23.0535.01000
Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO. 1163
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Monson, Hoverson, O'Brien, Richter, Schreiber-Beck, Swiontek
Senators Davison, Kreun, Rust, Schaible
1 A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-21 of the North Dakota
2 Century Code, relating to optional career and technical education high school curriculum; and to
3 amend and reenact section 15.1-21-02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to
4 minimum requirements for high school graduation.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
6 SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 15.1-21-02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code is
7 amended and reenacted as follows:
8 15.1-21-02.2. High school graduation - Minimum requirements. (Effective through
9 July 31, 2025)
10 1. Except as provided in section 15.1-21-02.3, section 2 of this Act, and subsection 2, the
11 following twenty-two units of high school coursework constitute the minimum
12 requirement for high school graduation:
13 a. Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature,
14 composition, and speech;
15 b. Three units of mathematics, which may include one unit of computer science
16 approved by the superintendent of public instruction;
17 c. Three units of science, consisting of:
18 (1) (a) One unit of biology;
19 (b) One unit of chemistry; and
20 (c) One unit of physics; or
21 (2) (a) One unit of biology;
22 (b) One unit of physical science; and
23 (c) One unit or two one-half units of any other science;
24 d. Three units of social studies, including:
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1 (1) One unit of United States history;
2 (2) (a) One-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of
3 economics; or
4 (b) One unit of problems of democracy; and
5 (3) One unit or two one-half units of any other social studies, which may include
6 civics, civilization, geography and history, multicultural studies, North Dakota
7 studies, psychology, sociology, and world history;
8 e. (1) One unit of physical education; or
9 (2) One-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health;
10 f. Three units of:
11 (1) Foreign languages;
12 (2) Native American languages;
13 (3) Fine arts; or
14 (4) Career and technical education courses; and
15 g. Any five additional units.
16 2. If approved by the board of a school district or nonpublic school, a school district or
17 nonpublic school may develop eligibility criteria or programmatic requirements to allow
18 a passing score on the relevant portions of the GED assessment to receive credit for
19 the corresponding requirements of subdivisions a through d of subsection 1.
20 High school graduation - Minimum requirements. (Effective after July 31, 2025)
21 1. Except as provided in section 15.1-21-02.3, section 2 of this Act, and subsection 2, the
22 following twenty-two units of high school coursework constitute the minimum
23 requirement for high school graduation:
24 a. Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature,
25 composition, and speech;
26 b. Three units of mathematics, which may include one unit of computer science
27 approved by the superintendent of public instruction;
28 c. Three units of science, consisting of:
29 (1) (a) One unit of biology;
30 (b) One unit of chemistry; and
31 (c) One unit of physics; or
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1 (2) (a) One unit of biology;
2 (b) One unit of physical science; and
3 (c) One unit or two one-half units of any other science;
4 d. Three units of social studies, including:
5 (1) One unit of United States history, including Native American tribal history;
6 (2) (a) One-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of
7 economics; or
8 (b) One unit of problems of democracy; and
9 (3) One unit or two one-half units of any other social studies, which may include
10 civics, civilization, geography and history, multicultural studies, North Dakota
11 studies, psychology, sociology, and world history;
12 e. (1) One unit of physical education; or
13 (2) One-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health;
14 f. Three units of:
15 (1) Foreign languages;
16 (2) Native American languages;
17 (3) Fine arts; or
18 (4) Career and technical education courses; and
19 g. Any five additional units.
20 2. If approved by the board of a school district or nonpublic school, a school district or
21 nonpublic school may develop eligibility criteria or programmatic requirements to allow
22 a passing score on the relevant portions of the GED assessment to receive credit for
23 the corresponding requirements of subdivisions a through d of subsection 1.
24 SECTION 2. A new section to chapter 15.1-21 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
25 and enacted as follows:
26 Optional career and technical education high school curriculum.
27 1. If a student's parent consents in writing to the student pursuing the optional career and
28 technical education high school curriculum, the student is eligible to receive a high
29 school diploma upon completing the following requirements, including twenty-one units
30 of high school coursework:
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1 a. Three units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature,
2 composition, and speech;
3 b. Three units of mathematics, which may include one unit of computer science
4 approved by the superintendent of public instruction;
5 c. Two units of social studies, including:
6 (1) One unit of United States history, including native American tribal history;
7 (2) One of the following:
8 (a) One-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of
9 economics; or
10 (b) One unit of problems of democracy;
11 d. Two units of science;
12 e. Two units of career and technical education within a career and technical
13 education coordinated plan of study;
14 f. One unit in career and technical education work-based learning, which may
15 include a school-to-work or cooperative experience;
16 g. Three units of career and technical education;
17 h. One of the following:
18 (1) One unit of fine arts;
19 (2) One unit of foreign language; or
20 (3) One unit of native American language;
21 i. One of the following:
22 (1) One unit of physical education; or
23 (2) One-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health;
24 j. Any four additional units;
25 k. One of the following:
26 (1) A composite score of at least twenty-two on an ACT or an equivalent score
27 on a nationally recognized standardized test approved by the state board of
28 higher education; or
29 (2) A score of at least five on each of three WorkKeys assessments or an
30 equivalent score on a nationally recognized standardized test,
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1 recommended by the department of career and technical education and
2 approved by the superintendent of public instruction; and
3 l. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 1.666 on a 4.0 grading scale.
4 2. One career and technical unit can be earned by completing an industry certification
5 within a career and technical education course.
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Statutes affected: INTRODUCED: 15.1-21-02.2