Mandate: Code 15.1-21 (no date available) requires health education to be provided to students. For purposes of high school graduation, grades 9-12 require 1 unit of physical education, of which ½ unit may be health, for high school graduation according to NDCC 15.1-21.

Curriculum Content: The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has approved K-12 content and achievement standards for health education as of September 2008. The state does not require schools to follow a specific curriculum framework.

State Assessment Requirement: None.

Mandate: Code 15.1-21 (no date available) requires physical education to be provided to students. At the high school level, school are required to offer one-half credit of physical education each school year, provided that once every four years the unit must be a concept-based fitness class that includes instruction in the assessment, improvement, and maintenance of personal fitness.     For purposes of high school graduation, grades 9-12 require 1 unit of physical education, of which ½ unit may be health, for high school graduation according to NDCC 15.1-21.

Exemptions: None specified. 

Curriculum Content: The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has approved K-12 content and achievement standards for physical education as of September 2008. The state does not require schools to follow a specific curriculum framework.

Physical Fitness Assessment: None.

Not specifically required.

The North Dakota Health Content Standards (2008) recommends content standards and gives examples of specific knowledge and activities for teaching students emotional, social, and mental health. In grades K-4, Standard 1 recommends that the importance of emotional and social health be taught. For grades 5-8, Standards 2 and 5 recommend that stress management, characteristics and conditions for positive self-esteem, and emotional and social changes associated with puberty and adolescence be taught. Lastly, in grades 9-12, Standards 1 and 2 recommend that emotional and social changes that occur throughout life and how they differ among individuals, how emotional and social factors influence attitudes and behaviors regarding sexuality, and the interrelationships of intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical health be taught.

Character Education: Not specifically required.

Mandate: Code 15.1-21.24 (2012) requires every school district, both public and nonpublic, to ensure that the portion of its health curriculum which is related to sexual health includes instruction pertaining to the risks associated with adolescent sexual activity and the social, psychological, and physical health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity before and outside of marriage. 

Curriculum Content: None specified.

Parental Approval: No state policy.

North Dakota does not provide state funds for school-related HIV, STD, or teen pregnancy prevention activities.

The North Dakota Health Content and Achievement Standards (2008) recommends content standards and gives examples of specific knowledge and activities for teaching students in grades 5-8 about nutrition according to Standard 4.

Alcohol: Code 15.1-21-01 (no date available) requires students to receive instruction on the nature and effects of alcohol; however, grade levels and amounts of instruction are not specified.

Tobacco: Code 15.1-21-01 requires students to receive instruction on the nature and effects of tobacco; however, grade levels and amounts of instruction are not specified.

Drugs: Code 15.1-21-01 requires students to receive instruction on the nature and effects of narcotics; however, grade levels and amounts of instruction are not specified.

Bullying/Harassment: Code 15.1-19-17 and Code 15.1-19-18 (2011) provides a definition for bullying and requires eac school to provide bullying prevention programs in grades K-12. Standard 5 of the North Dakota Health Content Standards (2008) recommends content standards and gives examples of specific knowledge and activities for teaching students possible causes of conflicts in schools, families, and communities and strategies to prevent conflicts in these situations in grades 9-12, which includes bullying.

Fighting/Gangs: Standard 5 of the North Dakota Health Content Standards(2008) recommends content standards and gives examples of specific knowledge and activities for teaching students possible causes of conflicts in schools, families, and communities and strategies to prevent conflicts in these situations in grades 9-12, which includes gangs.

Suicide and Other Self-Abuse Prevention: The North Dakota Health Content Standards (2008) recommends content standards and gives examples of specific knowledge and activities for teaching students the risks associated with harmful chemicals and drugs in grades 5-8, which includes suicide.

Professional Development: No state policy.

Pre-service Requirement: The minimum requirement for prospective health teachers in elementary or middle grades prior to licensure is a bachelor's degree, with no additional coursework in health. For prospective teachers in high school, the state requires a bachelor's degree with a liberal arts major, and at least a minor in health. The specific details of initial licensure are outlined in Code 15.1-18 (2006).

Professional Development: The state does not require health education teachers to participate in on-going professional development covering health education topics. The state also has no requirements for all teachers to participate periodically in professional development covering health education topics.

Pre-service Requirement: The minimum requirements to teach physical education are possession of a license to teach by the education standards and practices board, approval teach in physical education by the education standards and practices board, and meets all the requirements set by the Superintendent of public instruction according to Code 15.1-18-10 (2006) 

Professional Development: None specified.

Pre-service Requirement: No state policy.

Professional Development: None specified.

Student-to-Nurse Ratio: None specified.

Pre-service Requirement: None specified.

Professional Development: None specified.

Pre-service Requirement: Pursuant to Code 15.1-13.23 (no date available), if guidance and counseling services are provided for by the school, the minimum requirements for preliminary certification as a school counselor include a graduate degree in counseling from a state approved program, with an internship and course work in school counseling and pass a background check. Licensure details are found in Administrative Rule 67-11-05-01 (2002).

Administrative Rule 67-11-05-04 also provides requirements for preliminary certification of a counselor on a plan of study. This includes a valid educator's professional license, admission to a state approved counselor education program, and completion of a minimum of three courses from the following content areas: counseling theory, counseling methods and techniques, program management, ethics and law. 

Professional Development: Administrative Rule 67-11-05-07 (2002) stipulates that four semester hours of graduate coursework in education, of which two hours must be in the area of counseling, or thirty clock hours of continuing education hours in counseling, are required for license renewal.

Student-to-Counselor Ratio: North Dakota requires one counselor per 450 students in grades K-6 and one counselor per 300 students in grades 7-12 per per NDCC 15.1-06-19.

Pre-service Requirement: Minimum requirements for preliminary certification as a school psychologist intern include a master's degree in school psychology and a restricted North Dakota teaching license issued by the education standards and practices board. Licensure details are found in Administrative Rule 67-11-15-01 (2000).

Professional Development: Administrative Rule 67-11-15-05 (2000) requires psychology interns to complete their remaining course of study as established by the Department of Public Instruction and satisfactorily meet the supervision plan to renew their certification.

Student-to-Psychologist Ratio: None specified.

Pre-service Requirement: No state policy.

Professional Development: None specified.

Student-to-Social Worker Ratio: None specified.

Pre-service Requirement: Code 15.1-35-07 (no date available) requires each individual managing the food service operation to undergo initial and continuing training regarding the safe handling, preparation, and service of food prescribed by the superintendent.

Professional Development: None specified.

Pre-service Requirement: Rules clinics attendance/completion is mandatory each year for all football, volleyball, soccer, tennis, cross country, softball, swimming, hockey, gymnastics, basketball, wrestling, baseball, track & field officials and head coaches. Officials and coaches may also fulfill attendance requirements by attending any official rules clinic conducted by any of the state associations and having their attendance card sent to the North Dakota High School Activities Association office for credit.

Officials and head coaches of baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, volleyball, and wrestling must take and pass an exam in the sport(s) in which he/she is a head coach or official.

Professional Development: None specified.

Additional Accountability Requirements: None

Additional Content Requirements: None

Guidance Materials: The state Department of Public Instruction provides resources from its Moving Forward with School Wellness: Making Your District Policy Work for Healthy Children workshop. In conjunction with Team Nutrition, the Department has produced a Local Wellness Policy handout (2006) to inform others in the school about federal wellness requirements and to help aid districts in the basic requirements for local wellness policies.

The Department offers handouts on wellness implementation, covering the following topics: Alternatives to Food as a Reward -- Ideas for Alternatives to Using Food as a Reward; Healthy Fundraising--Ideas for Healthy Fundraising Alternatives; and Healthy Celebrations--Ideas for Healthy School Parties and Other Celebrations.

The state Department of Agriculture and North Dakota State University created Steps to Prepare a Local Wellness Policy (2005) with the necessary steps to create a wellness policy and selected resources to help address each component.
 

Other: The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction developed an evaluation document How Well Are We Doing With Wellness, which was distributed to all schools.  

Food Services: Administrative Rules 67-21-01 to 67-21-08 (2000) provides descriptions and requirements for school food programs. Code 15.1-35-03 (no date available) allows the superintendent of public instruction to provide for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of any child nutrition program and food distribution program by contracting with any public or private entity, adopting rules, employing personnel, etc.

Adequate Time to Eat: No state policy.

School Breakfast: No state policy.

Food Allergies: No state policy.

Farm-to-School: No state policy.

Vending Machines/School Stores: No state policy.

Other Food Sales: No state policy.

School Gardening: No state policy.

General Physical Activity Requirement: No state policy.

Recess or Physical Activity Breaks: No state policy recommending or requiring recess.

Recess Before Lunch: No state policy.

Walking/Biking to School: No state policy.

Interscholastic Athletics: No state policy.

Concussion and Sports-Related Head Injury:  Code 15.1-18.2 states that each school district and nonpublic school that sponsors or sanctions any athletic activity and requires a participating student to regularly practice, train and compete is subject to the terms of a concussion management program. The program must address the signs and symptoms of a concussion and require that an official must remove a student from competition and an athletic trainer must remove a student from practice, training or competition if (1) a student reports any sign or symptom of a concussion, (2) an official, coach or athletic trainer determines that the student exhibits any sign or symptom of a concussion, or (3) an official, coach or athletic trainer is notified that the student has reported or exhibited any sign or symptom of a concussion by a licensed, registered or certified health care provider. The concussion management program must require that any student who is removed must be examined by a licensed, registered or certified health care provider whose scope of practice includes the diagnosis and treatment of concussion. A student who is removed may not return to practice, training or competition until they receive written authorization from a licensed, registered or certified health care provider.  Districts are required to provide students and their parents with information regarding concussions. The parent must document that they have viewed the information.

The program must require each official, coach and athletic trainer to receive biennial training regarding the nature and risk of concussion. 

Automated External Defibrillator (AED): No state policy.

Title IV requires a policy for a safe and secure learning environment.

Code 15.1-06-16 (no date available) classifies a person who willfully disturbs a public school or interferes with the proper order or management of a public school through violence, boisterous conduct, or threatening language as having committed a class B misdemeanor.

Code 15.1-19-14 (no date available) allows a school to create or designate a school law enforcement unit.

Fighting/Gangs: No state policy.

Weapons: Code 15.1-19-09 (no date available) allows a student to be suspended for up to 10 days for violating a school districts weapon policy. Code 15.1-19-10 (no date available) instructs the board of each school district to adopt a policy governing the possession of a weapon and firearm by students on school property or at a school function. The policy must also provide for the punishment of any student found to be in violation of the policy, which must include immediate suspension from school and expulsion, one year being required in the case of a firearm.

Drugs and Alcohol: Code 15.1-19-13 (no date available) requires teachers with knowledge that a student "is using, is in possession of, or is delivering alcohol or a controlled substance while the student is on school property, involved in a school-related activity, or in  attendance at a school-sponsored event" to notify the principal.

Collaboration with Law Enforcement: No state policy.

Bullying/Harassment: Code 15.1-19 defines bullying in the school environment and requires each school to adopt a policy providing that while at a public school, on school district premises, in a district owned or leased school bus or vehicle, or at any district sanctioned or sponsored activity or event, a student may not: (1) engage in bullying, reprisal or retaliation against a victim of bullying, an individual who witnesses or reports and alleged act of bullying, or an individual who provides information about an alleged act of bullying. The policy must:

(1) Include a definition of bullying that encompasses the conduct described in the statute

(2) Establish procedures for reporting and documenting alleged acts of bullying, reprisal, retaliation, and include procedures for anonymous reporting of such acts

(3) Establish procedures and timelines for school district personnel to follow in investigating reports of alleged bullying, reprisal or retaliation

(4) Establish a schedule for the retention of documents generated during a bullying investigation

(5) establish disciplinary measures applicable to an individual who engaged in bullying, reprisal or retaliation,

(6) Require notification of law enforcement personnel if an investigation results in a reasonable suspicion that a crime might have occurred,

(7) Establish strategies to protect a victim of bullying, reprisal or retaliation,

(8) Establish disciplinary measures to be imposed upon an individual who makes a false accusation, report or complaint pertaining to bullying, reprisal, or retaliation.

School districts must involve parents, school district employees, volunteers, students, school district administrators, law enforcement personnel, domestic violence sexual assault organizations and community representatives in the development of the policy.

Cyberbullying: Code 15.1-19 defines and prohibits bullying in the school environment. In the definition of bullying, "conduct" includes the use of electronic or other media.

Hazing: No state policy addressing elementary or secondary schools.

Response and Management Plans: No state policy.

Reporting Incidents of Violence: Code 15.1-19-13 (no date available) requires teachers with knowledge that a student is using, is in possession of, or is delivering alcohol or a controlled substance while the student is on school property, involved in a school-related activity, or in  attendance at a school-sponsored event" to notify the principal. Code 15.1-24-05 (no date available) grants immunity from liability for any individual who in good faith reports alleged chemical abuse to the chemical abuse preassessment team.

Code 23-12-10 (no date available) prohibits smoking in all enclosed areas of public places include educational facilities as defined in Code 23-12-9 (no date available).

Code 57-15-17.1 (no date available) grants permission to school boards to dedicate a tax levy for the purposes of providing funds for the repair, replacement or modification of  any heating, ventilation or air-conditioning systems to provide proper air quality in school buildings.

No state policy.

Code 15.1-06-06 and code 15.1-06-09 (no date available) requires an inspection of each school by the state fire marshal (or designee) at least once every three years to assure the school is in compliance with all local and state health, fire, and safety laws.

Vision and Hearing: No state policy.

Chronic Health Conditions: No state policy.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening: No state policy.

Staff Administration: No state policy.

Self-Administration of Asthma Medication: Code 15.1-19-16 (2005) allows a student who has been diagnosed with asthma to possess and self-administer emergency medication provided that the student's parents file a document that is signed by the health care provider that indicates the student has been instructed in the self-administration of emergency medication, lists the name, dosage, and frequency of  all medication prescribed, and includes guidance for treatment in the event of an asthmatic episode. The law protects a school district or school employee from any liability for civil damages incurred a by student for the self-administered medication.

Staff Administration of Anaphylaxis Medication: Code 15.1-19-16 (2005) allows a student who has been diagnosed with  anaphylaxis to possess and self-administer emergency medication provided that the student's parents file a document that is signed by the health care provider that indicates the student has been instructed in the self-administration of emergency medication, lists the name, dosage, and frequency of  all medication prescribed, and includes guidance for treatment in the event of anaphylaxis. The law protects a school district or school employee from any liability for civil damages incurred a by student for the self-administered medication.

Psychotropic Medications: No state policy.

Storage and Record-keeping: The Health Guidelines for North Dakota Schools (2010) address issues for consideration by school districts, including storage, security and administration. Pursuant to Code 15.1-19-15 (no date available), any records regarding a student obtained by a school must be destroyed when the student reaches the age of eighteen or no longer attends the school, whichever occurs later.

Requirement to Provide Services: Code 67-19-01-39 requires 3.75 minutes of services per week per student in grades k-6 and 6 minutes of services per week per student in grades 7-12.

Identification of Students with Mental or Emotional Disorders: No state policy.

Substance Abuse: Code 15.1-24-01 (no date available) requires "the superintendent of public instruction to adopt rules regarding the implementation of chemical abuse prevention programs in schools", which would include counseling services.

Suicide Prevention: No state policy.

HIV, STD, and Pregnancy Testing and Counseling: North Dakota does not require schools or districts to provide voluntary HIV, STD, or pregnancy testing to students. Further, the state does not require or prohibit schools or districts from providing voluntary HIV, STD, or pregnancy counseling to students.

Codes 15.1-19-05 (no date available) and 15.1-19-06 (no date available) prohibits school district employees from distributing a birth control device to a student or making abortion referrals to any other person or entity.

Immunity of Liability: No state policy.

Detailed, current information about immunization requirements by state is maintained by the National Network for Immunization Information.  Select your state from the drop down box under Search for State Vaccine Requirements for School Entry."

Exemptions: Code 23-07-17.1 (no date available) allows for exemption from immunization requirements under the following circumstances: (1) Submission of a certificate from a licensed physician indicating that the physical condition of the child is such that immunization would endanger the life or health of the child, (2) Submission of a certificate signed by the child's parent or guardian whose religious, philosophical or moral beliefs are opposed to immunization, or (3) History of disease exemption. HB1136 (2007) also allows for the state health officer to authorize admission for children who have not been immunized if extenuating circumstances" exist making it difficult or impossible to comply with immunization requirements. Extenuating circumstances" include a vaccine shortage and other temporary circumstances.

Code 23-07-16.1 (no date available) requires each school district to adopt a policy "governing the disposition ofemployees of the school district..." The state department of health will adopt guidelines based on the policy that may include procedures of determining under what conditions an employee may not continue attending school.

Code 23-07-16.1 (no date available) requires each school district to adopt a policy "governing the disposition of children attending school with the school district..." The state department of health will adopt guidelines based on the policy that may include procedures of determining under what conditions a child may not continue attending school.

No state policy.

No state policy.

State-level: No state policy.

Local-level: Code 15.1-24-03 (no date available) allows any school to appoint a chemical abuse preassessment team consisting of a school counselor, social worker, and other appropriately trained individuals".

State-level: Code 15.1-24-02 (no date available) allows the superintendent of public instruction to employ a chemical abuse project coordinator.

Local-level: No state policy.

Student Health-Related Records: Code 15.1-24-04 (no date available) states that record of a student's medical treatment or other individual record relating to substance abuse is confidential.

Student Health-Related Services: Code 15.1-24-04 states that record of a student's use of a chemical abuse assistance program is confidential.

No state policy.