How to Start Homeschooling in North Dakota

Yes. Homeschooling is fully legal in North Dakota. NDCC Chapter 15.1-23 is a dedicated home education statute. It is not a loophole or a workaround. The law treats home education as a legitimate option for any family.

North Dakota does have more structure than many states. You file paperwork each year. Your child takes tests at certain grades. But here is what matters most: your Statement of Intent is a notification, not an application. You tell the superintendent you are homeschooling. The superintendent cannot approve or deny it. You have every right to teach your child at home.

North Dakota requires education for children ages 7 through 16 (NDCC 15.1-20-01). A child who will be 7 before the start of the school year is subject to compulsory attendance for that school year.

No mandatory kindergarten. If your child is 5 or 6, you do not need to file anything. You can start early if you want. The law does not require it until age 7. Compulsory attendance ends at 16. Many families keep homeschooling through graduation, but the state stops requiring it at that age.

Here is how to start homeschooling in North Dakota. Follow these steps and you will be in full compliance.

Step 1: Figure out your pathway. Your education level sets your oversight level. High school diploma or GED? You homeschool independently with no monitoring required (NDCC 15.1-23-03). No diploma or GED? A certified teacher monitors your program for the first two years, then monitoring ends if your child scores at or above the 50th percentile (NDCC 15.1-23-06). Both pathways share the same teaching requirements.

Step 2: File your Statement of Intent. Send this to the superintendent of your local public school district. File at least 5 days before your child begins home education (NDCC 15.1-23-02, as amended by SB2167, 2023). Include your child's name, address, date of birth, and grade level. Include your name, address, and qualifications (education level). List any public school courses or extracurricular activities your child will participate in. NDDPI has a standard form. Many districts also provide their own version.

Step 3: Find a certified teacher monitor (if you need one). Only parents without a high school diploma or GED need monitoring (NDCC 15.1-23-06). The school district assigns and compensates a monitor, unless you notify the district that you will select and pay for one yourself (NDCC 15.1-23-07). The monitor must hold a valid North Dakota teaching license. They review your program at least twice per year with an average of one hour per week of contact, and submit written reports to the superintendent. In rural North Dakota, finding a willing certified teacher takes time. Ask local schools, homeschool groups, or NDHSA (ndhsa.org) for referrals.

Step 4: Withdraw from school (if enrolled). File your Statement of Intent and withdrawal notice together with the superintendent. Both must arrive at least 5 days before the child leaves school. You can begin mid-year. No waiting period beyond the 5 days.

Step 5: Teach six required subject areas. Cover English language arts, math, social studies, science, physical education, and health (NDCC 15.1-23-04). Health must include substance abuse education. Physical education is also specifically required. These two get overlooked -- do not skip them.

Step 6: Meet the time requirements. Teach at least 175 days per year. Each day, provide at least 4 hours of instruction. That totals at least 700 hours annually (NDCC 15.1-23-04). Four hours of focused one-on-one teaching goes further than you think. Track days and hours in a simple daily log.

Step 7: Test at grades 4, 6, 8, and 10. Your child takes a nationally normed standardized achievement test (NDCC 15.1-23-09). A certified teacher or superintendent-approved person must administer it. File results with the superintendent afterward (NDCC 15.1-23-11).

Step 8: Renew every year. File a fresh Statement of Intent at least 5 days before each school year. Set a calendar reminder. Missing this puts you out of compliance.

Your main document is the annual Statement of Intent. It goes to the superintendent of your local public school district.

What to include: your child's name, address, date of birth, and grade level. Your name, address, and qualifications (education level). Any public school courses or extracurricular activities your child will participate in. That is the complete list per NDCC 15.1-23-02.

NDDPI publishes a standard form online. Many districts have their own version. Ask your superintendent's office which they prefer. You also file standardized test results with the superintendent after each testing year -- grades 4, 6, 8, and 10.

This is a notification, not an application. The superintendent cannot say no. Filing it meets your legal obligation under NDCC 15.1-23-02.

If your child is in school now, do two things at once.

File your Statement of Intent with the local superintendent. Include a withdrawal notice with it. Both documents must arrive at least 5 days before your child leaves school (NDCC 15.1-23-02, as amended by SB2167, 2023).

You can start mid-year. September, January, or March -- the process is the same. File the paperwork, wait 5 days, and begin teaching. No other approval needed. This is your right under North Dakota law.

North Dakota requires six subject areas under NDCC 15.1-23-04:

• English language arts (reading, composition, creative writing, grammar, spelling)
• Mathematics
• Social studies (U.S. Constitution, U.S. history, geography, government)
• Science
• Physical education
• Health (physiology, hygiene, disease control, effects of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics)

You choose your own curriculum. No approved textbook list. No one reviews your materials. The outline in your Statement of Intent describes your plan, but there is no approval process.

Two subjects families forget: physical education and health. Health must specifically cover substance abuse education. Build these into your weekly routine. A nature hike counts for PE. A nutrition unit counts for health. Keep it practical.

Teach at least 175 days per year. Each day, at least 4 hours. That totals 700 hours minimum per year (NDCC 15.1-23-04).

Four hours sounds short. It is. One-on-one teaching moves faster than a classroom of twenty-five. A focused morning covers direct instruction. An afternoon project or reading session fills the rest. Count everything: teaching, reading, hands-on work, educational field trips.

Keep a simple daily log. Note the date, hours, and subjects covered. Your superintendent can request your attendance records under NDCC 15.1-23-05. A clear log keeps you covered. Most families exceed 700 hours without trying.

North Dakota requires standardized testing at grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 (NDCC 15.1-23-09). Your child takes a nationally normed standardized achievement test. A certified teacher or superintendent-approved person must administer it. If your child takes the district's test, the district pays. If you choose a different nationally normed test, you pay for it (NDCC 15.1-23-10).

The key threshold: your child's basic composite score must be at or above the 30th percentile nationally (NDCC 15.1-23-11). This is a composite score, not per-subject. Scoring below the 30th percentile composite triggers a mandatory multidisciplinary assessment for a potential learning problem and, if the child is not found disabled, a remediation plan developed with a certified teacher (NDCC 15.1-23-11, 15.1-23-12). The remediation plan stays in effect until the child reaches the 30th percentile composite or shows one year of academic progress.

Testing exemptions exist under NDCC 15.1-23-09(2). You are exempt from testing if you have a philosophical, moral, or religious objection to standardized tests, or if you hold a baccalaureate degree, a teaching license, or a qualifying score on a national teacher exam. If exempt, no alternative assessment is required. This exemption does not apply to other requirements like notification, subjects, or instructional time.

North Dakota has two pathways for home education. Your education level determines which one applies.

Pathway 1: HS Diploma or GED (NDCC 15.1-23-03). The standard pathway and what most families use. File your Statement of Intent annually. Teach required subjects. Meet the 175-day, 4-hour minimum. Test at grades 4, 6, 8, and 10. No monitoring required. If you also hold a bachelor's degree, teaching license, or qualifying score on a national teacher exam, you are exempt from the testing requirement (NDCC 15.1-23-09).

Pathway 2: No Diploma or GED (NDCC 15.1-23-06). Same teaching, subject, and testing requirements as Pathway 1. A certified teacher monitors your program for the first two years. The monitor visits at least twice per year with an average of one hour per week of contact, and reports to the superintendent (NDCC 15.1-23-07). The school district assigns and compensates the monitor unless you choose to select and pay for one yourself. After two satisfactory years, monitoring ends -- unless your child scores below the 50th percentile composite, in which case monitoring continues until the child reaches the 50th percentile. This pathway does not prevent you from homeschooling. You can still do this.

Here are the details that set North Dakota apart from other states.

The notice period got shorter in 2023. SB2167 changed the advance notice from 14 days to just 5 days. If you are reading older guides or talking to families who started before 2023, they may still reference the 14-day rule. The current requirement is 5 days before beginning home education. The 14-day window now only applies if you are a new resident establishing yourself in a school district.

Your child can take public school courses. Under NDCC 15.1-23-19, home-educated students may enroll in courses at their local public school. There is no statutory limit on the number of courses. Access is permissive -- schools may allow participation but are not required to. Contact your local school to set it up.

Sports and activities are open to you. Under NDCC 15.1-23-16, home-educated students may participate in extracurricular activities at their local public school or an approved nonpublic school. The same eligibility rules that apply to enrolled students apply to your child. The NDHSAA governs sanctioned sports eligibility. Contact your school early to discuss participation.

Your monitor is an observer, not a gatekeeper. If you need a certified teacher monitor (only required for parents without a HS diploma or GED), know this: the monitor evaluates your program and reports to the superintendent. They do not have authority to approve or reject your home education. The monitor is there to observe, not to control. The school district assigns and compensates the monitor unless you notify the district that you will select and pay for one yourself (NDCC 15.1-23-07).

Test score consequences are real but manageable. Below the 30th percentile composite triggers a mandatory multidisciplinary assessment and remediation plan (NDCC 15.1-23-11, 15.1-23-12). The remediation plan stays in effect until the child reaches the 30th percentile composite or shows one year of academic progress. Separately, for parents on the monitored pathway (no HS diploma/GED), scoring below the 50th percentile composite means monitoring continues beyond the initial two years (NDCC 15.1-23-06). Prepare for testing grades (4, 6, 8, 10) but do not panic. Most homeschooled students do well.

Special needs families: North Dakota has a unique path. If your child has a disability requiring special education, you must file a formal services plan with the district superintendent (NDCC 15.1-23-13). For children with developmental disabilities, progress reports are due three times per year: November 1, February 1, and May 1 (NDCC 15.1-23-15). You can hire your own services plan team or work with the district team -- the choice is yours. Your child can also access services through part-time public school enrollment (NDCC 15.1-23-19) or federal Child Find evaluations through your local district.

No state ESA for homeschoolers. As of 2026, North Dakota has no education savings account program for homeschool families. The legislature passed HB 1540 (an income-based ESA), but Governor Kelly Armstrong vetoed it in April 2025. The House sustained the veto 45-48. A competing bill, SB 2400, which would have included homeschoolers, also failed. No ESA exists as of now.

Plan for college starting in 9th grade. NDUS institutions (UND, NDSU, Minot State, and others) accept homeschool applicants. Provide ACT or SAT scores, a parent-prepared transcript, and documentation of your home education program. You issue the diploma yourself -- North Dakota recognizes parent-issued diplomas. A GED or HiSET is also an option.

Connect with NDHSA. The North Dakota Home School Association (ndhsa.org) is the statewide organization. They help families navigate requirements, find monitors, and connect with other homeschoolers across the state. You do not have to figure this out alone.