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).

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.