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Afterschool programs provide endless opportunities for learning experiences, exposure to the arts, physical activity, and even internships for older students. Families benefit from their children's increased engagement and the ability for parents to remain in the workforce.

In North Dakota, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program serves up to 10,000 students per year at over 100 sites. Federal funding was first made available in 1998 as a means to reduce at-risk behaviors for kids between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 p.m.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is encouraging North Dakotans to nominate outstanding teachers as candidates for the State Teacher of the Year Award, which is the most prestigious honors program to focus public attention on teaching excellence.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Thursday that Lyndsi Engstrom, a member of Westhope’s school board, has been appointed to the North Dakota Board of Public School Education.

Engstrom succeeds Maria Effertz Hanson, of Velva, who resigned last month. Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Engstrom to complete Effertz Hanson’s six-year term, which ends June 30, 2024. Engstrom will represent Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Towner, and Walsh counties.

As it oversees the education of over 120,000 students across the state, DPI partners with many educational and noneducational entities to carry out its mission. Most people may not realize DPI is in a unique position compared to its counterparts in other states. 

“In North Dakota, DPI doesn’t oversee everything that has to do with education,” said North Dakota Assistant Superintendent Laurie Matzke. “There are many departments and organizations working together. Superintendent Baesler has, over the past eleven years, worked hard to create and strengthen partnerships so we can collaborate on projects.”

The need for improved screening and intervention for dyslexia led to the creation of HB1461 during the 2019 North Dakota legislative session. The bill was passed and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction received $250,000 to implement the Dyslexia Pilot Program for the 2019-2021 biennium.

North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is inviting library specialists, educators, and other experts to participate in revising the state’s Library and Technology academic content standards for grades kindergarten through 12.

These standards were last updated in 2012. They provide guidelines about what students should know and be able to do in each grade as they advance through elementary and secondary school.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Wednesday that the annual North Dakota school compliance report has been published. State law requires all North Dakota schools to submit compliance reports in order to receive state education aid.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler congratulated two high school seniors who have been named as North Dakota’s delegates for the U.S. Senate Youth Program. The honor includes a $10,000 college scholarship and the opportunity to attend a weeklong online leadership program in Washington, D.C., next spring.

Most people have heard that mental and behavioral health struggles are increasing, especially for our youth. According to the 2019 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 61.2 percent of high school students reported their mental health was not good on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey. And, the percentage of students who have seriously considered attempting suicide, has increased from 12.4 percent in 2009 to 18.8 percent in 2019.

School districts across North Dakota have been dealing with teacher shortages for several years. And, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board declared all areas (all academic areas needing a license) as having a shortage. The preliminary results for the 2021-2022 school year show the trend continuing and even worsening in some areas.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has been chosen as president-elect of the Council of Chief State School Officers, a national organization that represents state education interests and manages the national Teacher of the Year award.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is encouraging residents of North Dakota’s northern tier of counties to consider applying for the State Board of Public School Education, which plays an important role in the state’s educational system.

Monday, November 15th kicks off American Education Week across the United States. In North Dakota, the Department of Public Instruction encourages schools to celebrate their students, teachers and the entire learning community.

Families are the first and most influential teachers of their children, and it is with this in mind that DPI is celebrating National Parental Involvement Day on November 18. As part of American Education Week, National Parental Involvement Day gives schools the opportunity to celebrate and encourage the role families play in their children’s education.

As college-bound seniors navigate their last year of high school, one of the things on their to-do list is probably 'apply for scholarships.' North Dakota has done a great job providing scholarship opportunities to help students attain an affordable degree in North Dakota colleges and universities. There are many scholarships, grants, reciprocity, and student exchange programs available.

When North Dakota colleges and universities started seeing an increase in the number of students having to take remedial courses in English and math, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction stepped up to create the College Ready English and Math (CREAM) program.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is asking North Dakotans for their opinions about the skills students should learn as they move through the state public education system, as part of the work of establishing a state “learning continuum.”

Not every student who graduates from high school will go to college. Some might enter the workforce and others might enlist in the military. Making sure students are successful, no matter what they choose, is the goal of the North Dakota Choice Ready initiative.  

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Thursday that new test information shows a decline in student math and English proficiency during the 2020-21 school year.  The results offer evidence about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected student learning in North Dakota.

DPI believes that every child deserves a personalized learning experience. In 2017, DPI and partners across the state garnered support for SB 2186, which created a pilot program that fosters personalized, competency-based learning in North Dakota. This initiative supports the North Dakota PK-12 Strategic Vision that all students will graduate choice ready with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to be successful.

North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has announced a new grant program to fund learning opportunities outside of school for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When you hear the word literacy, you may think of reading and writing. But it is so much more. Literacy involves a wide variety of skills, including listening, speaking, comprehension and problem solving. It is the foundation for lifelong success at home, school and in the community.

BISMARCK, N.D., Sept. 27, 2021 – State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and Gov. Doug Burgum announced Monday that Bret Dockter, a sixth-grade teacher at B.M. Hanson Elementary School in Harvey, has been named North Dakota’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Most of us grew up knowing the ‘3 Rs’ were the foundations of learning in our schools. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are still important, but why not make those foundations stronger with computer science? NDDPI continues to advocate for the value of including computer science and cybersecurity in K-12 curriculum across the state.

What do a college president, an astronaut, a preschool teacher, and a U.S. Surgeon General have in common? Each of these people dropped out of school as teenagers. Years later, they enrolled in adult education to improve their lives. The North Dakota GED pass rate is one of the highest in the nation. For the 2020-21 school year, 453 GEDs were earned, which equates to an 86 percent pass rate.

The North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) has introduced a pilot program designed to serve children and families in the year before they enter kindergarten. The Best in Class Grant program is built on over 20 years of research from similar programs across the country.

In 2015, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction decided to develop more authentic materials for Native American studies. Because Native American students represent the highest minority population in our state, ten percent of K-12 enrollment, the resources needed to be unique to North Dakota. DPI brought together tribal elders from across North Dakota in the spring of 2015. They shared their wealth of knowledge and helped to develop the North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings (NDNAEU) that would form the basis for lesson and resource development. 

As North Dakota K-12 students head back to school, they will find their virtual options for learning at home have changed since last year. Laws adopted in the 2021 legislative session change the type of distance learning that was used in a lot of districts last year and provides for another virtual learning opportunity – virtual academies.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction has opened the selection cycle for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).Through the program, two delegates will be selected to receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship and will attend the 60th annual Washington Week to be held March 5-12, 2022.

The following amounts will be used for the 2021-2020 school year to determine the school district responsibility (cost cap) for the education of resident students. 

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said educators will review the progress of North Dakota’s Native American Essential Understandings school instructional project at the state’s annual Indian Education Summit this week.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler last week congratulated four North Dakota educators who have been chosen as finalists for the state’s Teacher of the Year award for 2022.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is inviting North Dakotans to offer suggestions about how to use federal aid to strengthen education in the wake of the instructional challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two Grand Forks County students, Ellen Anna Gregoire and Dennis Du, have been named as North Dakota’s Presidential Scholars for 2021.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Monday celebrated 40 North Dakota educators who are being honored as Teachers of the Year in the counties in which they work.

North Dakota State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said that an educational software program used by about 6,000 students for accelerated learning will remain available at no cost to students and families for the next two years. She encouraged North Dakota districts, schools, and families to continue using the program, or to consider becoming new users.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is seeking applications from organizations that are interested in operating North Dakota’s Summer Food Service Program. The program provides meals to children when school is not in session.

North Dakota School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Friday praised four North Dakota high school seniors who registered perfect 36 composite scores on the ACT college entrance exam during their high school careers.

On behalf of the State of North Dakota, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) will be submitting a waiver for the 2020-2021 school year of accountability, school identification, and related reporting requirements in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).

North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said her new Superintendent’s Student Cabinet includes 23 students from across the state, from a third grader to two high school seniors.

North Dakota School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said the state Board of Higher Education’s member nominating committee will meet Thursday to consider seven applicants for two seats on the board.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said she will not require North Dakota schools to close for two days during the 2021-22 school year, which she said will give school districts more options in planning their upcoming school year.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has announced the publication of the annual North Dakota school compliance report. State law requires all North Dakota schools to submit these reports.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler provides statements following Gov. Doug Burgum’s budget address to the organizational session of the 2021 North Dakota Legislature on Thursday.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Friday that a nominating committee has recommended three candidates for Gov. Doug Burgum to consider for an opening on North Dakota’s Board of Higher Education.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said six North Dakotans have applied for an open seat on the Board of Higher Education, which oversees the state’s 11 public colleges and universities.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Tuesday asked North Dakotans to consider applying for two Board of Higher Education seats that will be coming open on July 1, 2021.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is inviting North Dakota students to apply for the Superintendent’s Student Cabinet, a group of young people who offer Baesler ideas and advice about the state’s K-12 education system.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Wednesday announced $33.8 million in new aid for North Dakota’s schools, which may be spent on mental health support, technology, building ventilation improvements, and other needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said North Dakota’s public and nonpublic schools will be getting shipments of cloth masks soon to help inhibit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler praised a group of standout North Dakota educators for crafting a guide of distance learning teaching tips to help their colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the State of North Dakota, the NDDPI will be submitting a 21st Century Community Learning Center wavier application with respect to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Thursday congratulated three North Dakota schools for being honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and Gov. Doug Burgum announced Monday that Kristi Reinke, a social studies teacher at Jim Hill Middle School in Minot, has been named the 2021 North Dakota Teacher of the Year.

The Institute of Education Sciences released a guide in September that is based on the Native American student needs assessment and action plan developed by North Dakota education stakeholders and leaders. 

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Wednesday that a new state government partnership with Minot State University will help ease North Dakota’s shortage of special education teachers.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced North Dakota finished second in the nation in the percentage of General Educational Development test-takers who earned a GED diploma in the past 12 months.

North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Friday announced that Burdell Johnson, of Tuttle, and Sonia Meehl, of Oakes, have been appointed to the state Board of Public School Education.

Common Schools Fund provides more than $1 billion for schools over 10 years.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Thursday that three potential appointees for North Dakota’s Board of Higher Education have been forwarded to Gov. Doug Burgum for his consideration.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and EduTech Director Rosi Kloberdanz today announced a Code.org Professional Learning Program beginning in June for middle school teachers and July for high school teachers. There is also a program available for elementary teachers.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Wednesday invited applications for two openings on the Board of Public School Education, which facilitates cooperation among the state’s various K-12 education organizations.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Friday that eight candidates have applied for a future vacancy on North Dakota’s Board of Higher Education.

Gov. Doug Burgum has granted State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler’s request for an executive order that allows North Dakota’s schools to keep larger financial reserves to pay expenses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is asking for public suggestions about the best uses for federal education aid that was recently approved by Congress.

Gov. Doug Burgum and State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Friday that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, actor Josh Duhamel and Nashville recording artists Tigirlily will participate in a May 30 statewide celebration of North Dakota’s high school Class of 2020.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced that 20 North Dakota education sites have been awarded $41.8 million in grants, to be distributed over five years,
to help students across the state improve their skills in reading, writing and speaking.

Gov. Doug Burgum and State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Monday that beginning June 1, North Dakota schools will be allowed to host a number of activities, including summer school and college admissions testing.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Wednesday that Gov. Doug Burgum is allowing North Dakota’s schools to use school property for high school graduation ceremonies.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Wednesday that a “virtual graduation ceremony” will be broadcast and livestreamed across North Dakota May 30 as a special opportunity to honor North Dakota’s Class of 2020.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Friday congratulated nine North Dakota seniors who earned perfect 36 composite scores on their ACT exams during their time in high school.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has secured $33 million for North Dakota schools that was included in recent, sweeping federal legislation approved in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler praised seven North Dakota high school seniors who were named as semifinalists for Presidential Scholar honors, which is one of the nation’s most prestigious education awards.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler successfully pushed the U.S. Department of Education to agree to grant North Dakota’s schools more local control and flexibility in managing federal aid that benefits students from low-income homes.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Wednesday asked North Dakotans to apply for a state Board of Higher Education seat that is coming open July 1.

State School Superintendent and Gov. Doug Burgum have collaborated on a request to the U.S. Department of Education to waive all federally mandated student assessments for the 2019-20 school year.

Governor Burgum, with State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, provided updated guidance to K-12 school districts after the governor on Sunday ordered schools closed this week to slow the spread of COVID-19 and provide time to gather more data, better assess coronavirus testing and treatment capability, and allow school districts to plan for educating their students in the event of an extended COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Doug Burgum today announced that K-12 schools which were closed this week by executive order will not have to make up the instructional time later this school year.

BISMARCK, N.D. – By executive order, Gov. Doug Burgum today ordered the closure of North Dakota K-12 schools in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 based on guidance from public school superintendents, medical experts and the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH).  

Update from ND Superintendent Kirsten Baesler: The situation is constantly evolving. North Dakota leaders have been meeting around the clock since Friday afternoon. 

Update from ND Superintendent Kirsten Baesler: I am aware of the Minnesota directive to close schools this week.

ND State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and Governor Doug Burgum say the governor will not order the state’s schools closed for now, because information about the presence of COVID-19 in North Dakota does not justify that step. There has been one confirmed COVID-19 case in Ward County, and there have been no documented cases of spread within a community.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler congratulated 64 North Dakota high school seniors who have been nominated for United States Presidential Scholar honors.

The scholars were chosen from 20 public and four nonpublic high schools. Bismarck Century has the most nominees, with 13, while Grand Forks Central had 10. Fargo’s Davies and North high schools have six nominees each.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is seeking applications from organizations interested in operating North Dakota’s Summer Food Service Program. It provides meals to children when school is not in session.

Megha Bharadwaj, a junior at Bismarck’s St. Mary’s Central High School, and Rachel Goven, a senior at Turtle Lake Mercer High School, have been chosen to take part in the U.S. Senate Youth Program in March. The honor includes a $10,000 college scholarship.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Monday encouraged North Dakota school districts and early childhood care providers to apply for grant funds that will help strengthen the reading, writing and speaking skills of the state’s young people.

A legislative committee last week gave the Department of Public Instruction permission to begin distributing funds from the $43.9 million U.S. Department of Education grant.

School districts and early childhood care providers may apply for a share of the money, which will be distributed over five years. Training sessions on how to fill out grant applications will begin Jan. 14. The application deadline is March 1.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Monday that new survey information about the health behavior of high-school students shows they are drinking less and using less tobacco.

Fewer high school students reported being bullied electronically or personally at school in the survey, which was taken last spring. Fewer young people neglected to buckle up when riding in vehicles, the survey said. "These trends are moving in the right direction and are things we can and should celebrate," Baesler said.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has approved a request from the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders to designate Oct. 22-23, 2020, as days during the 2020-21 school year when classes, sports events and practices, and other school activities may not be held.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Monday that three school organizations have been awarded almost $230,000 in grants to explore the best ways to identify and serve young North Dakota students who have dyslexia. The groups represent 19 school districts.

Check out the new Lexile and Quantile Hub! Find new and enhanced tools that fit your needs.

BISMARCK, N.D., Oct. 4, 2019 – State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Friday that a new year’s worth of North Dakota school performance and accountability information has been integrated into the state’s “education dashboard” website.

NDDPI is pleased to announce funding support for existing and upcoming leadership professional development opportunities designed specifically to meet the individual needs of school leaders across the state.

What does it take to be an incredible school board leader? Betsy Ames has served for 50 years!

ACT, Inc. and MetaMetrics, Inc. are conducting an important research study this fall to link the Lexile and Quantile Frameworks with the ACT Reading and Mathematics scales.

Choice Ready is an element in the North Dakota accountability system to measure whether our high schools prepare students to be ready for success upon graduation.

Millicent Schwartz, a Grand Forks Red River graduate, and Seth Benson, a graduate of West Fargo Sheyenne High, both earned perfect 36 composite scores on the ACT.

More than 90% of parents want their child’s school to teach computer science, but only 35% of high schools, nationally, teach it. Considering the lack of student access along with the obvious benefits, concerted efforts have been made over the past couple of years to address the lack of computer science as a part of our North Dakota students’ educational experience. 

Under ESSA, state education departments are required to annually create an accountability report for every public school in the state. The school accountability reports outline how schools are performing on the accountability elements North Dakota selected within its ESSA plan.

North Dakota School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Wednesday praised two North Dakota high school students who scored a perfect 36 on their ACT college entrance exams.

The following amounts will be used for the 2019-2020 school year to determine the school district responsibility (cost cap) for the education of resident students.