North Dakota Homeschool Law: N.D.C.C. Ch. 15.1-23

Not yet verified at a primary source. DiplomaPath has not independently verified North Dakota’s homeschool requirements against the statute text or the state’s own published guidance as of September 2026. The requirements described on this page may be incomplete or out of date.

Before you rely on any deadline, filing, or testing requirement here, confirm current law with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the HSLDA North Dakota page. When this page has been checked against a primary source, this notice will be replaced with a verified date and a link to the statute.

Two free things before you read on. The sample transcript PDF is yours either way, no email needed, and the transcript checklist walks through what to include, line by line.

North Dakota authorizes home education under N.D.C.C. Chapter 15.1-23. Families file a Statement of Intent with the resident district superintendent (or county superintendent), due at least 5 days before starting, or within 14 days of establishing residence in a new district, and annually thereafter.

North Dakota requires standardized achievement testing at grades 4, 6, 8, and 10, administered by a certified teacher (exemptions available for a moral, philosophical, or religious objection, or if a parent holds at least a bachelor’s degree). Test results are filed with the local superintendent. A composite score below the 15th percentile triggers a required evaluation for a potential learning problem; a score below the 50th percentile triggers ongoing monitoring.

Instructional time: North Dakota requires a minimum of 4 hours per day for 175 days per year of instruction in the child’s home.

Comparing North Dakota with another state, or planning a move? See our guide to homeschool graduation requirements by state.

North Dakota’s 22-Unit Public-School Benchmark

North Dakota homeschoolers aren’t bound to the public-school credit structure. Under N.D.C.C. §15.1-21-02.2, public schools require 22 units.

Subject AreaCourses / NotesCredits
English/Language Arts4.0
Mathematics3.0
ScienceIncluding Biology and Chemistry3.0
Social Studies3.0
Physical Education/Health1.0
Foreign Language/Native American Language/Fine Arts3.0
ND StudiesPeriodic requirementIncluded
ElectivesRemaining coursework5.0
TotalN.D.C.C. §15.1-21-02.2 benchmark, not a homeschool mandate22.0
DiplomaPath tip: Set the North Dakota 22-unit model, or your own custom targets, in DiplomaPath’s Requirements tracker — earned vs. planned progress updates automatically per subject.

Required Transcript Elements

Use this checklist when building your North Dakota homeschool transcript:

  • Student information
    Full legal name, date of birth, address
  • Home education program name
    The name of your home program
  • Courses organized by year
    Group by grade (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) or academic year
  • Grades and grade points
    Letter grade and numeric grade point value; include your grading scale
  • Credits per course
    Full-year course = 1.0 credit; semester course = 0.5 credit (Carnegie Unit)
  • Cumulative GPA, weighted and unweighted
    Include the scale (e.g., A = 4.0; Honors +0.5; AP/dual-enrollment +1.0)
  • Total credits earned
  • Graduation date
  • Parent signature and title
    Sign as “Administrator” or “Supervisor” of your home program

GPA Calculation

GPA is calculated the same way in every state: multiply each course’s grade points by its credit value, sum all products, and divide by total credits. The standard 4.0 scale applies to most courses. Honors courses typically add 0.5 points; AP and dual-enrollment courses add 1.0 point for a weighted GPA.

Always report both weighted and unweighted GPA on your transcript, clearly labeled. Include your complete grading scale (e.g., A = 93–100 = 4.0) so admissions reviewers understand exactly how grades were assigned.

Want to calculate GPA automatically? Use our free Homeschool GPA Calculator, enter courses and grades and get weighted and unweighted GPA instantly.

Common Mistakes

  • 1
    Missing required testing at grades 4, 6, 8, or 10
    Unlike most states, North Dakota mandates testing at specific grades unless you qualify for an exemption. Track which grade your student is entering each year.
  • 2
    Not re-filing the Statement of Intent annually
    North Dakota requires annual filing, not just a one-time notice. Set a yearly reminder well before the 5-day pre-start deadline.
  • 3
    Under-tracking hours against the 4-hour/175-day requirement
    North Dakota’s requirement is both an hours-per-day AND a days-per-year threshold. Log both, not just one.

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