Homeschooling in North Dakota

North Dakota homeschooling gives families the freedom to organize their child’s education at home. Parents are responsible for creating a flexible online learning schedule, choosing the right curriculum, and supporting their children to succeed.

Whether you are just starting to explore homeschool in North Dakota or looking to better understand the legal requirements, below you will find all the answers you need.

• In North Dakota homeschool is a legal alternative to public and private school.

• For beginning home education in the state of North Dakota parents must file a statement of intent annually with their local superintendent.

• Homeschooling in North Dakota requires teaching specific subjects and following state guidelines.

• Standardized testing is required in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 unless an exemption applies.

Understanding North Dakota Homeschool Laws and Regulations

Regarding North Dakota homeschool laws, there are two options for homeschooling. Parents can choose to homeschool by following the home education law or homeschool under the private school option.

Parents, who choose homeschooling by state’s homeschool law, need specific qualifications to teach their children or they must be monitored by state certified teachers.

Parents, who choose homeschooling as a private school, need to be a North Dakota certified teacher and pass a criminal background check.

No matter which options the homeschool families choose, they need to teach the required subjects, provide days of instruction, and file a yearly statement of intent to homeschool. Plus, parents need to keep school records of the child’s academic progress, and submit standardized tests.

To begin homeschooling, parents need to file an annual statement of intent with the school  superintendent of the local public school district where their child lives. If there  is no district superintendent, the intent must be filed with the county superintendent.

The statement of intent form includes:

• The name and address of the child
• The child’s date of birth
• The child’s grade level
• The name, address, and qualifications of the parent who will supervise the home education
• Any public school courses the child plans to participate in
• Any extracurricular activities the child intends to participate in and the school district or approved nonpublic school offering the activities
• A copy of the child’s immunization record
• Proof of the child’s identity

Homeschooling families need to save a copy of the statement of intent and the return receipt in their child’s school records.

How to Start Homeschooling in North Dakota?

There are some steps, parents need to take to start homeschooling their children in ND.

First, they should make sure they have the necessary qualifications or contact a North Dakota’s certified teacher

Second step is filing a statement of intent at least 14 days before starting homeschooling or within 14 days of moving into a North Dakota school district.

Third, families are responsible for keeping immunization records and choosing public school courses and extracurricular activities for their child to join during the year.

It’s also important for parents to withdraw their kids from public or private school before starting homeschooling if the child previously attended one.

Successful homeschooling happens when parents choose the right curriculum and follow specific standards. The right online homeschool program should cover all the core subjects, electives, some extracurricular activities. Apart from the requirements,  parents should also consider their child’s learning style and speed, as well as their interests and weak points.

Parents can find the exact legal requirements of homeschool curriculum in the official resources of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Understanding Standardized Testing for Homeschoolers

North Dakota law requires testing for each homeschooled child in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10.

Standardized testing plays an important role in homeschooling. It offers a measurable way to check out a student’s academic progress based on the test score. These progress assessments help ensure students meet minimum educational standards with the courses taken like their peers in traditional schools. Test results highlight areas where a student excels or where he needs improvement, so parents see what specific needs the curriculum should address.

Available Achievement Tests for Homeschoolers

Parents have two options here. They can use the standardized tests provided by their local school district or select a nationally normed standardized achievement test. The chosen test must be administered by a North Dakota state-certified teacher. Homeschoolers can take a standardized achievement test at home in a comfortable environment or at a public school.Parents have the opportunity to pass the standardized testing requirement in the following situations:

• Have a philosophical, moral, or religious objection to standardized tests
• Are licensed to teach by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board
• Hold a baccalaureate degree
• Have met or exceeded the cutoff scores on a national teacher examination

Learn more about testing here.