News

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.