|
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, Aug. 5, 12–1 p.m. CDT.
Special Education Town Hall / Q&A: NDDPI is hosting another open forum for Special Education discussion with the transition to Infinite Campus. Join us on Thursday, Aug. 13, 9–10:30 a.m. CDT.
Progress, Not Perfection
Large-scale IT and data migration projects are complex undertakings, and it is normal to encounter issues, unexpected challenges, and adjustments along the way. While we all strive for a smooth transition, not every process will work perfectly the first time, and that is a natural part of implementing a project of this size and scope.
We understand that these situations can be frustrating, especially for those working hard to support students, staff, and local operations. NDDPI sincerely appreciates the patience, flexibility, and dedication districts have shown throughout the BRIDGE journey. As challenges arise, teams across the state continue to work together to identify solutions and make improvements. Your feedback and partnership are helping us build a stronger foundation for the future, and we encourage everyone to stay focused on the long-term success of the project and keep sight of the bigger picture as we move forward together.
K12 Solutions Group: Statewide Add-Ons
NDDPI has finalized Contract 3934 with K12 Solutions Group for statewide Infinite Campus add‑ons: 504 Solution, Substitute Teacher Solution, and Student Search Solution. Districts may now begin moving forward with enabling and using these solutions.
Next steps for districts:
- Work with your Infinite Campus implementation team to enable the K12 Solutions modules for your district. Infinite Campus manages the process of adding districts and making the modules visible within each site.
- Watch for upcoming K12 Solutions training sessions. These virtual sessions will be recorded and made available for anyone who cannot attend live.
- If questions arise during activation or use, districts may coordinate directly with K12 Solutions or with their Infinite Campus implementation contacts.
- For state-level support or routing, districts can email the BRIDGE inbox at bridge@nd.gov.
NDDPI is funding these three modules at the state level; districts do not need to purchase them individually.
NDIIS and Direct Certification Timeline
Please find below an update regarding two data integration items affecting schools:
-
Child Nutrition Direct Certification Integration—Automates the determination of free and reduced-price meal eligibility using verified state data.
-
North Dakota Immunization Information System (NDIIS) Immunization Verification Integration—Provides authoritative immunization records aligned with student enrollment information.
Both of these items depend on enrollment data and are on track to be operational by Aug. 12, 2026.
|
|
Early Attendance Matters: A Quick Reminder for School Leaders
Early attendance sets the tone for the entire school year. Students who miss two to four days in September are five times more likely to become chronically absent, and those missing more than four days are 16 times more likely to struggle all year, according to the Baltimore Education Research Consortium.
National rates show that chronic absenteeism has almost doubled over the past five years and has been slow to improve. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year, can affect whether students read proficiently by the end of third grade, achievement levels in middle school, and eventually high school graduation rates. By sixth grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of school, according to Attendance Works.
Early intervention may prevent chronic absenteeism and keep students engaged, supported and on track for long-term success. School districts can lower rates of chronic absenteeism by tracking August and September absences closely, reaching out early to families and relying on attendance data to guide further action.
North Dakota’s GRAD701 initiative can assist schools in creating early warning systems and implementing evidence-based practices to help identify and support students early in the school year. For more information, visit the NDDPI website (GRAD701) or contact Lea Kugel at (701) 328-4561.
|
|
|
Administrative Rules Public Comment Hearing
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) will conduct a public comment hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m. CDT in the Peace Garden Room at the State Capitol for the purpose of hearing public comment on proposed updates to administrative rules.
NDDPI is currently proposing to amend NDAC 67-30-02, Virtual Schools. The proposed changes are being made to update the deadline for which a school district may apply to open a new virtual school, in order to align with federal reporting timelines. The current deadline of June 1 is too late to align with the timeline in which NDDPI must submit data at the federal level when opening a new school.
For those unable to make it to the hearing that wish to provide public comment, we will accept public comment by email, mail, or telephone until 5 p.m. CDT on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Please see the full notice for more information.
Please contact Jim Upgren at (701) 328-2244 with questions or to provide public comment.
School Bus Inspections
The North Dakota Highway Patrol recently announced it will no longer conduct school bus inspections for districts. After reaching out for clarification, the following criteria were confirmed for individuals who perform bus inspections.
An inspector must have either:
• Familiarity with the vehicle, demonstrated by holding a license to drive the bus
or
• Authorization to work on the vehicle, demonstrated by being certified as a mechanic for that model of bus
NDDPI is adapting the Highway Patrol’s inspection checklist and will include it in the next edition of the School Bus Driver’s Guide. Until then, districts may request a copy of the checklist from Steve Snow. Questions regarding bus inspections may also be directed to him.
|
|
2026 Back-to-School Drill Down is NEXT WEEK!
Don't miss the 2026 Back-to-School Drill Down on Aug. 5, 2026, at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck, North Dakota from 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. CDT.
The agenda is posted within the link below; 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.
|
|
FY26 RLIS Grant Application: Now Open!
NDDPI is pleased to announce that 2026-27 Rural Low-Income Schools (RLIS) grant applications are now open. District allocations have been posted on the NDDPI website, and eligible districts should review their allocation amounts as they begin preparing their submissions.
As in prior years, superintendents and business managers of eligible districts have already been notified via email with guidance for accessing and completing their application in WebGrants.
Districts are encouraged to begin their applications promptly and reach out with any questions as they review posted allocation amounts and application requirements. Grant applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Aug. 26 by 5 p.m. CDT.
For questions contact Kate Waechter at (701) 328-2132.
|
|
|
The NDDPI Messenger is sent out on a weekly or as-needed basis. Visit our website to view previous bulletins.
|
|
|
|
|
