North Dakota Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling in North Dakota is called home education, and it is a program supervised by the child's parent. You file a statement of intent with your local superintendent each year, at least five days before you begin. North Dakota then asks for four hours a day across at least 175 days, the subjects public school students take, standardized testing in four grades, and an annual academic record you keep at home. Two situations bring monitoring by a licensed teacher.
Last Reviewed: August 15, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 15, 2027.
North Dakota Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | A child between the ages of seven and sixteen years. A child receiving home education is exempt from public school attendance |
| Notification or registration | A statement of intent filed annually with the local superintendent for each child, at least five days before beginning home education, or within fourteen days of establishing residence |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | Home education under chapter 15.1-23, a program of education supervised by the child's parent |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | A parent qualifies by holding a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma. A parent with less than that may supervise under monitoring |
| Required subjects | The subjects required to be taught to public school students at the same grade level |
| Instructional time | At least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year |
| Testing or evaluation | A standardized achievement test in grades four, six, eight, and ten, with exemptions available |
| Required records | An annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, maintained by the parent |
| Responsible government agency | Your local superintendent receives the statement of intent and informs you of your responsibility to maintain the academic record. The Department of Public Instruction publishes the form and guidance |
When Monitoring Applies
Most families never encounter monitoring, but it is worth knowing the two situations that trigger it, because they are different from each other.
Qualification-based. A parent who holds a high school diploma or a GED is qualified to supervise home education outright. A parent with less than that may still supervise, but the program is monitored for two years by a person licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board.
Score-based. Monitoring is also required if a child scores below the fiftieth percentile on the nationally normed standardized assessment. This one attaches to a test result rather than to the parent, so it can arise in a family that was never monitored before.
Neither situation is a loss of your right to homeschool. Monitoring means a licensed teacher is involved in reviewing the program, not that the district takes it over.
How to Start Homeschooling in North Dakota
- File the statement of intent, then wait five days. It goes to your local superintendent, and you wait five days from submission before beginning home education.
- Include what the form asks. Each child's name, address, birth date, and grade level, your qualifications, proof of identity and immunization, and any public school courses or activities the child will take part in.
- Refile each year. The statement is annual and is filed for each child separately.
- Build the calendar. Four hours a day, at least 175 days.
- Start the academic record now. Courses taken and academic progress assessments, kept annually.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Testing happens in four grades: four, six, eight, and ten. The test is a standardized achievement test, and the requirement attaches to the grade level rather than to a calendar year of homeschooling.
Exemptions exist and are claimed on the statement of intent itself. A parent may opt out based on a philosophical, moral, or religious objection, and an exemption is also available where the parent holds teaching credentials or a qualifying degree. Because the claim is made on the form, decide before you file rather than after.
Records are your responsibility and the statute is specific about them. You maintain an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments. That is a requirement, not a suggestion, and your superintendent is directed to inform you of it.
Everything else is practical. A fuller file of materials used, work samples, and your attendance log supports a transcript and answers questions if your student later enrolls in a school applying its own placement and credit procedures. If you move, the statement of intent belongs to the district where you now live, and you have fourteen days from establishing residence to file it.
Official North Dakota Homeschool Resources
- Department of Public Instruction, Home Education
- Department of Public Instruction, Home Education FAQ
- Statement of Intent to Supervise Home Education, SFN 16909
- North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.