News

Effective August 1, 2025, the lifetime teaching license will be issued after 25 years of holding a North Dakota teaching license. Those teachers currently on a 5 year teaching license must have the 6 reeducation credits completed to move off their five year license and into the 25 year lifetime license (67.1-02-02-01). 

• The application for the 25 year life license will be available starting on July 20, 2025. This will allow ESPB time to transition from the 30 year lifetime license to the 25 year lifetime license.
• Any teacher may apply online in their NDTeach account after July 20th for the lifetime license once they have reached 25 years of licensure in ND and met the reeducation requirements of the license they currently hold - they do not need to wait until their current license is up for renewal.
• Applicant will upload transcripts showing completion of their reeducation credits earned since their last renewal to their application for renewal.

In addition, a second part of the law will now require those on a lifetime license to report to ESPB every 5 years of their intent to keep teaching and disclose any background check issues that might prohibit them from holding a valid license. This will affect those who currently hold a 30 year lifetime license, as well as those who will be issued the 25 year lifetime license. There will be no cost to this process. Those currently holding the 30 year lifetime license will be contacted by ESPB in the future using their email address in NDTeach; no action needs to be taken at this time. Please check that you have a valid email address in your NDTeach account to help ensure successful communication in the future. 

Candidates for a North Dakota teaching license who have completed their teacher preparation program outside of North Dakota have two options for licensure in North Dakota:

1. If they hold a teaching license in another state or territory in the United States of America, and completed an accredited education program with student teaching, they can submit an application for an Other State Educator License (OSEL) in ND. They will provide copies of their teaching license in another state, standardized test score reports, and official transcripts. North Dakota will honor their out of state program and tests and they could be issued a similar teaching license in ND. Applicant must complete a successful background check. 
2. If they do not hold a valid teaching license in another state, the candidate can apply for an Out-of-State Reciprocal License. This license is issued for a period of 2 years and can be renewed for 3 additional years, giving them a total of 5 years to meet North Dakota licensure standards. They must have completed an approved teacher education program which included student teaching and complete a successful background check.

This fall a stakeholder group of K-12 educators, state literacy team members, DPI, ESPB, and higher education faculty collaborated to discuss ways to ensure education majors graduated with the knowledge and understanding necessary to implement the science of reading in their future classrooms. This work is a requirement of House Bill 1231 from the 68^th Legislative Session.

ESPB has partnered with districts and DPI to support higher education faculty who prepare our future teachers to be competent and confident in their understanding and implementation of the science of reading.

The group recommended the International Dyslexia Standards (IDA), with several state specific modifications. These standards are attached below and have been adopted by ESPB for education program approval for all institutions who prepare teachers.

Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading

FULL NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT AND AMEND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Emergency Rule 67.1-02-01-06

TAKE NOTICE that the Education Standards and Practices Board will hold a public hearing to address proposed adoption of N.D. Admin Code § 67.1-02-01-06, related to Pre-Service Teacher Authorizations, and proposed amendments to N.D. Admin. Code § 67.1-02-01-01, related to Student Teachers, at 10:00am on October 3, 2023, at the Pioneer Room of the State Capitol, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505. The purpose of the proposed rule and amendment is to create a pre-service teacher authorization to allow student teachers to serve in a limited capacity as a teacher of record for a single semester.

The proposed rule and amendment are not expected to have an impact on the regulated community in excess of $50,000. 

These rules are emergency rules with an effective date of August 9, 2023.

The proposed rules may be reviewed at the office of the Education Standards and Practices Board, 2718 Gateway Avenue, Suite 204, Bismarck, ND 58503. A copy of the proposed rules may be requested by writing the above address, espbinfo@nd.gov or calling (701) 328-9641. Written or oral comments on the proposed rules sent to the above address or telephone number and received by October 14, 2023, will be fully considered.

If you plan to attend the public hearing and will need special facilities or assistance relating to a disability, please contact the Education Standards and Practices Board at the above telephone number or address at least 10 days prior to the public hearing.

Dated this 9^th day of August, 2023.

Dr. Rebecca Pitkin
Executive Director
Education Standards and Practices Board

Senate Bill 2070 (the permit bill) has been signed by the Governor; therefore, the bill from the previous session will continue. The parameters of the bill are very similar with one exception:

-An individual who enrolls in a teacher education program may teach for an additional 4 years, up to a maximum of 7 years.
-Individuals not enrolled in a teacher education program may teach up to 3 years.

Example
-An individual who held a permit for 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, can apply for a permit for the 2023-24 also (year 3). If they want to apply for 2024-25 school year, ESPB will need to see evidence of enrollment in a teacher education program, as this would be year 4.

Please visit https://www.nd.gov/espb/licensure/teaching-permit-information to access information on the permit process.

If you hold a permit, fall within the law, want to renew your permit, and your school would like to continue on a teaching permit, please contact ESPB and we can help get the renewal application started for you in your ND Teach account.

ESPB has partnered with Frontline to provide online training to individuals with less than 48 credits of college education who are interested in substitute teaching. The training costs $180 and takes approximately 20 hours to complete. Please click on this link to register for the training and make sure you select North Dakota.

 https://www.frontlineeducation.com/substitute-teacher-training/

Once an individual completes the training, they will use the ND Teach Login button above to register and apply for a substitute teaching license. Upon submission of their application, an applicant will be required to also submit the following documents: 

• Frontline Training Completion Certificate

• Fingerprint background check packet  - Please print these forms and follow the instructions: https://www.nd.gov/espb/sites/www/files/documents/Complete-Fingerprinting-Instructions-1-16-20.pdf

• Copy of High School Diploma or GED certificate - OR - Official college transcript with any credit earned

Have you ever considered a teaching career? North Dakota needs you! There are more ways to become a teacher than the traditional route; you may already have some of the necessary qualifications! The North Dakota School Boards Association has teamed with ESPB to provide webinars that explore pathways to North Dakota licensure. You may access the PowerPoint presentation used HERE, and recordings of these webinars at https://youtu.be/i7eRh1k6MVY and https://youtu.be/hxQRrSy1Kkc.

North Dakota Administrative Code 67.1-02-04-02 restricting interim substitute teachers to 10 consecutive days in the same classroom has changed to 30 days. This became effective October 1, 2021.

Interim substitute licenses have been updated to reflect this change.

FULL NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT, AMEND, REPEAL ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

TAKE NOTICE that the Education Standards and Practices Board will hold a public hearing to address proposed amendments and adoptions to N.D. Administrative Code 67.1-02-02, 67.1-02-03, 67.1-02-03-07,67.1-02-03, 67.1-02-04, 67.1-02-05, 67.1-02-06 at 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at 2718 Gateway Avenue, Suite 204, Bismarck, ND. The purpose of the proposed rules are to amend kindergarten through grade 12 out of state license fee configuration, adopt rules for a reading minor equivalency endorsement, amend rules relating to teachers with restricted licenses, amend rules relating to out of state reciprocal licenses, amend the numbers of days allowed for the interim license for substitute teachers, amend the professional skills test requirements in relation to accepted SAT scores, and general edits for clarity.

The proposed amendment is not expected to have an impact on the regulated community in excess of $50,000.

The proposed rules may be reviewed at the office of the Education Standards and Practices Board, 2718 Gateway Avenue, Suite 204, Bismarck, ND. A copy of the proposed rules and/or a regulatory analysis may be requested by writing the above address, emailing rpitkin@nd.gov, or calling (701) 328-9641.

Written or oral comments on the proposed rules sent to the above address or telephone number and received by July 19, 2021 will be fully considered.

If you plan to attend the public hearing and will need special facilities or assistance relating to a disability, please contact the Education Standards and Practices Board at the above telephone number or address at least 10 days prior to the public hearing.

Dated this 28th day of May 2021

Rebecca Pitkin, Executive Director, ESPB

Governor Burgum's Executive Order relating to the removal of the "Limited to ten (10) consecutive days in the same classroom" restriction for substitutes with less than a 4-year degree ends April 30.

Beginning April 30, the "Limited to ten (10) consecutive days in the same classroom" restriction listed on their license is in effect.