North Dakota Homeschool Requirements

NDCC §15.1-23-02 requires that the statement be filed 'at least five days before beginning home education or within fourteen days of establishing a child's residence in a school district, and once each year thereafter.' The statement must include: (a) child's name, address, DOB, and grade level; (b) parent's name, address, and qualifications; (c) any public school courses the child intends to take; and (d) any extracurricular activities planned. The statement must also be accompanied by the child's immunization record and proof of identity. The superintendent reports the number of statements filed to the state superintendent of public instruction.

NDCC §15.1-23-04 states: 'A parent supervising home education shall include instruction in those subjects required by law to be taught to public school students.' North Dakota public school required subjects include English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, and fine arts at various grade levels. By incorporating the public school curriculum by reference, North Dakota ensures substantive academic coverage without creating a separate subject list exclusively for home educators.

NDCC §15.1-23-04 mandates: 'The instruction must have a duration of at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year.' This 700-hour minimum (4 hours × 175 days) is among the more prescriptive in the nation. The 175-day requirement aligns with the minimum public school year requirement. Parents are expected to schedule instruction accordingly and to document compliance as part of their academic records obligation under NDCC §15.1-23-05.

NDCC §§15.1-23-06 through 15.1-23-12 establish the testing and remediation framework. A parent without a high school diploma who supervises home education must be monitored for the first two years (§15.1-23-06). If a child scores below the 50th percentile nationally on the standardized achievement test, the parent must continue to be monitored until the child scores at or above the 50th percentile (§15.1-23-06). NDCC §15.1-23-07 requires reporting of test results to the school district. NDCC §15.1-23-08 requires the test administrator to notify the child's school district of residence. NDCC §15.1-23-12 provides that if a child scores below the 30th percentile, the school district superintendent must develop a remediation plan.

NDCC §15.1-23-05 requires: '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.' The statute does not specify a minimum retention period, but records must be available upon a school district's request at time of transfer. This is a substantive recordkeeping obligation that goes beyond the minimal requirements of lower-regulation states.

NDCC §15.1-23-03 provides: 'A parent may supervise home education if the parent: 1. Holds a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma; or 2. Meets the requirements of section 15.1-23-06.' Section 15.1-23-06 allows a parent without qualifying credentials to supervise home education but requires monitoring 'in accordance with section 15.1-23-07 for the first two years.' The monitoring involves oversight by a certified teacher or licensed educator who reports the child's progress to the school district. Once a parent has completed the monitoring requirement for one child, they are not required to be monitored for subsequent children.

NDCC §15.1-23-02(2) states: '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 12-60-26.' This means immunization records must be physically submitted to the school district superintendent with each annual statement of intent. North Dakota's immunization requirements under N.D.C.C. §23-07-17.1 apply to school-age children. Medical and religious exemptions are available under North Dakota law. This is a stronger immunization accountability mechanism than states that merely require parents to maintain records at home.

NDCC §15.1-23-13 provides for a 'disabilities services plan' for home-educated children with disabilities. NDCC §15.1-23-14 specifically addresses children with developmental disabilities, allowing home education if certain conditions are met. NDCC §15.1-23-15 requires progress reporting for children with developmental disabilities receiving home education. The school district must be involved in developing the services plan, representing a higher level of state oversight compared to most other states. Parents retain the right to homeschool children with disabilities but must engage with the local district in the planning process.

NDCC §15.1-23-02 governs the statement of intent process, which must be filed before beginning home education. When a child transfers from home education to a public school, NDCC §15.1-23-05 requires the parent to furnish academic records 'upon request, to the school district superintendent or other administrator.' The statement of intent includes details about 'any public school courses in which the child intends to participate,' which facilitates partial enrollment scenarios. North Dakota also allows home-educated students to enroll part-time in public school courses.

North Dakota Century Code §15.1-20-01 establishes compulsory school attendance for children ages 7 through 16. The home education chapter (NDCC §15.1-23) provides the lawful alternative to public school enrollment for this age range. A parent who fails to comply with compulsory attendance requirements without a lawful excuse may be subject to criminal penalties. The compulsory age range of 7–16 is consistent with North Dakota's traditional approach to education law.

NDCC §15.1-23-17 specifically addresses 'Home education - High school diplomas,' providing explicit statutory authorization for home schools to award diplomas. This is an important distinction: unlike some states where home school diplomas are issued on parental authority alone without statutory backing, North Dakota's statute expressly recognizes the home school diploma. Students who complete North Dakota home education requirements and receive a diploma may use it for college admissions, military enlistment, and employment purposes.

NDCC §15.1-23-16 states: 'A child receiving home education may participate in extracurricular activities either: [at the public school district of residence or at an approved nonpublic school].' Parents must list any extracurricular activities the child intends to participate in—and the school district or approved nonpublic school offering them—in the annual statement of intent under §15.1-23-02(1)(d). This explicit statutory right to extracurricular participation is more protective of homeschoolers than many states, which leave the decision entirely to local district discretion.