North Dakota Digital Learning Landscape
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education, a DLC State Affiliate, was instrumental in conducting the research for this profile.
| State virtual school? | YES |
| Multi-district fully online schools? | ONE |
| Online learning requirement for graduation? | NO |
| State approval process for online providers? | NO |
| State approval process for online courses? | NO |
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE, or CDE) is the state virtual school, providing 10,288 course enrollments during the 2021-22 SY. The Center for Distance Education is the only full-time online option in the state, enrolling 633 students in SY 2021-22, a 29% increase from the previous SY. CDE is a state agency that reports directly to the ND State Board for Technical Education. Virtual charter schools are not permitted to operate in North Dakota.
Students from over 150 of 172 school districts in North Dakota enrolled in CDE courses during the 2021–22 SY. Grades 6-12 enrollments comprised approximately 85% of online courses provided. Nearly 65% of CDE’s course enrollments were from school districts with a K–12 population of less than 600 students.
The CDE offers over 350 digital courses including Career and Technical Education, dual credit as well as core and electives courses. Students receive 20 weeks to asynchronously demonstrate mastery of the course content. CDE also works with districts to install and support project-based learning labs to complement its online course offerings. There are now 25 of these project-based learning labs across North Dakota.
Most districts use some form of blended instruction offering a combination of face-to-face instruction and online courses provided through the CDE.
Two of the larger districts in the state have developed online programs.
Dickinson Public Sschools provides full-time options for resident students in grades 9-12.
Mandan Public Sschools’ Virtual Academy offers full-time options for students in grades K-12.
Districts may enroll students in any other district's online course offerings provided there is a cost sharing agreement in place.
State policies
In 2021 North Dakota lawmakers approved two new laws (effective January 1st, 2022) that govern virtual learning with the aim of strengthening accountability and quality for virtual instruction. Virtual learning arrangements must keep track of attendance, classroom progress, etc., just as is done during normal classroom instruction.
Chapter 67-30-02 establishes North Dakota Century Code for any physical school district to create and operate a virtual academy/school.
Chapter 67-30-01 outlines policy and North Dakota Century Code for schools to implement digital education during an emergency such as inclement weather and not lose their per pupil funding.