Homeschooling in North Dakota: A Practical 2026 Overview

Homeschooling remains a popular option for families who want more flexibility, a customized pace, or a different learning environment. In North Dakota, home education is legal and clearly regulated under state law. If you are considering homeschooling in North Dakota today, the most important thing to know is that the state does not treat homeschooling as an informal arrangement. Parents must follow specific notice, supervision, instruction, recordkeeping, and testing rules. The good news is that the process is manageable once you understand the basics.

This article gives a current, cautious overview of North Dakota homeschooling rules as reflected in the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction guidance and related state materials. Because school rules can change, families should always confirm details with official state sources before starting or renewing home education. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Who Can Homeschool in North Dakota?

North Dakota requires that home education be supervised by a child's legal parent or legal guardian. The state's parent guide states that the supervising adult must be the child's legal parent or legal guardian, and that supervision includes choosing materials, setting the educational approach, and overseeing instruction. This means a relative, tutor, or private instructor generally cannot serve as the legal supervisor unless they are also the child's parent or guardian. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

North Dakota also sets a qualification rule for supervising parents. A parent with a high school diploma or GED is qualified to supervise home education. If the parent does not have a diploma or GED, the state says a licensed teacher must monitor the home education program for the first two years. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

How to Start Homeschooling in North Dakota

Before beginning home education, parents must file a Statement of Intent to Supervise Home Education with the superintendent of the child's school district of residence. If the district has no superintendent, the statement goes to the county superintendent. The state allows parents to use the official SFN 16909 form or submit a written statement that includes the required information. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

North Dakota's guidance says families must wait five days after submitting the Statement of Intent before starting home education. The statement must be filed every school year for each child age 7 or older. The state form also reflects that the statement should be submitted at least five days before beginning home education or within the time period allowed by law. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

The required filing generally includes the child's name, address, date of birth, and grade level; the supervising parent's name, address, and qualifications; and information about any public school courses or extracurricular activities the child plans to join. The state also lists proof of immunization or exemption and proof of identity as part of the required materials. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Instruction Time and School Year Requirements

North Dakota requires home education to include at least four hours of instruction per day for at least 175 days per school year. That is one of the clearest operational rules for families to plan around. Parents should think of this as a minimum expectation, not a suggestion. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

The state also expects parents to supervise the required courses and methods of instruction and to maintain academic records for each student. In practice, that means families should keep a simple but organized file of attendance, coursework, reading lists, test results, and progress notes. Good records can help with annual compliance, later school enrollment, and scholarship or transcript needs. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Testing Requirements for Homeschool Students

North Dakota requires nationally normed standardized achievement testing in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10, unless the student qualifies to opt out under the state's rules. The Department of Public Instruction's parent guide and home education page both highlight this testing schedule. Families should plan ahead so they know where and when the test will be administered. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

The state also says that if a student scores below the 30th percentile nationally, the family must participate on a multidisciplinary team to evaluate for possible learning disabilities and to plan remediation if needed. This is an important safeguard and one reason families should keep testing records carefully. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

What Subjects Should Be Covered?

North Dakota does not require homeschool families to use the state content standards in the same way public schools do. The state guidance says teaching to North Dakota state content standards is not required for home educated students. That gives families flexibility in curriculum choice and teaching style. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/SAO/Home%20Education/08.24HomeEducationGuidance.pdf))

However, families should not confuse flexibility with a lack of expectations. North Dakota's home education guidance says home educated students follow the state's minimum high school graduation requirements. Those include credits in English, math, science, social studies, physical education or health, world language or arts or career and technical education, computer science or cybersecurity, and electives. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

For younger students, parents often build a balanced program around reading, writing, math, science, history, art, physical activity, and life skills. For high school students, it is wise to map courses early so graduation requirements are met without last-minute surprises. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Can Homeschool Students Join Public School Activities?

North Dakota's home education materials indicate that homeschool students may have opportunities to take public school courses and participate in extracurricular activities. The Statement of Intent includes space for listing any public school courses or extracurricular activities the child plans to join. That suggests the state recognizes some level of shared access, though the exact availability can depend on local district policies and course capacity. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Because local practices can vary, families should contact their school district directly before assuming access to a class, sport, or activity. It is best to confirm deadlines, eligibility rules, and any fees in writing. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Records, Transcripts, and Graduation

North Dakota expects parents to keep academic records for each student. Those records become especially important in high school, when families may need transcripts for college admissions, scholarships, or transfer into another school. The state provides a Home Education Transcript for the North Dakota Scholarship Program, which shows that transcript preparation is a recognized part of the homeschool process. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education))

For graduation, the state says home educated students follow North Dakota's minimum high school graduation requirements. The parent guide also notes that a diploma may be issued by the school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota Center for Distance Education. Families should verify which option fits their situation before the student reaches senior year. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

Homeschooling and the North Dakota Scholarship

North Dakota's home education page notes that homeschool students may be eligible for the North Dakota Scholarship if they meet the program's requirements. The state provides a specific home education transcript form for that purpose. Since scholarship rules and deadlines can change from year to year, families should review the current scholarship page well before senior year deadlines. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education))

Key Takeaways for North Dakota Families

• Only a legal parent or guardian may supervise home education.
• File a Statement of Intent with the district of residence before starting.
• Wait five days after filing before beginning instruction.
• Renew the Statement of Intent every school year for each child age 7 or older.
• Provide at least 4 hours of instruction per day for 175 days per year.
• Keep academic records and arrange required testing in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 unless exempt.
• High school homeschoolers should plan for North Dakota graduation requirements and transcript needs.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling in North Dakota is flexible, but it is not unregulated. The state gives families room to choose curriculum and teaching methods while still requiring notice, supervision, minimum instructional time, testing, and records. For parents who want a structured but customizable education, North Dakota's homeschool framework can work well if they stay organized and keep up with annual requirements. Because laws and forms can be updated, the safest approach is to check the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction before each school year and before making major changes to a child's home education plan. ([nd.gov](https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/families/home-education/home-education-north-dakota-parent-guide))

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Information is sourced from publicaly available information and may be inaccurate