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North Dakota homeschool law

Notice, days or hours, subjects, testing and records, in plain words, with the source for each.

This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page. Laws change, and North Dakota's own statute and education department are the final word. The links below go straight to them.

Checked on against the sources linked on this page.

What to file in North Dakota

File
A notice, every year. File a statement of intent with the superintendent of your school district of residence at least five days before beginning home education (or within fourteen days of moving into a district), and once each year after. §
To
Superintendent of the school district of residence (the county superintendent if the district has none) §
By
At least 5 days before beginning, then once each year §
Keep
The parent keeps an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, including any standardized achievement test results. §
Test
In grades four, six, eight and ten, each child takes a standardized achievement test used by the school district, or a nationally normed one if the parent asks. §
Starting this year
  • At least five days before you begin: File a statement of intent with the superintendent of your school district of residence (the county superintendent if the district has none).
  • In grades 4, 6, 8 and 10: Your child takes a standardized achievement test, unless one of the law's exceptions applies.
Already homeschooling
  • Once each year: File the statement of intent again.
  • In grades 4, 6, 8 and 10: Your child takes a standardized achievement test, unless one of the law's exceptions applies.
Leaving a school mid-year

The statement of intent is due at least five days before you begin home education, and the state department says to wait 5 days after submitting it before beginning.

Open your attendance recordWrite the letterStart the Tap Clock

What North Dakota's law asks you to keep, as tools: Attendance · Hours log. The same rows for every state: what to file, by state.

Checked (quoted from the record below). § = source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23 (Home Education). Information, not legal advice.

Quick answers

Notice
Notice every yearFile a statement of intent with the superintendent of your school district of residence at least five days before beginning home education (or within fourteen days of moving into a district), and once each year after. It gives the child's name, address, date of birth and grade, the parent's name, address and qualifications, any public school courses and extracurricular activities the child will take part in, and comes with a copy of the child's immunization record and proof of identity. The state offers form SFN 16909 or you can write your own statement. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23 (Home Education)
Days or hours
Days and hoursThe law says instruction must last at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23 (Home Education)
Subjects
A parent must include instruction in the subjects the law requires public school students to be taught. For elementary and middle grades these are English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, physical education, health, and computer science including cybersecurity. High school follows the unit requirements in NDCC 15.1-21-02. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23 (Home Education), North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-21 (Curriculum and Testing)
Testing or evaluation
A testIn grades four, six, eight and ten, each child takes a standardized achievement test used by the school district, or a nationally normed one if the parent asks. A licensed or approved teacher gives it. The parent files the results with the superintendent. The test requirement does not apply if the parent files a philosophical, moral or religious objection, is licensed to teach, holds a bachelor's degree, or has met the cutoff score on a national teacher exam. The notice is filed with the statement of intent. A basic composite score below the thirtieth percentile leads to an assessment for a possible learning problem. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23 (Home Education), ND Department of Public Instruction: Home Education in North Dakota, a Parent Guide
Records
The parent keeps an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, including any standardized achievement test results. If the child moves to a public school district, the parent gives the record to the school district on request. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23 (Home Education)
Who must attend school
A person responsible for a child between the ages of seven and sixteen must see that the child attends public school for the school year, unless an exception applies. Receiving home education is one of the exceptions (NDCC 15.1-20-01 and 15.1-20-02). Source: North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-20 (School Attendance)
Education savings accounts and vouchers
No program foundWe did not find a North Dakota education savings account or voucher open to homeschool families on the Department of Public Instruction's home education pages. The department lists public school courses, extracurriculars and North Dakota Scholarship eligibility as opportunities for home educated students. We could not run a separate search for 2025 and 2026 programs, so check the department's site for anything new (checked 2026-10-27). Source: ND Department of Public Instruction: Home Education

What to do first

  1. Read North Dakota's own pages, linked under each row below, so you know what applies to your situation.
  2. Notice: At least 5 days before beginning, then once each year To: Superintendent of the school district of residence (the county superintendent if the district has none).
  3. If your child is in school now: The statement of intent is due at least five days before you begin home education, and the state department says to wait 5 days after submitting it before beginning.
  4. Plan the year around the days or hours and the subjects below.
  5. Start your records on day one: a simple attendance log, a list of books read and a work sample or two for each subject.
  6. Put the testing or evaluation date on your calendar.

The state's own form or page: nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/SFN%20Forms/SFN16909.pdf

Records to keep

The parent keeps an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, including any standardized achievement test results. If the child moves to a public school district, the parent gives the record to the school district on request. Whatever the law asks, many families also keep a simple attendance log, a list of books read and a few work samples for each subject; they cost nothing and help if you move or return to school.

Good to know

  • Who may teach: a parent (including legal guardian) who holds a high school diploma or GED may supervise home education. A parent without either may supervise but must be monitored by a licensed or approved teacher for the first two years, and longer if the child scores below the fiftieth percentile.
  • Public school access: a home educated child may take part in extracurricular activities through the school district of residence or an approved nonpublic school, under the same participation standards as full-time students (NDCC 15.1-23-16). The statement of intent lists any public school courses the child will take.
  • Children with disabilities: if an assessment team finds a child needs special education, the parent may continue home education by filing a services plan with the school district superintendent (NDCC 15.1-23-13).
  • Diplomas: the 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 child who meets its requirements; the state department says most diplomas are issued by the supervising parent.
  • North Dakota Scholarship: the department says home educated students who are residents and meet the requirements are eligible.
  • Immunization: the statement of intent must be accompanied by a copy of the child's immunization record.

Where this comes from

Checked on October 27, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page, and confirm with your school district or the department before you rely on a date. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.