How to start homeschooling in North Dakota
The legal steps, in order, checked against North Dakota law.
Short answer: North Dakota parents who supervise home education file a statement of intent with their school district superintendent at least five days before starting, and again each year. Instruction must cover the subjects required in public schools for at least four hours a day and 175 days a year. Children take a standardized achievement test in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 unless the parent qualifies for an exemption, and a parent without a high school diploma or GED is monitored for the first two years.
Checked against N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-23-02 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 7 to 16. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Home education
A parent or legal guardian who will select materials and oversee the method and delivery of instruction for their own child.
Steps
- Check your qualification. A parent with a high school diploma or GED may supervise home education. A parent without one may still do so but must be monitored by a licensed or approved teacher for the first two years.
- At least five days before beginning, or within 14 days of moving into a school district, file a statement of intent with the superintendent of your school district of residence. If the district has no superintendent, file with the county superintendent.
- Include your child's name, address, date of birth, and grade, your name, address, and qualifications, and any public school courses or extracurricular activities your child plans to join.
- Attach a copy of your child's immunization record and proof of identity.
- If you plan to claim a testing exemption, file the notice and documentation with the district at the same time as the statement of intent.
- Teach the subjects required in public schools for at least four hours a day and 175 days a year, and keep an annual record of courses and academic progress.
- File a new statement of intent each year.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Superintendent of the child's school district of residence, or the county superintendent if the district has no superintendent When: At least five days before beginning home education, or within 14 days of establishing residence in a district, and once each year after that Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | The subjects required by law to be taught to public school students |
| Time | At least four hours a day for at least 175 days a year |
| Parent qualifications | A high school diploma or GED. A parent without one may supervise home education if monitored for the first two years by a person licensed or approved to teach by the Education Standards and Practices Board, who reports progress to the superintendent twice a year. Monitoring continues past two years if the child scores below the 50th percentile. |
| Testing or evaluation | A standardized achievement test in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10, given by a licensed or approved teacher, with results filed with the district superintendent. The test is not required if the parent notifies the district of a philosophical, moral, or religious objection, or if the parent is licensed or approved to teach, holds a bachelor's degree, or has met the cutoff score on a national teacher exam. A composite score below the 30th percentile leads to an assessment for a learning problem and, if no disability is found, a remediation plan. |
| Records to keep | An annual record of courses taken and academic progress assessments, including any standardized test results. The parent must provide it to the district on request if the child transfers to public school. |
The law: N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-23-02 N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-23-03 to 15.1-23-07 N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-23-09 to 15.1-23-12 N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-20-01
High school, transcripts and diplomas
The child's school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the Center for Distance Education may issue a high school diploma to a home educated student who meets that entity's graduation requirements, or who has completed at least 22 units from the state's minimum required curriculum. The parent submits a description of the course material and objectives for each high school subject and a transcript for grades 9 to 12. The department notes that state graduation requirements include one credit in computer science or cybersecurity.
Public school sports and activities
Yes. A home educated child may take part in extracurricular activities through their school district of residence, or through an approved nonpublic school if its administrator allows it, under the same standards as full-time students. The parent lists the activities on the statement of intent, and the child is then subject to the North Dakota High School Activities Association transfer rules.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in North Dakota?
Yes, under the home education route, you notify superintendent of the child's school district of residence, or the county superintendent if the district has no superintendent at least five days before beginning home education, or within 14 days of establishing residence in a district, and once each year after that.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in North Dakota?
A standardized achievement test in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10, given by a licensed or approved teacher, with results filed with the district superintendent. The test is not required if the parent notifies the district of a philosophical, moral, or religious objection, or if the parent is licensed or approved to teach, holds a bachelor's degree, or has met the cutoff score on a national teacher exam. A composite score below the 30th percentile leads to an assessment for a learning problem and, if no disability is found, a remediation plan.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in North Dakota?
The subjects required by law to be taught to public school students
What ages must be schooled in North Dakota?
Ages 7 to 16, per state law.
Sources
- N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-23-02
- N.D. Cent. Code 15.1-20-01
- Home Education, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.