A Message from Superintendent Baesler
Dear North Dakota Educators,
I am thrilled to share some exciting news that reflects our dedication to continuous improvement and responsiveness to the needs of our schools. Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, North Dakota will transition to a new, state-developed student engagement survey, designed, and delivered on a reputable and reliable technology platform. This survey will provide meaningful, reliable student engagement data to support our accountability system and aid districts in achieving their student engagement goals.
We made this decision after hearing your voices—the challenges, concerns, and disruptions you shared with us regarding the previous survey. The feedback from students, teachers, and leaders was instrumental, and I am incredibly proud of the NDDPI team for coming together to find a solution that puts North Dakota students and educators first. It led to extensive discussions within our team on upholding the survey's validity and reliability while ensuring it delivers the most accurate information to your districts. This change enables us to seamlessly incorporate engagement data into our state reporting system and to work directly with schools to ensure the best possible experience.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Dickinson, Northern Cass, and West Fargo School Districts for participating in the pilot delivery of the new survey in January and February. Their willingness to collaborate was instrumental in testing the reliability and validity of our survey questions. Without their engagement, this transition would not have been possible.
This is a significant step forward for our schools, and I appreciate your ongoing partnership in advancing student success. We will share more details and resources as we approach implementation next winter. In the meantime, please know that we remain committed to ensuring this transition is smooth, effective, and beneficial for educators and students alike.
Thank you for everything you do for North Dakota’s students. I look forward to working together to learn more about our students’ experiences from this new and improved tool!
With appreciation,
Kirsten Baesler, State Superintendent
National History Day
National History Day in North Dakota is part of a national competition that gives students an opportunity to craft projects that interest them, built around a historical theme. This year’s theme is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
There were three regional contests this month at Bismarck State College, Dickinson State University, and North Dakota State University. Among the subjects the students explored were the Matchgirls Strike, the Seneca Falls Convention, and the U.S. Supreme Court case of Barron v. Baltimore. State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler spoke to students attending the Central Region contest at Bismarck State College: “Through this program, you’re honing abilities that are at the heart of a great education—research, writing, and critical thinking. You’re analyzing large amounts of information, forming well-supported arguments, and learning how to communicate your ideas effectively,” she said.
The End is in Sight
The North Dakota Legislature is beginning its third and final phase – conference committees. These happen when the House and Senate approve different versions of the same bill, and they can’t agree about which version is better. In this case, legislative leaders appoint three House members and three senators as a conference committee to hash out the legislation’s final details. Once the committee finishes its work, the compromise bill goes back to the House and Senate for final votes. If you’re following a bill in conference committee and you want to know when its meetings are scheduled, you may check the Legislature’s website here. If you want to know if the governor has signed a bill that interests you, check out a list of signed legislation on the Secretary of State’s website.
OTHER UPDATES
Business Manager Q&A
NDDPI will hold the quarterly meeting via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, March 26, at 11 a.m. CDT.
If you have questions or topics you would like to discuss, please email Shauna Greff with them by Monday, March 24.
Use the link below to join, or call in (audio only) at 701-328-0950, access code: 243399572#
2025-2026 State-Funded Summer School
The State Automated Reporting System (STARS) is now open for submissions of state-funded summer school programs for all students in grades K-12.
Schools are required to complete two reports for program approval:
- The Summer School Application
- The 2025 Summer School Licensed Personnel (MIS03)
The summer school application(s) and the MIS03 report must be submitted simultaneously. If you need assistance with completing your STARS reporting, the following were created to assist you:
All summer school applications must be received 15 days before your program starts. NDDPI will send a letter to the district confirming approval of your summer school program. Only summer school programs that meet the provisions identified in the administrative rules and those that have received approval from NDDPI before the start of the summer school program are eligible to receive state aid payments.
Do NOT submit a summer school MIS03 or application if you’re not holding a program.
If you have any questions, please contact Angie Thomas at (701) 328-2597.
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