How North Dakota Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academ

https://www.nd.gov/dpi/parentscommunity/parents/home-education
https://hslda.org/legal
https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/homeschool

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003.  In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the North Dakota Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables the Enlightium team to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research North Dakota homeschooling requirements.

Homeschooling Options

There are two options in North Dakota. North Dakota families enrolled at Enlightium Academy generally choose Option 1: Homeschooling under the home education law. The guidelines below are based on option 1.

North Dakota’s Requirements at a Glance

State Educational Funds

No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.

Notifying the State

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction requires homeschooling families to submit a notice of intent to homeschool to the superintendent of the public school district where your child lives

The first year of homeschooling at Enlightium Academy, this should be done at least five days before starting courses.

For each subsequent year of homeschooling at Enlightium Academy, no specific date for submitting the form appears to be provided. Enlightium recommends that your family submit the form prior to starting courses, preferably in July or August.

To access the intent form:

1. Visit the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction’s website.
2. Click “Home Education Compliance.”
3. Click “Statement of Intent to Home Educate” for the current form.

Academic Calendar

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction requires that students receive at least four hours of instruction per school day for a minimum of 175 days each year. 

Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays.

Age Requirement

Ages six or younger:

Students are not required to attend school, but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Ages seven through 16:

Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they either graduate or turn 17. This includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy.

Instructor Qualifications

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction requires the child’s instructor to be a parent of the child, and have a high school diploma or a GED to supervise the child’s home education unless you are monitored by a North Dakota certified teacher.

If you do not have a high school diploma or GED, it is highly recommended that you obtain a GED prior to enrolling your students at Enlightium Academy. This allows you to bypass monitoring requirements as laid out by the state.

If you do have a high school diploma or GED, there should be no issues with enrolling your students at Enlightium Academy.

Required Subjects

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction requires the student to be taught subjects that are typically taught in public schools, as stated below:

Required subjects for students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade:

• English (including reading, composition, creative writing, English grammar, and spelling)
• Mathematics
• Social Studies (including United States Constitution, United States history, geography, and government); in 4th and 8th grade, include North Dakota studies, with an emphasis on the geography, history, and agriculture of North Dakota
• Science (including agriculture)
• Physical Education
• Health (including physiology, hygiene, disease control, and the nature and effects of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics)

Required subjects for students in grades 9-12:

• English Language Arts (including literature, composition, and speech)
• Mathematics
• Science (including biology and chemistry or physical science)
• Social Studies (including U.S. history, civics, economics, and concepts of personal finance)
• Physical education
• Foreign languages, or fine arts, or career and technical education

After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.

Standardized Assessment

Under option 1, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction requires standardized testing for students in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 unless the parent files one of the exemptions when filing the Statement of Intent. See N.D. Cent. Code § 15.1-23-09(2) & (2)(b). 

However, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how students are progressing:

• Grades PreK-8: Iowa Complete Annual Assessment. The test covers the required material, and test scores are provided via email to the parent. This should meet North Dakota’s standardized assessment requirement for grades 4, 6, and 8.

• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT

Keep a Portfolio

You must keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:

• Curriculum information - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level.
• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the registration process - primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students after quarters 1, 2, and 3 and report cards/transcripts at the end of the school year or summer.
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.

Additionally, consider keeping the following:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.

Enlightium Parents App with Group for North Dakota Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in North Dakota to inform and support each other in fulfilling their state’s requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.

Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and book-based program K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

Sources reviewed in October 2025:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://www.nd.gov/dpi/parentscommunity/parents/home-education
• https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t15-1c23.pdf

‍