North Dakota
U.S.
Rank
- Opportunity
- Innovation
- Policy Environment
Score:
50%
Grade:
F
Rank:
#49
There is no charter law in this state.
Score:
Grade:
F
Rank:
#51
There are no choice programs in this state.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#39
Teacher effectiveness in the classroom is not taken into consideration for licensure advancements, tenure or compensation.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 65%
General Teacher Preparation 58%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 60%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 80%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 55%
Alternate Routes 70%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 68%
Hiring 80%
Retaining Effective Teachers 55%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 75%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 65%
Score:
50%
Grade:
F
Rank:
#49
There is no charter law in this state.
Score:
Grade:
F
Rank:
#51
There are no choice programs in this state.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#39
Teacher effectiveness in the classroom is not taken into consideration for licensure advancements, tenure or compensation.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 65%
General Teacher Preparation 58%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 60%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 80%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 55%
Alternate Routes 70%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 68%
Hiring 80%
Retaining Effective Teachers 55%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 75%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 65%
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#29
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education is a state virtual school that expands educational opportunities for students across the state, especially those in rural areas. Courses are offered to public school students as well as those in private schools, homeschools, or in charter schools. NDCDE offers courses in many subject areas including advanced placement, credit recovery, dual credit, and a project based “SmartLab” for STEM students. 5,000-7,000 students enroll in courses each year.
North Dakota has an Educational Technology Plan, but it has not been updated since 2015. The state also has Technology Standards for K-12 students.
North Dakota has taken measures to increase connectivity for all K-12 students through the state-run network, Dakota Carrier Network. In 2019, they were the first state in the nation to give one-gigabit service to every school.
“DCN (Dakota Carrier Network) completed all one-gigabit internet circuits to K-12 schools on July 23, 2019, positioning North Dakota as the first state in the nation to achieve this milestone according to Gov. Doug Burgum’s office. The upgrade was completed in collaboration with the North Dakota Information Technology Department (ITD) and DCN’s 14 owner companies.”
Bandwidth: “100% of students in North Dakota can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds.”
North Dakota has been improving their measures to promote personalized learning in recent years by launching the Innovative Education Program in 2017. This program allows districts to request waivers from bureaucratic regulation, and drive innovation by implementing new and creative models of instruction.
North Dakota also has the Personalized, Competency Based Education Learning initiative, a 5-year pilot program with four school districts currently participating.

Schools were first closed March 15, and remained closed for the remainder of the school year. Districts were required to develop distance learning plans by April 1. Because state law does not permit virtual learning to replace traditional methods, districts were not permitted to require exclusively online course work. Families who were online benefitted from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T removing data caps on their services. State resources were provided but overall, the initial state response did not foster continuous learning during the pandemic.
In May, districts were permitted to open schools to provide childcare to K-5 children of teachers and essential workers.
On July 14, the governor announced districts could reopen for in-person instruction in consultation with local health officials, and provided thorough guidelines under the new ND K12 Smart Restart plan.
Fast Facts
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#29
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education is a state virtual school that expands educational opportunities for students across the state, especially those in rural areas. Courses are offered to public school students as well as those in private schools, homeschools, or in charter schools. NDCDE offers courses in many subject areas including advanced placement, credit recovery, dual credit, and a project based “SmartLab” for STEM students. 5,000-7,000 students enroll in courses each year.
North Dakota has an Educational Technology Plan, but it has not been updated since 2015. The state also has Technology Standards for K-12 students.
North Dakota has taken measures to increase connectivity for all K-12 students through the state-run network, Dakota Carrier Network. In 2019, they were the first state in the nation to give one-gigabit service to every school.
“DCN (Dakota Carrier Network) completed all one-gigabit internet circuits to K-12 schools on July 23, 2019, positioning North Dakota as the first state in the nation to achieve this milestone according to Gov. Doug Burgum’s office. The upgrade was completed in collaboration with the North Dakota Information Technology Department (ITD) and DCN’s 14 owner companies.”
Bandwidth: “100% of students in North Dakota can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds.”
North Dakota has been improving their measures to promote personalized learning in recent years by launching the Innovative Education Program in 2017. This program allows districts to request waivers from bureaucratic regulation, and drive innovation by implementing new and creative models of instruction.
North Dakota also has the Personalized, Competency Based Education Learning initiative, a 5-year pilot program with four school districts currently participating.

Schools were first closed March 15, and remained closed for the remainder of the school year. Districts were required to develop distance learning plans by April 1. Because state law does not permit virtual learning to replace traditional methods, districts were not permitted to require exclusively online course work. Families who were online benefitted from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T removing data caps on their services. State resources were provided but overall, the initial state response did not foster continuous learning during the pandemic.
In May, districts were permitted to open schools to provide childcare to K-5 children of teachers and essential workers.
On July 14, the governor announced districts could reopen for in-person instruction in consultation with local health officials, and provided thorough guidelines under the new ND K12 Smart Restart plan.
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:

Doug Burgum (R)
First term began in 2016 (no term limit)
Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, has stated support for expanding educational opportunities, but there seems to be very little momentum for reform. The state is relatively dormant when it comes to educational change.
The legislature shares the governor’s party but it also has very little appetite for educational transformation. After years of little to no movement towards education reform, in 2019 there were two bills proposed – an ESA bill and a school choice feasibility study. Neither passed the Senate.

The state’s constitution includes a Blaine Amendment and a Uniformity Clause which restricts where public monies can flow. Neither has received very much judicial attention.

School report cards are easily found on North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction homepage. Report cards are formatted in a clear manner, but you must click through multiple tabs to find what you are looking for, and the report lacks important data such as teacher quality or demographics. Educational options are not readily available.
School board elections are not held during the general election cycle, which usually means lower voter turnout.

Doug Burgum (R)
First term began in 2016 (no term limit)
Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican, has stated support for expanding educational opportunities, but there seems to be very little momentum for reform. The state is relatively dormant when it comes to educational change.
The legislature shares the governor’s party but it also has very little appetite for educational transformation. After years of little to no movement towards education reform, in 2019 there were two bills proposed – an ESA bill and a school choice feasibility study. Neither passed the Senate.

The state’s constitution includes a Blaine Amendment and a Uniformity Clause which restricts where public monies can flow. Neither has received very much judicial attention.

School report cards are easily found on North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction homepage. Report cards are formatted in a clear manner, but you must click through multiple tabs to find what you are looking for, and the report lacks important data such as teacher quality or demographics. Educational options are not readily available.
School board elections are not held during the general election cycle, which usually means lower voter turnout.