Homeschooling is about saying goodbye to traditional schooling, where students need to set aside other tasks and attend school in person. This type of education allows students to learn from home.
Understanding North Dakota Homeschooling Laws
Let’s take a look at the features of homeschooling in North Dakota.
Overview of North Dakota Homeschool Laws
North Dakota has 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.
Parents in both homeschooling options need to teach the required subjects, provide days of instruction, and file a yearly statement of intent. Parents need to keep school records, and submit standardized tests. Learn more about North Dakota requirements here.
Statement of Intent Required
Parents need to file a yearly statement of intent. Parents must file a statement of intent with the superintendent of the public school district where their child lives. Parents must file with the county superintendent if there is no district superintendent.
The statement of intent 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 intends 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
Parents need to save a copy of the statement of intent and the return receipt in their child’s school records.
Working With the Local School District
Parents need to collaborate with the local school district during their homeschooling. Parents are required to send a yearly statement of intent to the local superintendent.
Parents who don’t have teacher certification must contact their school district to receive monitoring from North Dakota-certified teachers. Teachers monitor homeschooling families in the first two years of homeschooling if a child’s scores are above the 50th percentile. Monitoring extends if a family wants to homeschool more children or if a child’s score is below the 50th percentile.
Parents need to work with the local school district to submit annual assessments of their students. Students with disabilities receive supervision from the local school district. The local school district requires parents to have a services plan for students with disabilities. Parents with a child who has a score below the 30th percentile need to create a remediation plan with a North Dakota-certified teacher. Parents provide this plan to the local school district to achieve quality education.
How to Start Homeschooling in North Dakota?
Let’s review the options parents can use to start homeschooling their children.
Steps to Begin Homeschooling
Parents take the following steps to start homeschooling:
- Make sure they have the necessary qualifications or contact a North Dakota-certified teacher
- File a statement of intent at least 14 days before starting homeschooling or within 14 days of moving into a North Dakota school district
- Keep immunization records and choose public school courses and extracurricular activities for their child to join during the year
Parents need to withdraw their kids from public or private school before starting homeschooling if the child previously attended one.
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
Successful homeschooling happens when parents choose the right curriculum and follow specific standards. We have detailed how to select the right homeschooling curriculum in this article. We explained how to work with standards, helping choose the correct subjects and programs in this article. Parents need to align their choice with North Dakota requirements for teaching the required subjects, divided by grades. Parents can find the exact requirements in the official resources of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
Resources for Homeschool Field Trips
North Dakota offers a variety of field trip opportunities for homeschooling families, combining education with hands-on experiences. The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck provides exhibits on paleontology, Native American culture, and the state’s history. Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora allows students to explore the unique geology and wildlife of the Badlands in ranger-led educational activities. Parents can alway find more field trip opportunities using local groups and co-ops.
Joining North Dakota Homeschool Associations
Let’s explore homeschool associations in North Dakota.
Benefits of Joining Homeschool Associations
Homeschool associations provide support and resources for homeschool families. These associations offer legal guidance, host events such as workshops, conferences, and field trips. Members get access to curriculum advice, educational materials, and networking opportunities with other homeschooling families.
North Dakota Homeschool Association Overview
The North Dakota Home School Association (NDHSA) supports and advocates for homeschooling families statewide. NDHSA provides information on North Dakota’s homeschooling laws, helping families in understanding and complying with state regulations. This association connects families with local support groups to share experience. NDHSA retains a lobbyist to monitor and influence legislation affecting homeschooling freedoms.
Connecting with Other Homeschoolers
Parents and students use local homeschool groups like Classical Conversations and online support groups like The Homeschool Mom Community. Parents use this resource to find homeschool communities. These groups and communities provide families with support and help children achieve better results.
Understanding Standardized Testing for Homeschoolers
North Dakota law requires testing for each homeschooled child in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10. Let’s take a look at the details of these tests.
Importance of Standardized Testing
Standardized testing plays a significant role in homeschooling by providing a measurable way to assess a student’s academic progress. These assessments help ensure students meet minimum educational standards compared to their peers in traditional schools. Test results highlight areas where a student excels or needs improvement, allowing parents to adjust the curriculum to address specific needs.
Standardized testing provides documentation of academic progress. This documentation is useful for future educational transitions, such as enrolling in public school or applying for college.
Available Achievement Tests for Homeschoolers
Parents 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. Parents can arrange for the test to be conducted in the child’s learning 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.
Preparing for Standardized Tests
Preparing for standardized tests requires a structured approach. Parents start from choosing tests they prefer. Students need practice sample tests or questions to identify areas for improvement.
Parents need to create a study plan, including regular review sessions, focusing on core subjects like math, reading, and writing. Parents can use online resources, such as Khan Academy, to prepare their kids for tests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling in North Dakota
Let’s take a look at the most popular questions about homeschooling in North Dakota.
Legal Requirements for Homeschooling
Homeschooling is recognized as a legal alternative to public or private schooling in North Dakota. Parents need to have teacher certifications or relevant education, or be monitored by a certified teacher for the first two years.
Parents must file a statement of intent with the local school district superintendent at least 14 days before beginning homeschooling. Instruction must cover many subjects. These subjects include English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, health, and the arts.
Grade Level Expectations
North Dakota sets academic expectations for each grade level with K-12 Content Standards.
Required elementary and middle school subjects are:
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Social studies
- Science (including Agriculture)
- Physical Education
- Health (including Physiology, Hygiene, Disease control)
Required high school subjects are:
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science (includes Biology and Chemistry or Physical Science)
- Social studies
- Physical Education
- Foreign Languages or Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education
Options for Language Arts Curriculum
Homeschooling families in North Dakota have the flexibility to choose curriculum. Language Arts have several curriculum options, including traditional textbooks, online programs, and literature-based approaches.
Traditional textbooks are programs covering grammar, composition, literature, and vocabulary in the format of books and worksheets. These textbooks alway provide additional materials and help to build a strong Language Art course.
Online programs are interactive programs on online platforms, offering structured lessons and assessments. These programs cover all aspects of the subject using multimedia materials and personalized approaches.
Literature-based approaches use classic and contemporary literature to teach language arts skills. These programs work best with local libraries and workshops.
