Homeschooling in North Dakota
Everything you need to homeschool in North Dakota: filing requirements, required subjects, standardized testing in grades 4-10, and parent qualifications.
At a Glance
North Dakota homeschool law overview
- Compulsory Age
- 7-16
- Notification
- Statement of Intent filed 14 days before starting
- Teacher Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required
- Standardized Testing
- Required in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10
- Instruction
- 4 hours/day, 175 days/year minimum
- Statute
- NDCC 15.1-23
Important Notice
Requirements
What you need to know to start homeschooling in North Dakota
Filing Your Statement of Intent
North Dakota requires homeschool families to file a Statement of Intent with the superintendent of their child's school district of residence. Under NDCC 15.1-23, this filing must happen:
- At least 14 days before you begin home education, or
- Within 14 days of establishing residency in a new school district
- Once each year thereafter
The Statement of Intent is your formal notification to the district that you are homeschooling. If you plan for your child to participate in public school classes or extracurricular activities, list those on the form as well.
Parent Qualifications
North Dakota is one of the few states that sets specific qualifications for the supervising parent. To homeschool independently, you must hold a high school diploma or GED.
If you do not have a high school diploma or GED, you can still homeschool, but your instruction must be monitored by a certified teacher provided by your local school district, at the district's expense, for the first two years. After two years of monitored instruction, you may continue independently if your child's test scores meet the required thresholds.
Required Subjects
North Dakota mandates that homeschooled students receive instruction in the same subjects required of public school students. These include:
- English language arts (reading, composition, creative writing, English grammar, and spelling)
- Mathematics
- Social studies (U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, geography, government, and North Dakota studies)
- Science
- Health (physiology, hygiene, disease control, and the nature and effects of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics)
- Physical education
You are free to choose your own curriculum materials and teaching methods for each subject. The state does not prescribe specific textbooks or curricula.
Instructional Time Requirements
Your homeschool program must provide at least 4 hours of instruction per day for a minimum of 175 days per year. This works out to at least 700 hours of annual instruction. The four-hour minimum is comparable to the instructional core of a public school day, and most homeschool families find they can cover their subjects thoroughly within this timeframe.
Recordkeeping
You are required to maintain an annual record of:
- Courses taken by your child
- Academic progress assessments
- Standardized achievement test results
Keep these records organized and accessible. While North Dakota does not require you to submit them routinely, they may be requested, and they serve as important documentation for college applications, re-enrollment in public school, or transfers to other states.
Immunization Requirements
Homeschooled children in North Dakota must meet the same immunization requirements as public school students. Immunization records or exemption forms (medical, religious, or philosophical) must accompany your annual Statement of Intent. Exemptions require a signed statement from a physician (medical) or a parent (religious/philosophical).
Evaluations
Annual evaluation and assessment options
Standardized Testing Requirements
North Dakota requires homeschooled students to take a nationally standardized achievement test in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10. This is one of the state's more notable requirements and something every homeschool family needs to plan for.
You may choose from approved standardized tests, which commonly include the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, Terra Nova/CAT, or other nationally normed instruments. The test must be administered by a certified teacher or other qualified individual.
What Happens If Scores Are Low?
Here is where North Dakota's law has teeth: if your child scores below the 50th percentile on the composite score of a nationally standardized achievement test, your home education program must be monitored for at least one additional school year. Monitoring continues until the child receives a composite score at or above the 50th percentile.
During monitoring, a certified teacher provided by the school district will oversee your program at no cost to you. This is not meant to be punitive; it is a support mechanism to help ensure your child receives adequate instruction.
Alternative Assessment Option
As an alternative to standardized testing, you may file results from other assessments that demonstrate your child's progress, though the standardized test remains the most straightforward path. Consult your local school district or the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction for details on approved alternatives.
Keep all test results as part of your annual records. They will be valuable for college applications and for demonstrating compliance with state law.
Financial Resources
Vouchers, scholarships, and tax credits
State Funding and School Choice Programs
As of early 2026, North Dakota does not have an active state-funded Education Savings Account (ESA) or voucher program for homeschool families. This comes after a significant legislative battle in 2025.
During the 2025 legislative session, six ESA bills were introduced. The most prominent, HB 1540, would have created the state's first universal school choice program with ESA funding ranging from $800 to $2,800 based on family income. Public school and homeschool students would have received a flat $500 per student. However, Governor Kelly Armstrong vetoed HB 1540 in April 2025, and the North Dakota House sustained the veto by a 45-48 vote. A companion bill, SB 2400, was also voted down 78-14.
The legislative session ended with no school choice program enacted. Future sessions may revisit the issue, so stay informed through organizations like the North Dakota Home School Association (NDHSA) for updates.
Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program (Starting 2027)
A federal tax credit scholarship program is set to begin in 2027. If North Dakota opts into the program, eligible families could receive scholarship funding for homeschool expenses, private school tuition, and other educational costs. Details and state participation decisions are still developing.
Federal Tax Benefits
While no state-level support currently exists, North Dakota homeschool families can take advantage of:
- Coverdell Education Savings Accounts: Contribute up to $2,000 per year per child and withdraw tax-free for qualifying K-12 expenses including curriculum, books, supplies, and tutoring
- 529 Plans: North Dakota's College SAVE plan allows tax-free withdrawals of up to $10,000 per year for K-12 tuition expenses; consult a tax advisor on homeschool applicability
Free District Resources
If your homeschooled child participates in public school classes, the school district receives state funding proportionate to the days or portions of days the student attends. This means your child can take advantage of certain public school resources without you paying extra out of pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about homeschooling in North Dakota