School Attendance
N.D.C.C. § 15.1-20-01 — a child from seven to sixteen attends for the whole school year
Whoever is responsible for a child between seven and sixteen ensures the child attends public school for each whole school year. A child enrolled at six must attend too, and once withdrawn cannot re-enroll until the next year.
- Exceptions include an approved nonpublic school, home education, a finished diploma, a disability found by a team, and need to support the family.
- A teacher reports an unexcused absence, and the administrator investigates and may refer it to law enforcement.
- Failing to ensure attendance is an infraction for a first offense and a class B misdemeanor after; real efforts to make a student attend are a defense.
Sources for this section (3)
- N.D.C.C. § 15.1-20-01 — Compulsory attendance
- N.D.C.C. § 15.1-20-02 — Compulsory attendance - Exceptions
- N.D.C.C. § 15.1-20-03 — Compulsory attendance law - Enforcement - Penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Dakota attorney.