# Title 15 — Education

## Chapter 15-19 — Distance Education

### § 15-19-00.1. Definitions.

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Board" means the board of public school education.
2. "Center" means the North Dakota center for distance education.
3. "Director" means the director of the center for distance education.
### § 15-19-01. North Dakota center for distance education courses - Establishment -

Enrollment of students - Courses of instruction.
The state shall provide kindergarten through grade twelve courses, comprehensive
educational support, and high school diplomas through the center for distance education under
the following provisions:
1. A complete curriculum prescribed by state-mandated education accreditation entities
which meets the requirements for digital education the superintendent of public
instruction has determined to be appropriate.
2. The center for distance education may provide services to persons who are not North
Dakota residents, including entering an agreement with a regionally accredited
postsecondary institution to provide high school and postsecondary credit for the
completion of an academic course.
3. A center for distance education student's school district of residence shall pay fees as
may be prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction.
4. Students exempt from the compulsory school attendance laws pursuant to
subdivision e of subsection 1 of section 15.1-20-02 may enroll in distance education
courses offered through the center for distance education. These students may study
their center for distance education lessons in their learning environment under the
supervision of a parent.
### § 15-19-01.1. Distance education courses - Course lists to school districts -

Notification.
The center for distance education shall provide by December thirty-first of each year, a
complete list of courses offered by the center to all school districts. Each school district shall
notify its students and their parents or guardians of the complete list of courses offered and the
school district's policies for course selection and related fees.
### § 15-19-02. Administration Center for distance education - Appointment and duties.

The program of and all activities related to the center for distance education are the
responsibility of the director of the center for distance education and under the authority of the
superintendent of public instruction and the board. The director is appointed by and reports to
the superintendent of public instruction. The center must have a separate budget and a
separate staff from the department of public instruction who must be classified under the state
personnel merit system. The director shall carry out the responsibilities in operating the center
for distance education in the manner approved by the board, under the supervision of the
superintendent of public instruction, and compliant with requirements established by the
superintendent of public instruction and the education standards and practices board for public
school administrators and teachers.
### § 15-19-02.1. Distance education clearinghouse.

The administration of the center for distance education shall establish a clearinghouse for
online courses delivered to North Dakota schools for the purpose of providing:
1. A list of the online courses and providers for all North Dakota schools to access.
2. Awareness of online courses available in new and emerging careers.
3. A list of comparative prices for online courses and other online services.

4. Awareness of the differences between technological innovation and learning
innovation.
### § 15-19-03. Duties of superintendents of schools - Authorization of enrollments.

Repealed by S.L. 2019, ch. 141, § 8.
### § 15-19-04. Duty of superintendent - Advertising.

Repealed by S.L. 2019, ch. 141, § 8.
### § 15-19-05. Study centers - Adult classes.

Repealed by S.L. 1965, ch. 127, § 6.
### § 15-19-06. Special funds - Deposit of collections - Transfers from general fund

appropriations.
1. A special operating fund for the center for distance education must be maintained
within the state treasury and all income and fees collected by the center for distance
education from any source must be remitted monthly by the superintendent of public
instruction to the state treasurer and credited to the special operating fund. All
expenditures from the fund must be within the limits of legislative appropriations and
must be made upon vouchers, signed and approved by the director. Upon approval of
the vouchers by the office of the budget, warrant-checks must be prepared by the
office of management and budget.
2. The superintendent of public instruction may establish an endowment and scholarship
fund to provide financial grants to students enrolled in courses offered through the
center for distance education. The endowment and scholarship fund may consist only
of those funds specifically appropriated by the legislative assembly and property
received by the center for distance education as a gift, devise, or bequest. Any gift,
devise, or bequest of property received by the center for distance education which is
designated by the superintendent of public instruction and donor for the endowment
and scholarship fund must be deposited in the scholarship fund at the Bank of North
Dakota. The center for distance education may draw on the endowment and
scholarship fund for the award of endowments and scholarships within the limits and
rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction.
### § 15-19-07. Fees collected deposited in general fund.

Repealed by S.L. 1965, ch. 127, § 6.
### § 15-19-08. Distance education support and services.

The amount of money appropriated by the legislative assembly for distance education
support and services for a biennium, or so much thereof as may be necessary, must be
expended first for work provided by distance education as determined by the center for distance
education and approved by the superintendent of public instruction.
