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February 5, 2026

District Meal Debt Survey

Due to significant statewide interest in school meal policy and student meal debt following recent legislative discussions, NDDPI is seeking district-level insight into school meal debt. The issue has been widely discussed across the state as part of efforts to understand how meal costs and unpaid meal balances are affecting students, families, and district finances.

We need your input. We ask that North Dakota public and nonpublic school districts take this brief survey to provide insight into meal debt to help inform a clearer statewide picture.

Please submit one response per district by 5 p.m. on Feb. 26. 

Thank you for your participation and for helping inform ongoing conversations about school meal programs in North Dakota.

Important BRIDGE Updates

NDDPI has prepared updated guidance to support districts transitioning to Infinite Campus, clarifying statewide contract terms, cost responsibilities, and key implementation timelines. This update outlines contract structure, covered services, which potential overages NDDPI will cover versus those districts must manage, and how summer school, end-of-year processes, and data migration from PowerSchool and TieNet will be handled as districts prepare for the June 30, 2026, conversion deadline.

District personnel are strongly encouraged to review the full guidance to understand local responsibilities and prepare for required timelines. Please reach out to the BRIDGE project team with any questions. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Initial Applications for Waiver of High School Instructional Unit Time Due March 1

North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 15.1-21-03 requires that each high school instructional unit (credit) consist of:

• 150 clock hours of student engagement for science and CTE courses, and
• 120 clock hours of student engagement for all other subjects.

School districts that wish to implement a class schedule with fewer than the required hours must apply for and receive approval for a waiver of instructional unit time, as outlined in North Dakota Administrative Code (NDAC) 67-19-02.

Initial Waiver Applications (2026–2027 School Year)

Schools applying for an initial waiver for the 2026–2027 school year must submit a completed application no later than March 1, 2026.

Please note that waiver applications must be approved by the school board and signed by the board president, so districts should plan accordingly to ensure applications be submitted on time.

To apply, complete and submit the online waiver application by March 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to review the waiver of instructional time application scoring rubric to ensure all required elements are addressed.

Waiver Duration and Extensions

• Approved initial waivers are valid for one school year.
• Schools may apply to extend the waiver for a second school year.
• Once a waiver has been approved and in place for two consecutive school years, extensions may be applied for and granted for two additional school years at a time.

For schools currently operating under waivers that expire at the end of the 2025–2026 school year, applications to extend the waiver are due July 1, 2026.

Please contact Jim Upgren at (701) 328-2244 with questions about the waiver of instructional unit time or the application and approval process. Additional information can also be found on the school calendars portion of the NDDPI website.

Four-Day School Week Initial Waiver Applications Due March 1

North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 15.1-06-04(5) requires school districts intending to operate under a four-day school week to apply for and receive approval for a waiver prior to implementation. The waiver application process is outlined in North Dakota Administrative Code (NDAC) 67-15-02.

Initial Waiver Applications (2026–2027 School Year)

Schools applying for an initial four-day school week waiver for the 2026–2027 school year must submit a completed application no later than March 1, 2026.

Please note that waiver applications must be approved by the school board and signed by the board president, so districts should plan accordingly.

To apply, complete and submit the online four-day school week waiver application by March 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to review the four-day school week application scoring rubric to ensure all required elements are addressed.

Waiver Duration and Extensions

• Approved initial waivers are valid for one school year.
• Schools may apply to extend the waiver for a second school year.
• Once a four-day school week waiver has been approved and in place for two consecutive school years, approved extensions may be granted for five additional school years at a time.

For schools currently operating under waivers that expire at the end of the 2025–2026 school year, applications to extend the waiver are due July 1, 2026.

For questions regarding the four-day school week waiver or the application and approval process, please contact Jim Upgren at (701) 328-2244. Additional information can also be found on the school calendars portion of the NDDPI website.

OTHER UPDATES

NDDPI's Office of School Approval & Opportunity has updated the school approval process to make it more streamlined and easier to understand. All public and nonpublic schools must receive approval before taking any of the following actions: opening a new school, reconfiguring grade levels, changing a school name, consolidating with another school, or closing a school.

The forms below have been developed to ensure that all required information is submitted in one place. All forms are due by April 1 each year.

Public School Forms:

• New School Opening
• Change Request – Grade Reconfiguration or Name Change
• Public School Consolidation or Closure

Nonpublic School Forms:

• New School Opening
• Change Request – Grade Reconfirmation or Name Change

For more information, please visit the School Approval & Compliance website.

Contact the Office of School Approval & Opportunity at (701) 328-2597 for additional information.  

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Upcoming PowerSchool Training

PowerSchool ADA/ADM Training, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 | 2 p.m. CST
Virtual via Microsoft Teams

BRIDGE Office Hours

Join us for BRIDGE Office Hours, an open forum designed for district personnel and partners to get real-time answers about the BRIDGE project. This session provides a direct opportunity to submit your questions, clarify project details, and engage in conversation 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.

• Feb. 18, 12 p.m. CST

If you missed the January Office Hours, you can access the recordings in the links below:

• Jan. 21, 12 p.m. CST
• Jan. 21, 4 p.m. CST

North Dakota Chapter of The Reading League Launches

The North Dakota Chapter of The Reading League has officially launched and invites educators and administrators to its first virtual event.

Event: State of the Science of Reading (SoR) in North Dakota
Date: Feb. 19
Time: 4:30 p.m. CT
Format: Virtual webinar

State leaders Brenda Ehrmantraut (NDDPI), Dr. Becky Pitkin (North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board), and Kerri Whipple (South East Education Cooperative) will discuss the past, present, and future of the Science of Reading in North Dakota.

The Reading League supports evidence-aligned reading instruction by providing professional learning opportunities and resources. Registration is free.

Institutional Child Protective Services Online Training

North Dakota Health and Human Services has developed an online training on institutional child abuse and neglect and Institutional Child Protective Services (ICPS). In North Dakota, ICPS applies to both public and private schools.

The training explains how to identify child abuse and neglect, outlines your responsibilities, describes the actions you must take, and explains how to report concerns.

Schools are not required to complete ICPS training; however, you and your staff can complete the online course in approximately 15 minutes. The training does not generate a certificate, but staff may print the final screen as confirmation of completion.

For questions specific to the training, contact Kevin Miller or 701-328-8882.

Free Behavioral Health Webinars for School Leaders and Staff

The North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services is offering a series of free, high-quality behavioral health webinars for school administrators and student support staff. Licensed professionals lead these one-hour sessions, which are approved for CEUs through the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners, Social Work Examiners, Counselor Examiners, and Certified Peer Support Specialists.

Webinar topics focus on school-relevant needs, including crisis de-escalation, trauma-informed care, early identification of mental health concerns, and strategies to support students with serious emotional disturbances. Participants gain practical tools and actionable insights to better support student well-being, promote safe learning environments, and strengthen collaboration across care systems—at no cost.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS

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