North Dakota Homeschool Funding
What’s available (and what isn’t) for ND home educators.
ND
Funding guide
State programs
Main program
Program name: No statewide ESA or voucher
Admin: N/A — ND recognizes Home Education in law but does not fund it.
Typical award
Amount: No state funds provided to families for homeschooling.
Disbursement: N/A
Who qualifies
- Residency: North Dakota residents may home educate under N.D.C.C. § 15.1-23.
- Age/grade: Home education covers children of compulsory attendance age; standardized testing is required in specific grades under law.
- Needs/other: Students may join their resident district’s extracurriculars if they meet the same standards as enrolled students. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Timeline
- Statement of Intent: File with your resident district before beginning home education (and annually thereafter). :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Testing windows: Administer required standardized tests in the applicable years per statute and local scheduling.
- Dual-credit/NDUS: Deadlines vary by college/term.
Overview
North Dakota does not offer an Education Savings Account (ESA), voucher, or state reimbursement for home education. Families who choose Home Education do so under N.D.C.C. § 15.1-23 and fund their own curriculum and materials. However, home-educated students can (1) participate in extracurricular activities at their resident public school if they meet the same standards as enrolled students, and (2) as high-schoolers, may qualify for dual-credit options, including the North Dakota University System (NDUS) Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Programs
Home Education (parent-directed)
- Type: Legal status (not a funding program)
- Award: None — no state funds to families
- Uses: Parents select curriculum, instruction, and assessments per law (with required standardized testing in designated grades)
- Admin: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (guidance) & local school districts (Statement of Intent on file)
Extracurricular access (resident public school)
- Type: Access to public-school activities (no cash to families)
- Award: Participation opportunity; subject to the same academic/behavioral standards as enrolled students
- Uses: Sports, clubs, music, and other extracurriculars offered by the district
- Admin: Resident school district; governed by N.D.C.C. § 15.1-23-16 and NDHSAA rules
Statutory summary (U.S. Dept. of Education). :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
NDUS Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship
- Type: Tuition scholarship (for eligible ND high-school students, including those educated at home under § 15.1-23)
- Award: Tuition assistance for approved dual-credit courses (amounts and terms set by NDUS/participating colleges)
- Uses: College courses for high-school credit; may offset a portion of tuition
- Admin: North Dakota University System (NDUS) via participating colleges
Eligibility
- Residency: Family resides in North Dakota and files a Statement of Intent with the resident district superintendent.
- Age/grade: Children of compulsory attendance age may be home educated; state law requires standardized testing in specified grades (e.g., periodic benchmark years).
- Prior enrollment: Not required to have been enrolled in public school.
- Income / IEP: No income cap. Students with disabilities may still be home educated; parents coordinate evaluations/services with their district as applicable.
- Other criteria: For extracurriculars, the student must meet the same participation standards as enrolled peers (e.g., academic/behavioral). :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
How to apply
- File the Statement of Intent to Home Educate with your resident district superintendent and retain a copy for your records. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- Maintain required documentation (e.g., immunization record or exemption, and assessment records per statute).
- If your student will join public-school extracurriculars, contact your resident school for eligibility and schedules. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
- For dual-credit courses and the NDUS scholarship, apply through a participating ND college and follow its term deadlines.
Covered expenses
- No ESA funds: Families purchase curriculum & materials out-of-pocket (state does not reimburse).
- Standardized testing: Required in certain grades; families arrange per statute/local options.
- Dual-credit tuition: May be partially offset by the NDUS Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship when approved.
- Public-school classes/activities: Materials/fees for the specific class or activity are handled by the district like other students (no cash to families). :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
- Special services: Coordinate with your district if seeking evaluations/services; availability depends on program and federal/state rules.
- Note: Local districts and colleges set some details (fees, schedules, eligibility); always check your local office.
Deadlines
| Milestone | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of Intent filed | Before you begin; annually thereafter | File with resident district; update if you move districts. |
| Standardized testing | Designated grades | Follow statute and local testing windows. |
| NDUS dual-credit | College term deadlines | Apply via participating ND college each semester. |
Docs & forms
- NDDPI Home Education page — guidance & requirements.
- NDDPI Forms (includes Statement of Intent – Home Education, SFN 16909). :contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}
- N.D.C.C. ch. 15.1-23 (Home Education) — statute text. :contentReference[oaicite:33]{index=33}
Official sources
- North Dakota Department of Public Instruction — Home Education.
- U.S. Dept. of Education summary (includes ND § 15.1-23-16 extracurriculars). :contentReference[oaicite:35]{index=35}
- NDDPI — Forms directory (Home Education SFN 16909). :contentReference[oaicite:36]{index=36}
- NDUS Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship (program page).
FAQs
Does North Dakota give homeschool families ESA or voucher money?
No. ND recognizes Home Education in statute but does not provide ESA/voucher/reimbursement funds to families.
Can my homeschooled student join public-school sports or clubs?
Yes. A home-educated student may participate in the resident district’s extracurricular activities if they meet the same standards as enrolled students. Check with your district/NDHSAA for any season-specific requirements. :contentReference[oaicite:39]{index=39}
Are standardized tests required?
Yes. State law requires standardized achievement testing in designated grades. Your district or a qualified tester can help you schedule per statute.
Is dual-credit available to homeschoolers?
Yes. Eligible ND high-school students educated at home under § 15.1-23 may take dual-credit and may qualify for the NDUS Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship through participating colleges.
Contacts
NDDPI — Home Education
Your Resident School District
Contact the superintendent’s office to file the Statement of Intent and ask about extracurricular participation.
Law & regulations
- N.D.C.C. ch. 15.1-23 — Home Education — requirements, testing, and participation provisions. :contentReference[oaicite:43]{index=43}
- § 15.1-23-16 (extracurricular access) — summary. :contentReference[oaicite:44]{index=44}