The North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE) is celebrating the signing of House Bill 1105, which protects student access to virtual learning and includes key amendments proposed by NDCDE. HB 1105, signed by Governor Armstrong, clarifies expectations for how school districts manage virtual instruction policies. Importantly, the bill does not alter North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15-19, which requires school districts to pay for NDCDE courses when taken by their enrolled students. This ensures ND public school students can continue to access the full range of courses offered through NDCDE at no cost to their families.
In response to HB 1105, NDCDE has released optional, non-regulatory policy guidance to assist districts with local implementation. The guidance covers topics such as enrollment windows, onsite expectations, course retakes, academic conduct, and collaboration with families. It is available here: Virtual Education Guidance
Additionally, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI) recently issued a memorandum clarifying how virtual summer school fits into the legal and funding framework. The memo affirms:
- Summer school is funded differently than the regular school year, and students do not need to be onsite 50% of the time to qualify for reimbursement.
- While districts may establish onsite expectations for summer learning, families may request enrollment in their own district or another district’s virtual academy through a tuition agreement if they wish for their child to take summer courses entirely online.
The full DPI memorandum is available here: DPI Memorandum
NDCDE extends its sincere thanks to the many families, educators, and policymakers who contributed to preserving and strengthening virtual learning access for North Dakota students.