North Dakota Homeschool Laws & Requirements
Requirements to legally homeschooling in North Dakota may sound like a lot, but complying with these rules isn’t all that complicated. There are 2 options parents can homeschool under. And on this page you’ll find a clear and comprehensive summary of North Dakota’s homeschool laws for each option, so you can choose the best option for your family’s needs.
- North Dakota Homeschooling Laws
- Your Notice of Intent
- Homeschool Recordkeeping in North Dakota
- Homeschool Graduation Requirements in North Dakota
- Returning to Public School after Homeschooling
- Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in North Dakota
This information should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.
North Dakota Homeschooling Laws
So, what are the requirements for homeschooling in North Dakota? Below you will find the necessary requirements specific to the homeschooling option you chose.
Under the home education law
- Meet the teacher qualifications
- Must have a high school diploma or GED, or
- Have a North Dakota certified teacher “monitor” your first two years of homeschooling
- File a notice of intent to homeschool 14 days before you start every year
- Teach your child a minimum of 175 days each year and 4 hours each (school) day
- Teach the required subjects:
- Math, language arts, social studies, science, physical education and health in elementary and middle school
- Math, language arts, social studies, science, physical education and foreign languages or fine arts or career and technical education in high school
- Maintain records (including records of courses taken, test scores and academic progress assessments)
- Participate in standardized tests in grades 4, 6, 8 and 10
Homeschooling as a private school
- Be a North Dakota certified teacher
- Undergo criminal history record check
- Teach your child a minimum of 180 days
- Subjects required in public schools must be taught in your homeschool
- File a notice of intent every year
For those who wish to homeschool a child with special needs in North Dakota, you must comply with the following requirements:
- Submit notice of intent to homeschool
- Provide a copy of the child’s diagnosis from doctor
- File a service plan with the school district superintendent (developed privately or through school district)
- Service plan must meet the child’s special needs and be addressed by persons qualified to provide special education
- File progress reports prepared by the services plan team, by November 1, February 1, and May 1 every year.
Homeschooled students in North Dakota are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities in their school district or in an approved nonpublic school through open enrollment. The same rules that apply to full-time students will apply to homeschooled students. Parents must provide notification of the selection using the notice of intent form.
More information relating to home education rules for North Dakota can be found at A2ZHomeschooling.com.
Your Notice of Intent
If you are switching from public school to homeschooling in North Dakota, you must submit a Statement of Intent form to the superintendent of the child’s school district of residence at least 14 days prior to starting home instruction or within 14 days of establishing a child’s residence in a school district. The Statement of Intent must be accompanied by your child’s immunization record and proof of identity and must include the following:
- Child’s name and address, date of birth, and grade level
- Parent’s name and address and qualifications
- Any public school courses or extracurricular activities in which the child intents to participate and the corresponding school district (or approved nonpublic school in the case of extracurricular activities)
Homeschool Recordkeeping in North Dakota
In North Dakota, homeschooling families are required to maintain academic records of their students. Here’s a list of what should be kept on file:
- Courses taken by the child
- Child’s academic progress assessments
- Standardized achievement test results
- Other records relating to the instructional and educational activities
An organized recordkeeping system will prove helpful in times of educational transition or when preparing for college applications. Most parents keep records with a homeschool portfolio to showcase their child’s growth and progress throughout their journey.
Homeschool Graduation Requirements in North Dakota
North Dakota is one of the few states that issues high school diplomas to homeschooled students. Since homeschools are regulated at the district level, high school diplomas will be issued by the corresponding school district of the child’s residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the center for distance education. Parents must submit the following in order to obtain a diploma:
- Description of course material covered by high school subject
- Description of course objectives and how they were met
- Transcript of performance in grades 9-12
- Any other reasonable proof deemed appropriate by the entity granting the diploma that shows your child has completed requirements for high school graduation
Alternatively, submitting the above documentation, with completion of at least 22 units of high school coursework, may result in the issuance of a high school diploma, which may include an indication that the child was provided home education. Full details can be found on the Legislature site.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota diploma requirements | Public/private school students must complete 22 credits of required coursework and the state-mandated Civics Exam. | Parents determine when their student has fulfilled graduation requirements and can issue their own homeschool diploma; students of private/online schools may receive diplomas from those institutions. Homeschooled students in ND may be issued a high school diploma from their home school district, approved nonpublic school, or center for distance education. |
| North Dakota high school testing requirements | Unless exempted through an Individualized Education Plan, all high school students in ND must take a Civics Exam. | ND requires standardized testing in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 unless you qualify for an exemption. Homeschool students are required to take the state-mandated Civics Exam. |
| North Dakota high school transcripts | Enrolled students will have access to official transcripts provided by their school district of residence or private school. | Homeschool parents may create their own student transcripts, and may include any information they deem pertinent to colleges, military, and/or future workplace organizations. |
| North Dakota high school course credits | Students graduating with North Dakota high school diplomas must have 22 credits of required coursework. | Parents determine when their student has fulfilled graduation requirements; for the purpose of creating transcripts, some homeschool parents do assign credits to individual courses. |
| GED eligibility | Given a state-mandated minimum age of 16 in ND, individuals may take the GED test. | The same requirements for eligibility apply to homeschoolers as to public school students. |
Returning to Public School after Homeschooling
If you are returning your child to public school after homeschooling, you must submit your record-keeping documents from homeschooling to the superintendent of your child’s school district.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in North Dakota
Have other questions about homeschooling in North Dakota? You may find the following pages helpful.
- Homeschooling in North Dakota
- North Dakota Homeschooling Groups & Co-ops
- North Dakota Homeschool Associations
- Homeschool Field Trips in North Dakota
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