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Pre-Application Process

Many families are curious about NDCDE graduation requirements and how many credits their student will need to complete a diploma. NDCDE offers a pre-application process to help answer these questions. The pre-application process involves completing basic information on our Diploma Program Application Form that can is located on our CDE Forms Page and uploading a transcript.

How to Officially Enroll

If you would like to earn your high school diploma through NDCDE and work with our Academic Adviser, you must complete the official application process.

Enrollment Steps

  1. Homeschool Status Requirement
    1. Students under compulsory school age must file a homeschool Statement of Intent with their local district.
    2. Older students who have dropped out or are beyond compulsory age must provide proof of withdrawal from their former school, but do not need to file a Statement of Intent.
  2. Transcript and Documentation Review
    Admission requires a full review of prior transcripts or, for homeschooled students, a detailed review of homeschooling documentation. Students who have an IEP, 504 Plan, or ILP must provide this documentation as part of the enrollment process so NDCDE can plan appropriate academic supports.
  3. 25% Credit Requirement (Cognia Standard)
    Per Cognia-recommended educational practices, students must normally complete at least 25% of their high school credits directly through NDCDE to be eligible for a diploma.
    1. Waivers: This requirement may be waived if a student transfers with credits from an accredited school or GED-equivalent credits and cannot reasonably complete the 25% standard due to health, safety, disciplinary exclusion, or another valid reason approved by the NDCDE counselor.
    2. Waiver determinations are made during the transcript review process, and all decisions are documented in the student’s educational record in accordance with NDCDE’s Transcription of External Credits Policy (C2h).
  4. Verification Requirements
    Admission is not complete until:
    1. A full program application is completed and all program acknowledgments have been consented to on this form.
    2. All required documents have been submitted and verified.
    3. The virtual verification meeting has taken place.
    4. Proof of homeschool status (Statement of Intent or withdrawal letter, depending on age/status) has been provided
    5. The $35 enrollment fee has been paid (link provided after acceptance).
  5. Program Expectations
    Students and families must agree to uphold NDCDE’s Academic Honor Code and student policies, meet graduation requirements as defined in policy, and designate an approved Learning Coach to support the student’s progress.

Services

Students enrolled in the diploma program at the North Dakota Center for Distance Education will be provided transcript evaluations, yearly consultation of educational plans, career interest inventories, information on standardized testing for grades 8-12, consultation regarding scores on career inventories and/or standardized tests if applicable, information on state scholarships, and a high school diploma upon meeting the requirements of graduation. Local school districts will be responsible for any services, required by the student, reflected in state law. Students enrolling in NDCDE as a diploma student should register with their state’s Department of Education as a home-schooled student and follow any rules or regulations that apply.

For reference here is the North Dakota Century Code (t15.1c23) for "home education".

Leaving the Program?

A student can leave the program three ways.

  1. Graduate: a student completes all required course work and is issued a diploma.
  2. Withdraw: A student fills out a Diploma Program Withdrawal Request on the Forms Page. While he/she can continue to take courses, he/she will no longer receive the services of the academic adviser.
  3. Force withdraw: A student who is not enrolled in at least one course for six months, and does not communicate with NDCDE after three attempts at contact will be force dropped from the diploma program. If the student wishes to return to the program at a later time he/she will need to re-apply and pay the enrollment fee.