North Dakota Laws and Requirements for Homeschool

In North Dakota, homeschooling is a legally recognized educational option for parents.

1. Notification of Intent:

  • Parents must submit a Statement of Intent to Home Educate (SFN 16909) to the superintendent of the child's school district of residence at least 14 days before beginning the home education program or within 14 days of establishing residence within a district.
  • The statement must include the child's name, address, date of birth, and grade level; the parent's name and address; and the qualifications of the parent supervising the home education.
  • Additionally, parents must provide a copy of the child's immunization record and proof of identity, such as a birth certificate.

2. Parent Qualifications:

  • Parents must possess a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED) to supervise a home education program.
  • If a parent does not hold a high school diploma or GED, they are required to be monitored by a certified teacher for the first two years of homeschooling.

3. Instructional Requirements:

  • Days and Hours: Parents must provide instruction for at least four hours per day for a minimum of 175 days each academic year. citeturn0search3
  • Required Subjects:
    • Elementary and Middle School: Instruction must include mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, physical education, and health.
    • High School: Instruction must include mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, physical education, and foreign languages, fine arts, or career and technical education.

4. Record-Keeping:

  • Parents are required to maintain records of courses taken by the child, the child's academic progress assessments, and standardized achievement test results.

5. Assessment Requirements:

  • Students must participate in standardized achievement tests in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10.
  • Parents may opt out of standardized testing if they have philosophical, moral, or religious objections, or if the parent holds a teaching license, a baccalaureate degree, or has met the cutoff score on a national teacher examination.

6. Special Education Considerations:

  • Parents homeschooling a child with special needs must submit a copy of the child's diagnosis and file a services plan with the school district superintendent.
  • The services plan must address the child's special needs and be developed by qualified individuals.

7. Extracurricular Activities:

  • Homeschooled students are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident school district or an approved nonpublic school through open enrollment.
  • Parents must provide notification of participation using the notice of intent form.

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