North Dakota Homeschool Laws and Funding (2026-27)

What North Dakota’s law requires

The law that allows it: NDCC 15.1-20-02 exempts a child from compulsory public school attendance when the child is receiving home education under chapter 15.1-23.

“The child is receiving home education” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-20, school attendance
Telling the state or district: At least five days before starting, or within 14 days of moving into a district, and every year after, the parent files a statement of intent with the superintendent of the school district of residence (or the county superintendent if the district has none). It lists the child, the supervising parent's qualifications and any public school courses or activities, with the child's immunization record and proof of identity.

“At least five days before beginning home education or within fourteen days of establishing a child's residence in a school district, and once each year thereafter, a parent intending to supervise or supervising home education shall file a statement” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education
What and how long to teach: The parent must teach the subjects the law requires for public school students.

“shall include instruction in those subjects required by law to be taught to public school students” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education

Instruction runs at least four hours a day for at least 175 days a year.

“The instruction must have a duration of at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year.” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education
Testing or evaluation: In grades 4, 6, 8 and 10 the child takes the district's standardized achievement test or, at the parent's request, a nationally normed one, given by a licensed or approved teacher.

“While in grades four, six, eight, and ten, each child receiving home education shall take” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education

The test is not required if the parent notifies the district of a philosophical, moral or religious objection, or if the parent is a licensed teacher, holds a bachelor's degree, or has passed a national teacher examination.

“the parent notifies the school district in which the child resides that the parent has a philosophical, moral, or religious objection to the use of standardized achievement tests” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education

Results are filed with the district superintendent. A basic composite score below the 30th percentile leads to an assessment for a learning problem and, if the child is not disabled, a remediation plan.

“If the child's basic composite score on a standardized achievement test is less than the thirtieth percentile nationally, a multidisciplinary assessment team shall assess the child” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education
Records to keep: The parent keeps a yearly record of courses taken and academic progress assessments, including any test results, and gives it to the district on request if the child transfers to public school.

“shall maintain an annual record of courses taken by the child and the child's academic progress assessments, including any standardized achievement test results” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education
Who may teach: A parent may supervise home education with a high school diploma or GED.

“Holds a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education

A parent without one may still supervise, but is monitored by a licensed or approved teacher for the first two years.

“may supervise home education but must be monitored in accordance with section 15.1-23-07 for the first two years” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-23, home education
Ages the law covers: Compulsory attendance covers children between 7 and 16.

“Any person having responsibility for a child between the ages of seven and sixteen years shall ensure the child attends a public school” North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-20, school attendance

The state’s own page for families: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Home Education.

State money for homeschoolers in North Dakota

We have not found an official source saying a North Dakota program pays homeschooled students.

School choice in North Dakota Private schools in North Dakota

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: North Dakota next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in North Dakota?

At least five days before starting, or within 14 days of moving into a district, and every year after, the parent files a statement of intent with the superintendent of the school district of residence (or the county superintendent if the district has none). It lists the child, the supervising parent's qualifications and any public school courses or activities, with the child's immunization record and proof of identity.

Do homeschoolers in North Dakota have to take tests?

In grades 4, 6, 8 and 10 the child takes the district's standardized achievement test or, at the parent's request, a nationally normed one, given by a licensed or approved teacher. The test is not required if the parent notifies the district of a philosophical, moral or religious objection, or if the parent is a licensed teacher, holds a bachelor's degree, or has passed a national teacher examination. Results are filed with the district superintendent. A basic composite score below the 30th percentile leads to an assessment for a learning problem and, if the child is not disabled, a remediation plan.

Can a homeschooler in North Dakota get state money?

We have not found an official source saying a North Dakota program pays homeschooled students.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

Homeschooling in North Dakota: what the law requires and who pays

What North Dakota’s law requires

State money for homeschoolers in North Dakota

Questions parents ask

Homeschool law in other states