Northern Mariana Islands homeschool laws
High regulation Territory Rank 51 of 56 (1 = easiest)
Confidence: Medium ⚠ Needs verification · Last verified:
- read the 2024 PSS packet and Education Act (PL 20-48) before publishing details.
Current regulations
Notification & registration Requirement exists
Application to the Commissioner no later than 60 days before school year starts: contact info, justification, auspices and curriculum, parent/tutor qualifications (tutors: 3-year police clearance), dates/hours, tutor TB test, other requested info. Report any change in writing within 5 days.
Parent / instructor qualifications Requirement exists
Description and qualification of parent-instructor or tutor submitted; hired tutors need police clearance and negative TB records. NEEDS VERIFICATION of minimum qualification standard.
Required subjects Requirement exists
Curriculum submitted with application; 'secular instruction' required. No fixed subject list found.
Testing & assessment None in scored pathway
No testing requirement found; monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports required.
Records, days & reporting Requirement exists
300 minutes/day, 180 days/year secular instruction; submit attendance record and goals at year end to the school the child would attend (kept 5 years).
Oversight Requirement exists
Commissioner of Education / CNMI Public School System.
Immunization & other requirements Requirement exists
Tutor TB clearance and police clearance.
Legal pathways
- Home study program waiver from the Commissioner of Education (exemption from compulsory attendance)
Scored pathway: Home study waiver. The score uses the least-burdensome parent-led pathway defined in law (see methodology).
Who to notify & where to start
Application to the Commissioner no later than 60 days before school year starts: contact info, justification, auspices and curriculum, parent/tutor qualifications (tutors: 3-year police clearance), dates/hours, tutor TB test, other requested info. Report any change in writing within 5 days.
Official agency / statute links:
Recent changes
CNMI PSS publishes a revised 2024 Home Study Application Packet (not reviewed in full).
Also see Law watch.
How the score breaks down
Regulation burden 55 / 100 → freedom score 45. Bars show burden points per criterion (longer = more burdensome). HSLDA's own map tier for comparison: Moderate (summary dated 2026-03-27).
Sources
Primary / official
- U.S. Dept. of Education - CNMI regulation page — Content checked
- CNMI PSS Office of Curriculum & Instruction - forms (Home Study packet) — Content checked
- CNMI Public Law 20-48 (Education Act) — Linked by HSLDA; not independently fetched
Last verified . Spot an error or an update? See how to report a correction or email support@homeschoollawmap.com.
Helpful resources for Northern Mariana Islands families
Types of services families in this jurisdiction commonly look for, based on the requirements above. These are categories, not endorsements.
Curriculum and course providers
Complete curricula, single-subject courses, and online programs, including options organized around required subjects.
Why shown: Northern Mariana Islands lists required subjects or curriculum expectations.
Partner links coming soon.
Record-keeping and planning tools
Attendance logs, lesson planners, transcript and portfolio organizers for keeping the records your jurisdiction may ask for.
Why shown: Northern Mariana Islands asks for notices, records, attendance, or instruction time in the scored pathway.
Partner links coming soon.
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