless the parent notifies the school district that the parent shall select and compensate an individual to monitor the child.

2. The individual assigned by the school district or selected by the parent under subsection 1 must be licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board.

3. Twice during each school year, the individual shall report the child's progress to the school district superintendent or to the county superintendent if the district does not employ a superintendent.

4. If one child receives home education, the individual shall spend an average of one hour per week in contact with the child and the child's parent. If two or more children receive home education, the individual shall spend one-half hour per month for each additional child receiving home education. If the child attends a public or an approved nonpublic school, the time may be proportionately reduced.

15.1-23-08. Monitoring or test administration.

An individual who in accordance with this chapter monitors a child receiving home education or who administers a standardized achievement test to a child receiving home education shall notify the child's school district of residence.

15.1-23-09. Home education - Standardized achievement test.

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 or, if requested by the parent, shall take a nationally normed standardized achievement test. The child shall take the test in the child's learning environment or, if requested by the child's parent, in a public school. An individual licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board shall administer the test.

15.1-23-10. Home education - Standardized achievement test - Cost.

1. If a child receiving home education takes the standardized achievement test used by the school district in which the child resides, the school district is responsible for the cost of the test and for the cost of administering the test. The school district shall ensure that the test is administered by an individual who is employed by the district and who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board.

2. a. If the child takes a nationally normed standardized achievement test not used by the school district in which the child resides, the child's parent is responsible for the cost of the test.

b. The cost of administering a test under this subsection is the responsibility of the child's parent if the test is administered by an individual who is selected by the parent. An individual selected by the child's parent to administer a test under this subsection must be licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board.

c. The cost of administering a test under this subsection is the responsibility of the school district if, at the request of the child's parent, the school district administers the test. The school district shall ensure that the test is administered by an individual who is employed by the district and who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board.

15.1-23-11. Home education - Standardized achievement test - Results.

1. A parent supervising home education shall file the results of the child's standardized achievement test with the superintendent of the district in which the child resides or with the county superintendent if the district does not employ a superintendent.

2. If the child's basic composite score on a standardized achievement test is less than the thirtieth percentile nationally, a multidisciplinary assessment team shall assess the child for a potential learning problem under rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction.

3. If the multidisciplinary assessment team determines that the child is not disabled and the child's parent wishes to continue home education, the parent, with the advice and consent of an individual who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board, shall prepare a remediation plan to address the child's academic deficiencies and file the plan with the superintendent of the school district or with the county superintendent if the district does not employ a superintendent. The parent is responsible for any costs associated with the development of the remediation plan. If the parent fails to file a remediation plan, the parent is deemed to be in violation of compulsory school attendance provisions and may no longer supervise the home education of the child.

15.1-23-12. Home education - Remediation plan.

The superintendent of the school district shall use the remediation plan required by section 15.1-23-11 as the basis for determining reasonable academic progress. The remediation plan must remain in effect until such time as the child achieves on a standardized achievement test a basic composite score at or above the thirtieth percentile or a score, which when compared to the previous year's test score, demonstrates one year of academic progress. At the option of the parent, the test may be one required by section 15.1-23-09 or one administered in a higher grade level. The child's parent, with the advice and consent of an individual who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or who is approved to teach by the education standards and practices board, may amend the remediation plan from time to time in order to accommodate the child's academic needs. If after a remediation plan is no longer in effect the child fails to demonstrate reasonable academic progress on a subsequent test required by this section, a remediation plan must again be developed and implemented.

15.1-23-13. Home education - Disabilities - Services plan.

1. If a multidisciplinary assessment team, using eligibility criteria established by the superintendent of public instruction, determines that the child is disabled, that the child requires specially designed instruction due to the disability, and that this instruction cannot be provided without special education and related services, the parent may continue to supervise home education, provided that:

a. The child does not have a developmental disability;

b. The parent files with the school district superintendent a services plan that was developed privately or through the school district; and

c. The services plan demonstrates that the child's special needs are being addressed by persons qualified to provide special education or related services.

2. Annually, the superintendent of the child's school district of residence shall determine reasonable academic progress based on the child's services plan.

3. If a parent fails to file a services plan as required by this section, the parent is deemed to be in violation of the compulsory school attendance provisions and may no longer supervise the home education of the child.

4. A child who was once evaluated by a multidisciplinary assessment team need not be reevaluated for a potential learning problem upon scoring below the thirtieth percentile on a subsequent standardized achievement test unless the reevaluation is performed pursuant to the child's services plan.

15.1-23-14. Children with autism - Home education.

Notwithstanding any other law, a parent may supervise home education for a developmentally disabled child with autism if:

1. The child has been determined to be autistic by a licensed psychologist;

2. The child's parent is qualified to supervise home education under this chapter; and

3. The child's parent files with the superintendent of the child's school district of residence:

a. A notice that the child will receive home education;

b. A copy of the child's diagnosis of autism prepared and attested to by a licensed psychologist; and

c. A services plan developed and followed by the child's school district of residence and the child's parent; or, after providing written notice to the superintendent of the child's school district of residence, a substitute services plan, developed and followed, according to section 15.1-23-15, by a services plan team selected by and compensated by the child's parent.

15.1-23-15. Children with autism - Home education - Progress reports.

1. On or before November first, February first, and May first of each school year, a parent supervising home education for an autistic child under section 15.1-23-14 shall file with the superintendent of the child's school district of residence progress reports prepared by the services plan team selected under section 15.1-23-14.

If at any time the services plan team agrees that the child is not benefiting from home education, the team shall notify the superintendent of the child's school district of residence and request that the child be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team appointed by the superintendent of the child's school district of residence.

2. The superintendent of the child's school district of residence shall forward copies of all documentation required by this section to the superintendent of public instruction.

15.1-23-16. Home education - Participation in extracurricular activities.

1. A child receiving home education may participate in extracurricular activities either:

a. Under the auspices of the child's school district of residence; or

b. Under the auspices of an approved nonpublic school, if permitted by the administrator of the school.

2. For purposes of this section, a child participating under the auspices of the child's school district of residence is subject to the same standards for participation in extracurricular activities as those required of full-time students enrolled in the district.

3. For purposes of this section, a child participating under the auspices of an approved nonpublic school is subject to the same standards for participation in extracurricular activities as those required of full-time students enrolled in the school.

4. Once a child's parent has selected the public school district or the approved nonpublic school in which the child will participate for purposes of extracurricular activities and has provided notification of the selection through the statement required by section 15.1-23-02, the child is subject to the transfer rules as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the North Dakota high school activities association.

15.1-23-17. (Effective through June 30, 2005) Home education - High school diplomas.

1. A child's school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota division of independent study may issue a high school diploma to a child who, through home education, has met the issuing entity's requirements for high school graduation provided the child's parent submits to the issuing entity a description of the course material covered in each high school subject, a description of the course objectives and how the objectives were met, and a transcript of the child's performance in grades nine through twelve.

2. In the alternative, a high school diploma may be issued by the child's school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota division of independent study provided the child, through home education, has completed at least seventeen units of high school coursework from the minimum required curriculum offerings established by law for public and nonpublic schools and the child's parent or legal guardian submits to the issuing entity a description of the course material covered in each high school subject, a description of the course objectives and how the objectives were met, and a transcript of the child's performance in grades nine through twelve. The issuing entity may indicate on a diploma issued under this subsection that the child was provided with home education.

3. If for any reason the documentation required in subsection 1 or 2 is unavailable, the entity issuing the diploma may accept any other reasonable proof that the child has met the applicable requirements for high school graduation.

(Effective after June 30, 2005) Home education - High school diplomas.

1. A child's school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota division of independent study may issue a high school diploma to a child who, through home education, has met the issuing entity's requirements for high school graduation provided the child's parent submits to the issuing entity a description of the course material covered in each high school subject, a description of the course objectives and how the objectives were met, and a transcript of the child's performance in grades nine through twelve.

2. In the alternative, a high school diploma may be issued by the child's school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota division of independent study provided the child, through home education, has completed at least twenty-one units of high school coursework from the minimum required curriculum offerings established by law for public and nonpublic schools and the child's parent or legal guardian submits to the issuing entity a description of the course material covered in each high school subject, a description of the course objectives and how the objectives were met, and a transcript of the child's performance in grades nine through twelve. The issuing entity may indicate on a diploma issued under this subsection that the child was provided with home education.

3. If for any reason the documentation required in subsection 1 or 2 is unavailable, the entity issuing the diploma may accept any other reasonable proof that the child has met the applicable requirements for high school graduation.

15.1-23-18. Home education - Liability.

No state agency, school district, or county superintendent may be held liable for accepting as correct the information on the statement of intent or for any damages resulting from a parent's failure to educate the child.

15.1-23-19. Home education - State aid to school districts.

For purposes of allocating state aid to school districts, a child receiving home education is deemed enrolled in the child's school district of residence if the child is monitored by an individual who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board and employed by the public school district in which the child resides. A school district is entitled to fifty percent of the per student payment provided in section 15.1-27-04 times the appropriate factor in section 15.1-27-06 or 15.1-27-07 for each child receiving home education. If a child receiving home education is enrolled in public school classes, proportionate payments must be made. The total amount may not exceed the equivalent of one full per student payment times the appropriate weighting factor.

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