Even though North Dakota does not highly regulate homeschooling, there are some North Dakota homeschool requirements you must satisfy when you homeschool:

• Begin homeschooling by age 7.
• File the required Statement of Intent fourteen days prior to beginning homeschooling and each year thereafter (NDCC 15.1-23-02).
• Include “instruction in those subjects required by law to be taught to public school students” (NDCC 15.1-23-04).
• Provide instruction for “a duration of at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year” (NDCC 15.1-23-04).
• Arrange for testing using a nationally-normed standardized achievement test in grades four, six, eight, and ten.
• Stay current with homeschooling laws and requirements.

Do I need to administer testing to my homeschooler?

North Dakota Century Code states, “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 (All school districts in North Dakota are required to take the NDSA which is a criterion-based test). The NWSA will fulfill the testing requirement for home educated students. If the parent does not wish to have their child take the NDSA, they will be required to take a nationally normed standardized achievement test of their choice and submit the test scores, including the composite score, to the superintendent or county superintendent if the district does not employ a superintendent” (North Dakota Department of Public Instruction).

“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. In addition, the cost of administering a test 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 must be licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board. The cost of administering a test 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” (North Dakota Department of Public Instruction).

There are, however, exemptions to this requirement. Per NDCC 15.1-23-09, the testing requirement “does not apply if the parent notifies the school district in which the child resides that the parent has a philosophical, moral, or religious objection to the use of standardized achievement tests or the parent:

• Is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board;
• Holds a baccalaureate degree; or
• Has met or exceeded the cutoff score of a national teacher examination given in this state or in any other state if this state does not offer such an examination.”

What happens to my child’s annual testing results?

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction provides the following information: “If the child’s basic composite score on a standardized achievement test is less that the thirtieth (30%) percentile nationally, a multidisciplinary assessment team shall assess the child for a potential learning problem under rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction. If the multidisciplinary assessment team determines that the child is not disabled and the child’s parents wish 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 and standards 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.

The superintendent of the school district shall use the remediation plan 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 (30%) 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 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 educations standards and practices board, may amend the remediation plan from time to time in effect the child fails to demonstrate reasonable academic progress on a subsequent test, a remediation plan must again be developed and implemented.”

“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” (NDCC 15.1-23-06).

What records do I need to keep when I homeschool my child?

According to NDCC 15.1-23-05, “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.” Also, “it is recommended from the North Dakota Home School Association (NDHSA) and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) that a parent maintain meticulous records of both classes taught and standards met during these classes. These records will be helpful to the parents for multiple reasons, including:

• If the student transfers to a public school;
• Filling out college applications and scholarships; and
• Resources for educating younger children in the household.”

In addition to the required recordkeeping, we also recommend you do some personal recordkeeping to provide verification of education in the event you would need to show some form of educational proof to the state or other legal entities or to prepare for re-entry into public school or postsecondary pathways. This includes the following:

• Attendance
• Immunization records
• Lists of texts and workbooks used
• Student schoolwork samples and/or portfolios
• Test and evaluation results
• Correspondence with school officials

You may also be able to find more information on North Dakota homeschool requirements through your local school district.