College & Career Readiness News in North Dakota
North Dakota is making strides to ensure students graduate truly “Choice Ready” for college, careers, and life. Education leaders continue efforts to emphasize career and technical education, addressing projected skill shortages and preparing students for an evolving job market.
All K–12 students now have access to virtual reality career exploration tools, broadening early exposure to workplaces and helping them visualize pathways from energy to healthcare careers. The Workforce Education Innovation Fund is investing millions in postsecondary institutions to build programs that prepare skilled professionals across sectors.
Recent data shows gradual improvements in students’ readiness for college and careers, reflecting schools’ sustained efforts to align learning with post-high school pathways.
A key innovation is the integration of Lexile and Quantile assessments into RUReady.ND.gov, giving students personalized tools to align reading and math growth with over 600 career pathways. North Dakota also earned national recognition from the XQ Institute as one of only 10 states implementing top high school reform policies, including competency-based learning and expanded work-based experiences.
From VR career exploration to statewide personalized learning networks, these initiatives demonstrate a clear commitment: preparing every student for success in a rapidly changing workforce.
 Jump-Start College Plans This Summer with Expanded NDCDE–NDSU Dual Credit Options
North Dakota students in grades 10–12 can get a head start on college this summer through an expanded lineup of online dual credit courses offered by North Dakota State University (NDSU) in partnership with the North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE). This summer’s offerings represent a substantial expansion from prior semesters, giving students more opportunities to intentionally select coursework that aligns with their future majors, career interests, and general education requirements.
Why Take Summer Dual Credit Courses:
Summer dual credit courses let students earn early college credit while in high school, choose classes that fit general education requirements and future majors, and make the most of summer with flexible, online learning—all while making cost-effective decisions about college.
Course descriptions, including general education categories and major applicability, will be posted in the NDCDE store by March 1, 2026.
All courses are taught by NDSU faculty, fully online and asynchronous, and aligned with the NDSU academic calendar. Students earn 1–3 NDSU college credits (on an official transcript) and 0.25–0.5 high school credit through NDCDE. Each student also selects a Learning Coach (preferably outside their household) for support.
Course examples:
CSCI 105 – Introduction to Cybersecurity, COMM 216 – Intercultural Communication, MATH 166 – Calculus II, BIOL 126 – Human Biology, PHIL 216 – Business Ethics, and ENTR 201 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship, etc.
Click here for a full list of courses. Review course details, general education designations, and major applicability before registering to ensure summer coursework is purposeful, relevant, and aligned with future college and career goals.
Scholarship Opportunity: EducateND
Educators returning to school or pursuing an advanced education degree, as well as college students working toward an education degree, are eligible to apply for a $2,000 EducateND Scholarship through North Dakota Dollars for Scholars. To qualify, applicants must:
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.75
- Be a junior, senior, or graduate student
- Be accepted into an education program at a North Dakota school
North Dakota Dollars for Scholars will award up to 50 EducateND Scholarships for the 2026–27 academic year. This scholarship is one of many available through state, local, and national chapters of Dollars for Scholars. Students can apply by creating a profile and logging in to the North Dakota Dollars for Scholars website. The application period closes April 1, 2026.
CareerViewXR Now Available Statewide for K–12
North Dakota K–12 students now have statewide access to CareerViewXR, a library of 100+ immersive field trips that bring real workplaces into the classroom. Whether on individual devices or VR headsets, these experiences help students explore career options before making academic and career decisions. The tool is available at no cost through the existing RUReady platform—start using it with your students today!
Support for Implementation:
How to Get Started:
Middle and high school students can access CareerViewXR by logging into their RUReady.ND.gov account and visiting the Career Planning page. A library of grab-and-go lesson plans and activity ideas is available on the CareerViewXR website to make classroom integration easy. An elementary-specific hub is in development—stay tuned for updates!
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Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degree Pilot Programs Approved
The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) has approved Policy 409 and Policy 409.1, allowing NDUS institutions to pilot up to two reduced-credit Bachelor of Applied Science programs. These programs aim to create faster, lower-cost pathways into the workforce while maintaining quality and alignment with high-demand careers. The Board set a sunset date of 2030 to reassess and evaluate any initiated programs.
“We believe it is critical to provide our institutions with the tools and flexibility to innovate, with the overarching goal of creating faster pathways into the workforce at a lower cost for students and their families,” said SBHE Chair Kevin Black.
Key guardrails:
- Each institution may offer up to two programs, ensuring focused quality and monitoring
- Limited to Bachelor of Applied Science degrees
- Programs must align with high-demand workforce areas and show employer support
- Excludes careers requiring professional licensing (subject to future review)
- Requires enhanced academic advising and tracking of student retention, completion, and job placement
Click here to learn more.
 Helping Students Find Summer Opportunities with Compass
Summer is a great time for students to gain hands-on work experience that helps them explore careers, develop job skills, and make informed decisions about their future. Compass in RUReadyND makes finding these opportunities easy.
Tips for Using Compass:
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Update Profiles: Encourage students to add recent classes and activities, complete their personality assessment, and review their Holland Codes for accurate matches.
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Explore Work-Based Learning (WBL): Go to Opportunities > Work-Based Learning, click View All, and filter by Type, Industry, Location, or Matches. Students can also browse Career Profiles to see where WBL can lead.
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Apply for Opportunities: Click on an opportunity for details, then select Apply. Students should check email and Compass regularly for updates.
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Contact Employers Directly: If an employer hasn’t listed summer opportunities, students can go to Opportunities > Employers, filter by Connection Options (Summer Job, Job Shadow, Internship), and use contact info to reach out.
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Engage Employers on Behalf of Students: Schools seeking more summer WBL can email employers they work with, include the flyer link, and encourage them to add opportunities in Compass.
For questions or more information, contact Golden Path Solutions.
 Graph of the Continuum into education profession.
Pathways Into Teaching
K-12 General Education Paraprofessional Certificate
High school students can begin their journey into education by earning this certificate, which provides foundational knowledge in pedagogy and prepares them for meaningful teaching careers. Certificate details can be found here.
Educator Pathway Program
This program allows high school students to prepare for a teaching career by earning dual credit through five college‑level courses integrated into their high school curriculum. It is open to all North Dakota school districts interested in offering education or teaching courses for dual credit. Students may also combine specific courses to earn a Special Education Paraprofessional certification. For more information, please visit NDDPl's Educator Pathway.
Educators Rising Grant Opportunity
Educators Rising is a professional organization that encourages middle and high school students to explore teaching as a career. It is one of the nation’s largest Grow Your Own (GYO) programs for high school students. For more information, click here.
State Para-to-Teacher Program (PTP)
Established through Senate Bill 2032 during the 2023 legislative session, this program allocates $3 million every two years to support paraprofessionals in becoming licensed teachers. Using a “follow‑the‑student” model, NDDPI partners with eight universities to provide scholarship funding. For more information, click here.
Lead Teacher Apprenticeship Program
Approved by the U.S. Department of Labor in August 2025, North Dakota became the first state to receive approval for the Lead Teacher occupation. This program emphasizes a team-based teaching model in which educators share student rosters. Participants complete Lead Teacher modules to earn a Lead Teacher certificate. For more information, click here.
Registered Principal Apprenticeship Program
North Dakota has a Registered Principal Apprenticeship program funded by Title II dollars. The program awards funding to universities, which then partner with districts to identify staff interested in pursuing a master’s degree in education leadership. For more information, click here.
 Presenters at ESEA conference
ND Highlighted at ESEA Conference
The Annual Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) conference was held in Denver, Colorado on Feb. 10-12, 2026. Laurie Matzke with NDDPI and Melanie Kathrein with Dickinson Public School District joined USED staff to present on "Using Federal Funds to Support Career & Workforce Readiness." The PowerPoint deck can be accessed here.
 Students using VR goggles at Capitol
Student Leadership Day at Capitol
A local Student Leadership Group attended a North Dakota Careers showcase at the state capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Students learned about the many career opportunities in North Dakota state government. As part of the event, they experienced the CareerView VR goggles and explored more than 100 immersive field trips that bring real-world workplaces to life.
Streamlining Job Shadows Through Compass
Job shadows are one of the easiest ways for students to build connections with employers and gain meaningful insight into careers that interest them. Golden Path Solutions has simplified the process in Compass, allowing educators to manage approvals, scheduling, invites, and contact information electronically through the Compass Console in the RUReady.ND.gov Professional Center—no paperwork required.
Virtual Workshop:
Join NDCTE on March 5 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT for a detailed walkthrough. Register here.
Key Updates in Compass:
- Improved job shadow workflow
- Ability to schedule and send calendar invites
- Easier access to employer contact information
- Consolidated calendar for all scheduled shadows
How Students Request Job Shadows:
Log in to RUReady.ND.gov, launch Compass, go to Opportunities > Employers, select Job Shadow, rank preferences, and submit for approval.
Managing Job Shadows as a Professional User:
Manage requests, employer approvals, scheduling, and agreements in the Compass Console under Work-Based Learning.
Quick Tip: When students update their Compass profile and Four-Year Plan, refresh your class list in My Class Lists under the Compass Console.
For more information, contact Laura Glasser, or Golden Path Solutions.
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ND A+ Summative Assessment Preparedness Workshop
EduTech and NDDPI will host ND A+ Summative Assessment Preparedness Workshops in March 2026. These workshops are designed to help educators prepare for the upcoming ND A+ Summative Assessment.
Workshop Format:
- In-person, regional workshops at six locations across the state.
- Virtual workshop option for added flexibility.
- Each date/location offers two sessions: a morning and an afternoon workshop.
- Both sessions cover the same content, so participants only need to attend one.
Dates & Locations:
- Monday, March 2, 2026 – Grand Forks
- Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – Devils Lake
- Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Minot
- Thursday, March 5, 2026 – Bismarck
- Monday, March 9, 2026 – Jamestown
- Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Fargo
- Thursday, March 12, 2026 – Virtual Webinar
To register, click here.
Introducing the North Dakota Family Portal
NDDPI has partnered with Pearson to launch the North Dakota Family Portal, a new resource designed to help parents and guardians support their students’ educational progress and learning by providing direct access to ND A+ Summative Assessment results.
The Family Portal is secure and will be accessible through a user-friendly browser link, compatible with laptops, tablets, and smartphones. To protect student privacy and ensure data security, families will log in using student-specific credentials such as student ID, name, and date of birth.
What Families Will See
For students who participate in the ND A+ Summative Assessment, the Family Portal will include access to:
- Individual Student Report (ISR)
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Video Individual Student Report (Video ISR) – featuring student-specific animation and voiceovers that guide families through student results step by step
Additional resources will be available to help families interpret and understand assessment results.
When It Will Be Available
Beginning in late June, families will be able to access the Family Portal to view both the printable ISR and the Video ISR for their student.
Stay tuned—more details will be shared soon. We are committed to enhancing our partnership with families by providing meaningful, easy-to-understand information about student achievement as measured by the ND A+ assessment system. Together, we can support every student’s success.
 Students attend Lunch and Learn hosted by CTE
Fargo South Students Explore Teaching Careers at “Lunch and Learn”
Fargo South High School recently hosted an Education Pathway “Lunch and Learn.” Students were nominated by a staff member as part of the “I See a Great Teacher in You” campaign. During the event, students shared stories about educators who inspired them and heard from a panel of teachers, counselors, and administrators about careers in education. They also learned about Education Pathway courses offered through Fargo Public Schools, designed to help students take their first steps toward becoming future teachers.
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