Education

signed · North Dakota · Senate Apr 24, 2025

SB 2241: AN ACT to create and enact a new chapter to title 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the authorization and administration of public charter schools; and to provide for a legislative management report.

Senate Bill 2241 proposes creating a new chapter in the North Dakota Century Code to authorize and administer public charter schools. This bill establishes the framework for how these new types of public schools can be formed and operated within the state, directly affecting students, parents, and educational institutions. It outlines the processes for their authorization and ongoing management. Additionally, the legislation requires a report from legislative management concerning these new provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes public charter schools, expanding educational access options for students and parents within North Dakota's public education framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

signed · North Dakota · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 2330: AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to human trafficking and exploitation prevention and awareness education for students at public schools and tribal schools.

SB 2330 requires public and tribal schools in North Dakota to implement human trafficking prevention and awareness education for students. The bill creates a new legal section in the state code mandating this education as part of school curriculum. It directly affects all students attending public schools and tribal schools across the state. The law focuses on providing age-appropriate education to help students recognize and avoid trafficking situations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates human trafficking prevention education in school curriculum, enhancing student safety programs per state code requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

signed · North Dakota · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 1144: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15.1-06-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transgender student accommodations and restroom use in public schools; to provide a penalty; and to declare an emergency.

HB 1144 amends North Dakota law to require public school students to use restrooms and facilities corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, directly affecting transgender students in public schools. The bill mandates schools to enforce this policy, with penalties for noncompliance including potential loss of state funding. It declares an emergency to expedite the law's implementation. The legislation replaces existing accommodations for transgender students with a policy based on biological sex. This change alters school restroom access policies for transgender youth without providing alternative accommodations.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts transgender students' restroom access in public schools, mandating use based on sex assigned at birth with penalties for noncompliance, directly limiting educational access.90% confidence

signed · North Dakota · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 2019: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of career and technical education; to provide an exemption; and to declare an emergency.

SB 2019 appropriates $51.3 million from North Dakota's general fund for the Department of Career and Technical Education during the 2025-2027 biennium. The funding covers salaries, operating expenses, grants for secondary education, and specific programs like workforce training and STEM initiatives. It directly affects the department and regional organizations receiving $500,000 in workforce training grants, distributed as $230,000 to northwest, $40,000 to northeast, $120,000 to southwest, and $110,000 to southeast organizations. The bill provides no new policy changes but allocates existing funds for operational and program expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $51.3M from general fund for career education programs, directly funding essential state services and strengthening budget allocation for workforce training.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $51.3M for career/technical education funding, covering salaries, STEM programs, and workforce grants - directly advancing educational programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce training and STEM initiatives through $500k grants, directly enhancing job skills and employment opportunities under labor & employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Career & Technical Education Workforce Development

passed · North Dakota · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1527: A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to required Holocaust education.

HB 1527 would require all North Dakota public school districts to include Holocaust education in their U.S. history curriculum. The bill mandates that this education cover specific topics like the causes of the Holocaust, history of antisemitism, resistance efforts, U.S. involvement, and connections between intolerance and historical events. School districts must implement grade-appropriate lessons meeting these requirements, and the state superintendent must submit an annual report to the governor and legislature on compliance. This bill directly affects K-12 schools and students across North Dakota, aiming to ensure consistent educational content about the Holocaust. The bill failed to pass in April 2025, with 22 votes in favor and 24 against.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates Holocaust education curriculum in U.S. history, enhancing educational standards and content requirements for K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

Track

failed · North Dakota · House Mar 24, 2025

HCR 3035: A concurrent resolution to amend and reenact section 2 of article IX of the Constitution of North Dakota, relating to distributions from the common schools trust fund.

This bill proposes amending North Dakota's Constitution to allow $300 million annually from the common schools trust fund for statewide school construction over 10 years ($3 billion total). It modifies how distributions are calculated, requiring annual payments based on trust fund value while adding a fixed $600 million biennial allocation (split yearly) specifically for school construction under state programs. The change would directly affect public schools by providing dedicated funding for new buildings and renovations. The amendment must be voted on by North Dakota voters in 2026 after failing to pass the legislature (15 yeas, 77 nays) in March 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $3B over 10 years for school construction infrastructure via constitutional amendment, directly funding K-12 facility improvements.95% confidence

Track

signed · North Dakota · Senate Mar 27, 2025

SB 2362: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15.1-02-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the accreditation of schools.

SB 2362 amends North Dakota's school accreditation rules to give public and nonpublic schools two accreditation choices: the state's defined process or nationally recognized accrediting organizations approved by the superintendent. The superintendent must establish a selection process involving education stakeholders (like school administrators and boards) and periodically review each option's effectiveness in improving student achievement. Schools can choose the option best matching their instructional goals, but all must meet state standards for education quality and provide measurable student outcome data. The law ensures accreditation directly supports state education goals while offering flexibility to schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides schools choice in accreditation to improve student achievement via stakeholder review, strengthening educational standards without funding cuts or restrictions.85% confidence

passed · North Dakota · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 1604: A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the funding of kindergarten through grade twelve school construction; to provide an appropriation; and to provide an expiration date.

HB 1604 creates a new state program to fund K-12 school construction in North Dakota, directly affecting school districts seeking state assistance for new buildings. To qualify, districts must meet specific criteria, including demonstrating renovation costs exceed 60% of new construction costs, having a failed referendum for construction/renovation within a set timeframe, and securing their share of funding. The bill establishes tiered state funding rates (from 5% to 95% of costs) based on a district’s property tax valuation ("mill value"), with a $600 million appropriation allocated for the 2025-2027 biennium. It also requires districts to use state-appointed architectural firms meeting strict in-state criteria and mandates plans for long-term building maintenance. The program expires on July 1, 2035.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state appropriation for K-12 school construction funding, directly advancing public education budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new state funding program for K-12 school construction infrastructure, directly advancing school facility improvements through tiered state funding rates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax K-12 Education School Funding

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signed · North Dakota · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 1200: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15.1-21-02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the waiver and substitution of one unit required for high school graduation under emergent circumstances.

HB 1200 amends North Dakota's high school graduation requirements to require one unit of computer science or cybersecurity (subdivision h) for all students, effective after July 31, 2025. It allows schools to grant credit for up to one unit of coursework under "emergent circumstances" (e.g., natural disasters disrupting normal education) by substituting alternative courses like dual-credit or electives. This applies to students in North Dakota public and nonpublic high schools who demonstrate such emergencies. The bill also updates existing GED credit provisions but focuses primarily on creating flexibility for emergency disruptions to graduation requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science/cybersecurity as graduation requirement, expanding curriculum standards and educational access for all high school students.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates cybersecurity education for high school graduation, directly enhancing cybersecurity skills and aligning with topic's focus on cybersecurity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Cybersecurity

failed · North Dakota · House Feb 3, 2025

HB 1358: A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to authorization of public charter schools.

HB 1358 proposes creating a new legal framework for public charter schools in North Dakota. It would require the state education official to develop application processes, review charter requests, set annual limits (12 schools for 2025-26, increasing to 15 later), and manage funding based on student enrollment. The bill mandates charter schools to follow state assessments, prohibits charging tuition or licensing to others, and requires community representation on school boards. It also specifies that charter schools would receive state per-student funding but not local tax revenue, and would be eligible for federal funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates legal framework for public charter schools, expanding educational access options and enrollment-based funding in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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