North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

NDDPI Messenger: July 3, 2026

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 07/02/2026 10:20 AM CDT

View as a webpage / Share

NDDPI Messenger

July 3, 2026

BRIDGE UPDATE

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, July 8, 12–1 p.m. CDT.

SSO & User Authentication Support Sessions: As part of the transition to Infinite Campus, districts will be required to use a Single Sign-On (SSO) provider so staff & students can securely access the Infinite Campus student information system (SIS). The recording from the Monday, June 29 support session can be accessed here.

K12 Usernames and Staff ID Support Session: This working session will focus on staff usernames and staff IDs that support authentication in Infinite Campus. We will review how usernames and staff IDs are used with both K12 and custom directory authentication, provide guidance on validation and standardization, and answer district-specific questions related to implementation and ongoing use. Join us next Tuesday, July 7, 3:15–4:15 p.m. CDT.

K12 Solutions Modules Update: 504 Plan Management, Substitute Teacher Management, & Student Search

NDDPI is actively working to procure three add-on products developed by Infinite Campus’ channel partner, K12 Solutions Group. The intent is to purchase these modules (504 plan, substitute teacher, student search) at the state-level to prevent districts from having to purchase them individually and incur the cost themselves.

Through extensive conversations with districts and survey feedback, these three modules were identified as the highest value, and most likely to be utilized statewide.

More details will be provided when the procurement process is complete. These details will also include instructions on what to do if your district has already begun, or completed, the purchase of these specific products directly with the K12 Solutions Group.

Emergency Funding Update

Last week, the North Dakota Budget Section approved NDDPI's Emergency Commission Request to provide financial resources to districts to offset transition costs related to the BRIDGE project.

A formula of $1,000 per district plus $25 per student using 2025–2026 average daily membership will be used to allocate the funding. These funds can be used to offset costs associated with data standardization, initial SIS training, and additional workload demands stemming from the compressed implementation timeline.

An application to request funds is expected to be available via WebGrants by mid-July. More details on how to request these funds will be provided to district superintendents as soon as possible.

Accessing Historical PowerSchool Data (Optional for Districts)

As part of the transition away from the PowerSchool system, NDDPI is making historical PowerSchool data available to districts. This optional access is intended for districts that determine they still need to reference information previously stored in PowerSchool.

Districts that choose to access their historical data will do so through a database only connection. This connection allows districts to run Structured Query Language (SQL) queries against a read only copy of their PowerSchool data; it does not provide access to the PowerSchool application itself. Using this connection requires the ability to write and run SQL queries against a relational database. Districts already familiar with querying their production PowerSchool data will find the process similar, though the connection details will differ.

NDDPI is working closely with North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) to put this secure access in place and ensure the environment is compliant with required technical and data governance standards.

If your district has staff who need this type of access, please submit their information using the form below:

District Staff Request for Historical PowerSchool Data Access

Access information will be shared with districts as soon as their individual database connection is ready. We expect to provide access to all districts that have already requested it soon, with initial connection details shared no later than July 10.

If your district does not anticipate needing access to its historical data, no action is required. Districts may also request access at a later time if they later determine that this functionality is needed.

Please note: At this time, NDDPI will not be providing support for developing SQL queries or assisting districts with local reporting or data extraction work. Districts without in‑house SQL expertise will need to contract for those services if needed.

If you have questions about whether your district needs this type of access, or about the process, please feel free to reach out.

PowerSchool Behavior Data Migration

It has been identified that some districts currently store Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in behavior-related “Event Name” fields. This creates a risk, as the “Event Name” is automatically included in Behavior Incident Letters in Infinite Campus, which could unintentionally expose sensitive information.

To address this, legacy behavior “Event Name” values will be migrated to a comments field in Infinite Campus for reference. All legacy behavior events being migrated will be re-labeled to “Historical Event” as the Event Name.

This is a good reminder to not include PII in the behavior-related “Event Name” field moving forward.

Video Fatigue?

If you're experiencing "video fatigue," you're not alone. Rather than trying to consume every training video at once, focus on the trainings most relevant to your role, learn in small chunks, and spend time practicing tasks in your Infinite Campus environment. Consider creating local learning groups, using quick-reference guides, and identifying a few district experts who can support others. Remember: the goal is not to learn everything immediately, it's to learn the right things at the right time and build confidence as you go.

Q & A

Q: We do not use standards-based grading in our school, but I am working in Infinite Campus to import the standards for our Special Ed Unit. I selected all the standards but then get an error that I must select a default rubric - there are no options to select.

A: Rubrics and standards are two different, but related tools. Rubrics are the scoring system that standards use (4/3/2/1, ESNU, etc.). Rubrics are district specific and there is no state-wide repository for rubrics. Standards are the items being addressed (either in grading, using a rubric or in the IEP, which does not utilize rubric scores). Either way, for standards to be entered into the Standards Bank (either manually or through the CASE import tooling), the district needs to align a rubric to those standards.

Unless a district is using standards for grading purposes, the scores in the rubric are not relevant. It’s just a database requirement. Here is Infinite Campus' help guide for creating scoring rubrics in Infinite Campus: Create Scoring Rubrics | Infinite Campus.

For additional assistance, please work with directly with your Infinite Campus implementation team.

OTHER UPDATES

Continuous Improvement Plan & Cognia Updates

Continuous Improvement Training Videos Now Available + Platform Updates

If you weren’t able to join us for our in‑person trainings this spring, good news—you can still get up to speed. Training videos are now available on the Cognia partnership webpage. Videos 1 through 5 are ready to access, covering everything from Getting Started through the Planning Phase. These complement the six in‑person sessions held across the state this spring and are available anytime for your teams.

The New Cognia Improvement Platform Is Live

All North Dakota state contract members now have access to the new Cognia Improvement Platform. This replaces the previous system and brings everything into one connected space: improvement planning, surveys, observations, and reporting tools are all accessible through a single sign‑on via Cognia Home.

The new platform is designed to make navigation faster and more intuitive, reduce duplicated work, and better support the full continuous improvement cycle—from observation through planning and implementation.

Important: All schools must submit their Strategy Map in the new platform

The previous platform has been retired and is no longer in use. Please confirm with your continuous improvement teams that plans are not being submitted there. If you have not yet logged in, now is a good time to get oriented before fall planning begins.

Strategy Map Due Date Update

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, the annual Strategy Map due date is moving from June 1 to September 1. This change gives districts and schools more time to finalize plans using current staffing and data as the new year gets underway. Plans may still be submitted earlier if that fits your local planning calendar.

For questions about strategic plan requirements for school approval, contact Arlene Wolf, Office of School Approval & Opportunity.

Social Studies Content Standards Meeting Agenda

The agenda for the North Dakota Social Studies Content Standards Writing Committee meeting, to be held July 8–9, 2026, at the Heritage Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, is now available. Review meeting objectives, tasks, and timelines in the agenda here.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS

Supt. Bachmeier with Teacher of the Year in front of helicopter for Educators Flight

Educator Flight Honors Teachers, Highlights Student Opportunities

On June 24, dedicated educators from across North Dakota gathered at Camp Grafton near Devils Lake for the North Dakota National Guard's 2026 Educator Flight—an annual event that celebrates the vital connection between education and military service.

State Superintendent Levi Bachmeier joined 2026 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, Frannie Tunseth, among this year's participants, taking part in a unique opportunity for teachers and school and community leaders to learn more about how the Guard supports North Dakota communities, and how it can support students in their post-graduation goals. Participants toured facilities, met with Guard members, and took part in hands-on activities including a Black Hawk helicopter flight, a rappelling exercise, and navigating military watercraft, gaining a firsthand look at the training and teamwork that define Guard service.

Tunseth described the day as one of the most impactful experiences of her life, noting that stepping outside her comfort zone reminded her that growth comes from trusting the process and leaning into the unknown. She also spoke to the professionalism, teamwork, and humility she witnessed in the Guard members who hosted the group.

At the heart of the Educator Flight is a shared commitment to student success. The North Dakota National Guard plays an important role in helping students graduate choice ready, equipped to enter college, the workforce, or the military. Through this ongoing partnership, schools and the Guard work together to help students explore meaningful career pathways, build leadership skills, and contribute to their communities.

We are grateful to the North Dakota National Guard for hosting this powerful event and for their continued investment in the future of our students, our schools, and our state.

View Video Here

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

School Nutrition Programs Renewal Process, Across the Desk, and Office Hours

NDIT and NDDPI are finalizing the renewal forms within ND Foods and expect renewal to open July 13, 2026. You will receive a notification once it is available.

A webinar will be held to walk through the renewal process and explain the how, what, and why of each section. New this year, will be a request for second milk and entrée pricing, beginning balances for the foodservice account, and— for those participating in the Afterschool Snack Program— the addition of this program agreement to the documents tab.

All updates will be covered during the Child Nutrition and Food Distribution (CNFD) “Across the Desk” webinar on Tuesday, July 14, at 2 p.m. CDT—register here.

Additionally, School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Renewal Technical Assistance Times will be available for anyone that has questions. These will be offered, as needed on the following dates:

Tuesdays:
Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. CDT—Click to join

Wednesdays:
July 15, July 22, and Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. CDT—Click to join

Thursdays:
July 16, July 23, and Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. CDT—Click to join

Time to Review Your Food Safety Training Requirements

Summer is a great time to review the sanitation training status of your kitchen staff. Foodservice directors and kitchen managers should ensure their initial food safety and sanitation certifications, or required three‑hour sanitation updates, are completed by National School Lunch Program (NSLP) renewal time. Check ND Foods for previous training dates for the director and manager(s) of the program.

Options for Initial Eight‑Hour Food Safety and Sanitation Training:

ServSafe Food Safety and Sanitation Training will be offered in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Aug. 25, 2026. Register by July 31. This is an excellent opportunity for in‑person commercial food safety training. Click to register here.
Food Safety in Schools online course through the Institute of Child Nutrition is available on demand for those who prefer to complete the training remotely. Access the course here.

New foodservice directors and kitchen managers should email a copy of their completed certifications to dpicnfd@nd.gov. Options for the three‑hour online sanitation updates (SANU) for directors and managers who completed their initial sanitation (SAN) training five years ago can be found on the CNFD website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

2026 Back-to-School Drill Down

The final agenda will be posted the week before the event as planning is finalized with Infinite Campus. Infinite Campus will present during the general session and lead three breakout sessions in the afternoon.

Attendees are asked to bring their laptops and chargers so they can follow along and participate in hands-on activities during the presentations, if needed.

This event is open to all staff members, not just administrators and principals. Secretaries, counselors, department leads, and any other staff who would benefit from the sessions are encouraged to attend.

Register Here

12th Annual North Dakota Indian Education Summit

Don’t forget to secure your spot at the 12th Annual North Dakota Indian Education Summit, happening July 28–29, 2026, at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck. This two‑day event features keynote speakers Martin Sensmeier and Nadine Groenig, a full lineup of breakout sessions, cultural presentations, authentic Native foods, exhibitors, and valuable networking opportunities. Continuing education credit is available through the University of Mary.

Register Here

The NDDPI Messenger is sent out on a weekly or as-needed basis. Visit our website to view previous bulletins.

NDDPI Messenger

600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 201, Bismarck, ND 58505-0440
(701) 328-2260
www.nd.gov/dpi

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help