The Office of School Approval & Opportunity supports North Dakota schools by overseeing the approval process for public and nonpublic K–12 institutions. It ensures compliance with state operational requirements through the annual compliance report and provides guidance to schools on maintaining approved status. The office also manages credentialing for school leaders and supports continuous school improvement planning.
We are currently updating this webpage to better support schools, and will be regularly adding new information, resources, forms, and guidance related to the school approval process.
Partner Information: Vital Network
Statewide Partnership to Strengthen Teacher Retention & Educator Well-Being
NDDPI is committed to ensuring every school- urban, rural, remote, and frontier, is an exceptional place to work and learn. As burnout and workforce shortages have intensified nationally and statewide, NDDPI has partnered with the national educator retention organization, Vital Network, to better understand and improve the working conditions that keep great teachers and principals in North Dakota schools. Launched in response to recommendations from former Governor Burgum’s Teacher Retention Task Force, this statewide effort has engaged more than half of the state's educators through supporting nearly 200 schools across 35 districts over the past three years. Working closely with NDDPI, Central Regional Education Association (CREA) and the Western Education Resource Center (WERC), and other ND agencies, this statewide educator retention initiative supports leaders in measuring and strengthening the workplace conditions that research shows most influence educator retention and well-being. Through this collaboration, districts and schools receive practical, research-based tools, real-time data, and advisory support to elevate educator and principal voices, reduce burnout, and improve daily working conditions in schools and districts. Early outcomes demonstrate stronger alignment among teachers and leaders, clearer operational structures, and meaningful progress in addressing the root causes of educator turnover. A growing body of research demonstrates that educator working conditions directly influence student learning, and this work is designed to improve both educator and student outcomes. Together, NDDPI and Vital Network are demonstrating what is possible when a state takes educator retention seriously and invests in systems that help teachers and principals thrive: ultimately strengthening schools, improving student experiences, and supporting the long-term vitality of North Dakota communities. Learn more about Vital Network and their commitment to building a sustainable future for North Dakota's education workforce on their website.