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., the official text

Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
HOUSE BILL NO. 1200 (Representatives Louser, Bolinske, Fisher, Heinert, Hoverson, D. Ruby, M. Ruby, VanWinkle, Richter)
(Senators Burckhard, Castaneda, Lemm)
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; (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;

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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; 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:

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(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. 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 or dual-credit course, if the student demonstrates an emergent circumstance.

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____________________________ Speaker of the House

____________________________ President of the Senate

____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

____________________________ Secretary of the Senate

This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No. 1200.

House Vote: Senate Vote:

Yeas 88 Yeas 46

Nays 0 Nays 0

Absent 6 Absent 1

____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House
Received by the Governor at ________M. on _____________________________________, 2025. Approved at ________M. on __________________________________________________, 2025.

____________________________ Governor
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025, at ________ o’clock ________M.

____________________________ Secretary of State