BRIDGE Updates: Supporting People Through Change
While the BRIDGE project brings many technical changes to North Dakota’s K-12 education ecosystem, it is equally important to focus on the people side of change. Research shows that the single greatest factor in successful change initiatives is active and visible sponsorship.
Are you prepared and willing to be that person for your district, school, or team? We want to ensure you have the tools and resources to guide your stakeholders through this transition with confidence. Check out the resources on the BRIDGE project webpage for more information.
BRIDGE FAQs
Q: What’s the measure of success?
A: As with any multi-phase, large-scale initiative such as the BRIDGE project, there will be multiple measures of success. Our long-term, big-picture vision is to transform the management of education data in North Dakota, allowing our teachers and administrators to focus more on our mission to ensure all students graduate choice ready, with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful. Ultimately, our long-term success will be measured by factors such as improved information accessibility for educators, and reduced administrative workload to collect and report the data necessary to provide that information.
Our initial goal is to implement Infinite Campus at public LEAs and NDDPI for the 2026-27 school year. This important step, however, is not the end of our journey. The Infinite Campus solution will lay the groundwork for further transformation of the rest of the K12 education data ecosystem as part of a long-term, multi-generational plan.
It’s important to recognize that while there will be many wins and advancements with this initial implementation, there may be some features and solutions we enjoy today that may not be fully mature or functional on day one. This does not mean the project is unsuccessful, although it may appear that way using a short-term lens.
We’ll be working together to identify, mitigate, and resolve implementation challenges, integration issues, and functionality gaps, while simultaneously continuing along our transformation roadmap. Together, we will celebrate these small victories, and recognize and communicate our lessons learned, as we progress towards our long-term goals.
Join us for BRIDGE Office Hours!
An open forum designed for LEA personnel to get real-time answers about the BRIDGE project. These sessions provide a direct opportunity to:
❓ Submit your questions
🔍 Clarify project details
🤝 Engage with the BRIDGE project team
Whether you’re looking for technical guidance, implementation support, or clarity on upcoming milestones, Office Hours are your chance to connect, collaborate, and stay informed.
🗓️ Sept. 24
⏰ 12–1 p.m. CDT
⏰ 4–5 p.m. CDT
North Dakota Launches ND COUNTS Mathematics Policy
During the 2025 legislative session, the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly passed Senate Bill 2213, which established a statewide mathematics policy known as ND COUNTS (Cultivating Outcomes through Unified Numeracy Teacher Support). The policy strengthens mathematics instruction through updated teacher licensure requirements, professional development, the use of high-quality instructional materials, and a grades 4–8 pilot program that will provide skill-level screeners, individualized learning tools, and targeted interventions aligned to the 2023 North Dakota Mathematics Content Standards.
Districts can begin preparing by reviewing current instructional materials and intervention programs for alignment, strengths, and gaps, and by assessing professional development plans to ensure they support evidence-based mathematics instruction.
More information about the grades 4–8 pilot and district application process will be shared via the NDDPI Messenger in fall 2025.
For all inquiries, please reach out to Kate Waechter in the Office of Academic Support at NDDPI.
It’s Crunch Time! Register Now for the 2025 Crunch Off
The 2025 Mountain Plains Region Crunch Off is back, running from Sept. 15–Oct. 31. This friendly competition celebrates local foods, supports farmers and ranchers, and encourages healthier eating across our region. Together, we’re aiming for 750,000 crunches across Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana!
How to Participate
Everyone can join in—schools, childcare centers, businesses, organizations, and families. All it takes is crunching into a fresh, locally grown fruit or vegetable while showing support for the producers who feed us.
Eligible Crunch Items
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✅ Locally grown or raised fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, popcorn, and meat (beef, pork, poultry, lamb, jerky, bison sticks, roasts, etc.)
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✅ Scratch-made value-added items (ex: local cucumbers with homemade tzatziki—cucumbers count!)
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✅ Regionally grown foods from programs like DOD Fresh or USDA Foods
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❌ Not included: liquids (milk/juice), commercially purchased value-added items (like salsa, ice cream, sauces), grains, or deep-fried foods
Even if you can’t find something local, you can still register and participate—because every crunch helps promote healthy eating!
Event Ideas
For Schools & Childcare
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🥒 Lunchtime Crunch: All students crunch together at lunch.
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🍏 Classroom Taste Tests: Vote on favorite local produce.
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🎨 Veggie Art Contest: Create artwork, then crunch as a group.
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📚 Storytime Crunch: Pair farm-to-school stories with a snack.
Let’s crunch together and show the strength of our communities in supporting local food and healthy habits. Register today and make your crunch count!
SB 2275: Foreign Language Pilot – Applications Now Open!
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction has been tasked with implementing SB 2275, a pilot program to offer grants to schools that provide instruction in a foreign language to students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3).
Based on the parameters of the policy, the following criteria have been identified and prioritized as part of the application process:
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📝 Narrative Use of Funds & Program Plan
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💲 Amount Requested (not to exceed $2,500 per school per year)
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📚 Language Instruction to be provided
The legislative intent of this program is to fund ten schools/districts to explore foreign language programming in grades K-3 and report findings back to the department. Any district receiving a grant will be required to provide a written report on the practices and programming explored.
👉 For more information, please visit our website.
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 Suicide Prevention Month: Resources for Educators
This September, communities across the country recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind students, families, and educators that mental health matters. Together, schools and communities can create supportive environments where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. You are not alone.
North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS) recently released a Suicide Prevention and Response Toolkit for Schools, a collaborative project through through Parents Lead and Suicide Prevention programs. This comprehensive resource provides schools with practical strategies, response protocols, and tools to strengthen prevention efforts and support the mental health of students.
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