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Opportunities for Support
BRIDGE Open Office Hours: The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) and project partners are now holding general Office Hours on a weekly basis. Our next session is scheduled for next Wednesday, June 3, 12–1 p.m. CDT.
Data Migration/Validation / Support Sessions: Project team members from NDDPI, Aurora Educational Technology (our data migration vendor), EduTech, and REAs will be available on a weekly basis to assist districts with specific data questions & support. Our next sessions are scheduled for next week:
Student Immunization Data Update
NDDPI worked closely with NDDHHS’ Immunization Unit to ensure exporting and importing student immunization data is as easy as possible for Schools/Districts. The NDIIS “School Student Immunization Record Report” has been updated to align to Infinite Campus’ import standards. See instructions below for exporting this data from NDIIS and importing it to your SIS.
Reminder: Infinite Campus offers a student-level immunization module to track immunization dates and compliance criteria. That said, the North Dakota Immunization Information System (NDIIS) will remain the source of truth for all student immunization records, and designated school staff will continue to have access to that application. Districts are required to comply with NDCC 23-07-17.1 and ND Admin Code 33-06-05-01, but are not required to track student immunization data directly in their SIS. They can choose to if beneficial to them. The Infinite Campus Immunization Import tool allows districts to import student immunization information from an external file to make bulk imports quick and easy.
Although a direct integration between NDIIS and Infinite Campus will not be available at go-live (Summer 2026), integration options will continue to be explored to streamline this process even further in the future.
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Applications for Extension of Waiver of High School Unit Instructional Time Due July 1, 2026
The deadline to apply for a waiver extension for schools currently operating under a Waiver of High School Unit Instructional Time that expires at the end of the 2025–2026 school year is July 1, 2026.
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.
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.
Each application must include:
- The 2026–2027 school calendar
- The 2026–2027 class schedule
- School board meeting minutes documenting approval of the waiver application
To apply for a waiver extension, complete and submit the online waiver application by July 1, 2026.
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
- After a waiver has been in place for two consecutive years, districts may apply for extensions covering up to two school years at a time
For questions regarding instructional unit time requirements or the waiver application process, please contact Jim Upgren at (701) 328‑2244. Additional information is available on the school calendars section of the NDDPI website.
Spring Calendars Due June 1
This is a friendly reminder that Spring School Calendars are due by June 1, 2026. There was an issue with the Student Performance Strategist minutes not saving and that has now been resolved, so if you were having issues with that, please try it again.
If you need assistance, please refer to the guidance document or contact Katie Wald at (701) 328-4923.
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State Sen. Michelle Axtman (R‑District 7), Rep. Jim Jonas (R‑District 13), State Superintendent Levi Bachmeier, Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden and North Dakota First Lady Kjersti Armstrong today announced the launch of a statewide survey designed to gather public input on responsible technology‑use policies in North Dakota classrooms.
DPI Offers Reimbursement for LETRS Facilitator Certification Renewal
NDDPI is pleased to offer reimbursement for costs associated with renewing Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) Facilitator Certification.
Districts may submit for reimbursement by completing the required reimbursement form and providing a copy of the paid LETRS Facilitator Certification Renewal invoice. To ensure timely processing, please submit the reimbursement request form and supporting documents by June 15, 2026.
This support is intended to help districts sustain local capacity for high-quality literacy professional learning through certified LETRS facilitators. We appreciate your continued commitment to strengthening literacy outcomes for all students.
If you have questions regarding the reimbursement process, please contact Brenda Ehrmantraut.
PowerSchool to STARS: Data Sync, Accuracy Guide & Office Hours
To ensure accurate reporting, districts are encouraged to make all student updates directly in PowerSchool (PS) and allow the data to sync into the State Automated Reporting System (STARS). There are situations that cause this not to occur that we are trying to highlight! STARS serves as NDDPI's source of truth for enrollment, accountability, fiscal processes, and other reporting, so it’s essential that STARS data matches what is entered in PS.
If you have questions about syncing, mismatch errors, or enrollment reporting, join our upcoming online Office Hour sessions. These sessions will address common issues, best practices, and general troubleshooting to help ensure accurate student data across systems. For full details on required fields, common sync issues, and data accuracy expectations, please review the PowerSchool to STARS: Data Sync & Accuracy Guide.
Join the Office Hour session here on Wednesday, June 3 at 3:30 p.m. CDT.
For questions, please contact Stan Schauer.
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 Supt. Bachmeier poses in photo with Finley‑Sharon Public School staff.
Finley‑Sharon Wins Distinguished Schools Award Again
Earlier this month, State Superintendent Bachmeier visited Finley-Sharon Public School to honor the entire student body on earning a Distinguished Schools Award from the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators for the second year in a row!
Finley-Sharon earned this recognition by ranking in the top 10 percent of achievement scores in both mathematics and English/language arts for two consecutive years. This award goes to schools where at least 35 percent of students come from low-income families and who demonstrate outstanding, sustained academic achievement.
Congratulations to the Finley-Sharon students, teachers, and staff on this incredible accomplishment!
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES |
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Free Summer Professional Development for Educators
NDDPI's Office of Specially Designed Services (SPED) is offering free professional development opportunities for educators across the state this summer. General and special educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, and related service providers can access these courses through the ND Educational Hub.
The live sessions will run from June 5 through August 7 and will be offered again in Fall 2026, ensuring ongoing access and support for those seeking to earn professional development credit.
Courses can be found on the ND Educational Hub under Statewide Professional Development > Specially Designed Services (SPED).
For questions, contact Allison Miller.
Child Passenger Safety on School Bus Training
Safe Kids Grand Forks will host two specialized training courses this summer for individuals involved in transporting students on school buses. This training is funded by North Dakota Vision Zero and coordinated by Safe Kids Grand Forks. The Child Passenger Safety on School Buses course is designed for bus drivers, special education staff, school administrators, Head Start personnel, bus monitors, childcare providers, and others who support student transportation.
This full‑day course provides an overview of proper child restraint system use on school buses, with particular emphasis on preschool‑aged children and students with disabilities. Topics include wheelchair transport, casting, behavioral considerations, and best practices for securing various child restraint systems. Participants will receive instruction through videos, educator‑led demonstrations, and hands‑on practice.
Two sessions will be offered in North Dakota:
- Jamestown on July 21 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Minot on August 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For questions, please contact safekids@altru.org.
PowerSchool Workshops
Tuesday, June 2
Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4
Friday, June 5
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS |
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National “We the People” Summer Institute Offers Fully Funded Training for North Dakota Teachers
North Dakota educators have a new opportunity to deepen their civics instruction through the National We the People Summer Institute, scheduled for July 13–17, 2026, at the Minnesota Humanities Center in St. Paul. Funding is available to support seven new teachers from North Dakota, providing free training, travel, lodging, meals, We the People textbooks, curriculum materials, and ongoing mentoring from experienced program educators.
The institute is designed for teachers interested in implementing We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution in their classrooms during the 2026–27 school year. Participants will receive training in constitutional content, inquiry‑based teaching methods, and strategies for preparing students for simulated congressional hearings, including participation in the North Dakota State We the People competition in January 2027.
Organizers are encouraging the opportunity to be shared widely with educators who may benefit from this experience. Teachers interested in applying or learning more can contact Jennifer Kallenbach.
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 Register Today for the 12th Annual ND Indian Education Summit
The event is open to all North Dakota educators and covers a wide range of topics focused on best practices for educating Native American students—while still being beneficial for all learners.
The registration cost includes two full days of dynamic keynote speakers (Martin Sensmeier and Nadine Groenig), 18 educational breakout sessions each day, cultural presentations during lunch, authentic Native American foods, handouts and resource materials, product‑vendor and information‑exhibitor booths, door prizes and excellent networking opportunities. Continuing education credit is also available through the University of Mary.
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The NDDPI Messenger is sent out on a weekly or as-needed basis. Visit our website to view previous bulletins.
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