25.0856.01001
Title.02000
Adopted by the Education Committee
Sixty-ninth
January 21, 2025
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Louser, Bolinske, Fisher, Heinert, Hoverson, D. Ruby, M. Ruby, VanWinkle,
Richter
Senators Burckhard, Castaneda, Lemm
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 15.1-21-02.2 of the North Dakota Century
Code, relating to the waiver and substitution of one unit required for high school graduation
under emergent circumstances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 15.1-21-02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
15.1-21-02.2. High school graduation - Minimum requirements. (Effective through
July 31, 2025)
1.Except as provided in section 15.1-21-02.3 and subsection 2, the following twenty-two
units of high school coursework constitute the minimum requirement for high school
graduation:
a.Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature,
composition, and speech;
b.Three units of mathematics, which may include one unit of computer science
approved by the superintendent of public instruction;
c.Three units of science, consisting of:
(1)(a)One unit of biology;
(b)One unit of chemistry; and
(c)One unit of physics; or
(2)(a)One unit of biology;
Page No. 1 25.0856.01001
HOUSE BILL NO. 1200
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
(b)One unit of physical science; and
(c)One unit or two one-half units of any other science which may include
one unit of computer science or cybersecurity approved by the
superintendent of public instruction;
d.Three units of social studies, including:
(1)One unit of United States history;
(2)(a)One-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of
economics; or
(b)One unit of problems of democracy; and
(3)One unit or two one-half units of any other social studies, which may include
civics, civilization, geography and history, multicultural studies, North Dakota
studies, psychology, sociology, and world history;
e.(1)One unit of physical education; or
(2)One-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health;
f.Three units of:
(1)Foreign languages;
(2)Native American languages;
(3)Fine arts; or
(4)Career and technical education courses; and
g.Any five additional units.
2.If approved by the board of a school district or nonpublic school, a school district or
nonpublic school may develop eligibility criteria or programmatic requirements to allow
a passing score on the relevant portions of the GED assessment to receive credit for
the corresponding requirements of subdivisions a through d of subsection 1.
High school graduation - Minimum requirements. (Effective after July 31, 2025)
1.Except as provided in section 15.1-21-02.3 and subsection 2, the following twenty-two
units of high school coursework constitute the minimum requirement for high school
graduation:
a.Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature,
composition, and speech;
Page No. 2 25.0856.01001
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
b.Three units of mathematics, which may include one unit of computer science
approved by the superintendent of public instruction;
c.Three units of science, consisting of:
(1)(a)One unit of biology;
(b)One unit of chemistry; and
(c)One unit of physics; or
(2)(a)One unit of biology;
(b)One unit of physical science; and
(c)One unit or two one-half units of any other science which may include
one unit of computer science or cybersecurity approved by the
superintendent of public instruction;
d.Three units of social studies, including:
(1)One unit of United States history, including Native American tribal history;
(2)(a)One-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of
economics; or
(b)One unit of problems of democracy; and
(3)One unit or two one-half units of any other social studies, which may include
civics, civilization, geography and history, multicultural studies, North Dakota
studies, psychology, sociology, and world history;
e.(1)One unit of physical education; or
(2)One-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health;
f.Three units of:
(1)Foreign languages;
(2)Native American languages;
(3)Fine arts; or
(4)Career and technical education courses;
g.Any five additional units; and
h.One unit of computer science or cybersecurity whether under subdivision b, c, or
both.
Page No. 3 25.0856.01001
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
i.The requirements of subdivision h are waived if the student has completed a
computer science and cybersecurity integration plan approved by the school
board.
2.If approved by the board of a school district or nonpublic school, a school district or
nonpublic school may develop:
a.Develop eligibility criteria or programmatic requirements to allow a passing score
on the relevant portions of the GED assessment to receive credit for the
corresponding requirements of subdivisions a through d of subsection 1.
b.Establish a policy to allow a student to receive credit for no more than one unit
under subsection 1 for completing an alternative course, including an elective
course and or dual - credit course, if the student demonstrates an emergent
circumstance.
Page No. 4 25.0856.01001
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12