# Title 15.1 — Elementary and Secondary Education

## Chapter 15.1-01 — State Board of Public School Education

### § 15.1-01-01. State board of public school education - Composition.

1. The state board of public school education consists of the superintendent of public
instruction and:
a. An individual representing Barnes, Cass, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Steele,
and Traill Counties;
b. An individual representing Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina,
Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Towner, and Walsh Counties;
c. An individual representing Dickey, Emmons, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh,
Ransom, Richland, and Sargent Counties;
d. An individual representing Burleigh, Eddy, Foster, Kidder, McLean, Sheridan,
Stutsman, and Wells Counties;
e. An individual representing Burke, Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail, Ward, and
Williams Counties; and
f. An individual representing Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Grant,
Hettinger, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sioux, Slope, and Stark Counties.
2. All board members other than the superintendent of public instruction must be
qualified electors and must reside in one of the counties they represent.
3. The governor shall appoint new board members from a list of names submitted by a
committee consisting of the president of North Dakota united, the president of the
North Dakota council of educational leaders, and the president of the North Dakota
school boards association. Two of the state board members must be members of the
North Dakota school boards association.
4. Appointees serve for six-year terms, staggered so that the terms of two members
expire on June thirtieth of each even-numbered year.
5. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint an individual to serve for the duration
of the unexpired term.
6. Each member of the board is entitled to receive, from the biennial appropriation for the
superintendent of public instruction, compensation in the amount of sixty-two dollars
and fifty cents per day and reimbursement for expenses, as provided by law for state
officers, if the member is attending board meetings or performing duties directed by
the board. The compensation provided for in this section may not be paid to any
member who receives a salary or other compensation as an employee or official of this
state if the individual is serving on the board by virtue of the individual's state office or
state employment.
7. The superintendent of public instruction shall serve as the executive director and
secretary of the board. The superintendent shall call meetings as necessary, carry out
the policies of the board, and employ personnel necessary to perform the board's
duties.
8. The board shall annually elect one member to serve as the chairman.
### § 15.1-01-02. Joint meetings - State board of public school education - State board of

higher education - Education standards and practices board - State board for career and
technical education.
The state board of public school education, the state board of higher education, the
education standards and practices board, and the state board for career and technical
education shall meet together at least once each year at the call of the superintendent of public
instruction, the commissioner of higher education, the executive director of the education
standards and practices board, and the director of career and technical education for the
purposes of:

1. Coordinating elementary and secondary education programs, career and technical
education programs, and higher education programs;
2. Establishing high standards and expectations of students at all levels of the education
continuum;
3. Ensuring that all students have access to challenging curricula;
4. Ensuring that the individuals instructing students at all levels of the education
continuum are highly qualified and capable;
5. Cooperating in the provision of professional growth and development opportunities for
individuals instructing students at all levels of the education continuum; and
6. Ensuring cooperation in any other jointly beneficial project or program.
### § 15.1-01-03. State board of public school education - Powers and duties.

1. The state board of public school education shall:
a. Assist county committees in carrying out their duties.
b. Provide county committees with clerical assistance, plans of procedure,
standards, data, maps, forms, and other materials, information, and services.
c. Appoint members to the county committee, if the county superintendent does not
fulfill this duty, as provided for in section 15.1-10-01.
d. Provide oversight for regional education associations as required by chapter
15.1-09.1.
e. Establish and certify a North Dakota learning continuum to allow a
district-approved, mastery framework policy to award units required under
sections 15.1-21-01 and 15.1-21-02 and to waive unit instructional time
requirements under section 15.1-21-03, upon the recommendation of the
kindergarten through grade twelve education coordination council.
2. The state board of public school education may adopt rules in accordance with chapter
28-32.
### § 15.1-01-04. Kindergarten through grade twelve education coordination council.

1. The state board of public school education shall oversee the creation and ongoing
operation of the kindergarten through grade twelve education coordination council.
2. The council consists of:
a. Four members of the legislative assembly, two members from each chamber of
the legislative assembly, one member selected by the respective majority leader
of each chamber, one member selected by the minority leader of either chamber,
and one member selected by the legislative management from the chamber from
which the minority leader did not make a selection;
b. The governor or the governor's designee;
c. The superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee;
d. The president of the state board for career and technical education or the
president's designee;
e. The president of the board of the North Dakota council of educational leaders or
the president's designee;
f. The president of the board of North Dakota united or the president's designee;
g. The president of the board of the North Dakota school boards association or the
president's designee;
h. The president of the board of the North Dakota small organized schools or the
president's designee;
i. The president of the board of the North Dakota school counselor association or
the president's designee; and
j. The following gubernatorial appointees:
(1) An individual representing tribal school interests;
(2) An individual employed as a public school administrator;
(3) An individual employed as a public school principal;
(4) An individual employed as a public elementary school teacher;
(5) An individual employed as a public secondary school teacher;

(6) A director of a special education unit; and
(7) A director of a regional education association.
3. The term of office for a member appointed by the governor is four years. The governor
may stagger the initial appointments to the council so no more than three members'
terms expire in any year.
4. The council shall select a presiding officer annually from among its members.
5. A member of the council who is a member of the legislative assembly is entitled to
receive per diem compensation at the rate provided under section 54-35-10 for each
day performing official duties of the council and to reimbursement for travel and
expenses as provided by law, to be paid by the legislative council. A member of the
council who is not a state employee is entitled to receive as compensation sixty-two
dollars and fifty cents per day and to reimbursement of expenses as provided by law
for state officers while attending meetings of the council, to be paid by the state board
of public school education. A state employee who is a member of the council is entitled
to receive that employee's regular salary and is entitled to reimbursement for mileage
and expenses, to be paid by the employing agency.
6. The council may hire an executive director.
7. The council shall:
a. Assist in the implementation, dissemination, and communication of the statewide
strategic vision and evaluate progress toward meeting the identified goals and
strategies.
b. Perform a continuous review of the effectiveness and efficiency of access and
delivery of education services and programs in the state.
c. Identify opportunities for increased collaboration among state education entities
and stakeholders.
d. Identify gaps or duplications in education services and programs and provide
recommendations for addressing those gaps or duplications.
e. Study and evaluate new and emerging educational initiatives and trends and
provide recommendations for policy changes to state entities or the legislative
assembly if necessary.
f. Support the implementation, dissemination, and communication of local or
regional educational initiatives and practices, including innovative education
programs, on a statewide level.
g. Develop and utilize subcommittees as needed.
h. Seek advice and input from interested parties not appointed to the council as
needed.
i. Review the North Dakota learning continuum and provide recommendations to
the state board of public school education.
8. The council shall meet at least six times per biennium.
9. The council shall prepare and present an annual report of council activities to the state
board of public school education and to the legislative management.
10. The council may enter a contract to conduct a study to carry out an objective of this
section.
