Homeschool or a “program of education supervised by a child’s parent” was legalized in North Dakota in 1989. Since then, many legislative updates have occurred which enabled inclusivity, such as permission to homeschool developmentally disabled children and student participation in public school extracurricular activities. Now, Minot AFB has approximately 116 military-connected K-12th grade homeschoolers and 25 additional homeschoolers in preschool. Last year’s total was 88, so we are seeing a whopping 62% increase. This coincides with the recent data published in the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s report titled “Homeschool Growth: 2023-2024,” in which North Dakota is listed as one of only a couple of states that reported the “highest-ever number of homeschoolers” with “a record number of homeschooled students in 2023-2024 and a 24% increase over the prior year” (education.jhu.edu, 2025). Why is there such a noticeable increase in this educational option here in North Dakota?

At Minot AFB, we are home to a large homeschool co-op called “Brilliant Minds Homeschool Group” run by Director, Ms. Jessica Walker. In this homeschool co-op, participation includes structured lessons, crafts, activities, and trips and requires a registration fee. We also have a broader community group for homeschoolers on base called “Minot Homeschoolers,” which is an informal group that meets once a week for recess and there is no cost to attend. Aside from these groups, parents can choose to homeschool independently. Ms. Miluska Hakkel is one such parent and is also a Family Child Care provider. To better understand why a local military family may choose this educational option, I share both Ms. Walker and Ms. Hakkel’s perspectives:

How does homeschooling in North Dakota differ from other states?
Ms. Walker responds, “Every state has its own set of homeschooling laws, but homeschooling in North Dakota is surprisingly straightforward! One of the most important things to remember is to submit your statement of intent at the beginning of EACH school year. What truly sets North Dakota homeschoolers apart, in my experience, is the strong sense of community and a shared love for nature. There’s something really special about how families here support one another!”

Conversely, Ms. Hakkel shares, “I don’t have experience homeschooling in a different state, this is my second year homeschooling in ND.”

What do you like/dislike about homeschooling?

Ms. Walker states, “One of my absolute favorite parts of homeschooling is witnessing those ‘lightbulb moments’ when something finally clicks for my kids. It’s such a rewarding experience to be present for that kind of growth and discovery. On the flip side, I dislike the lingering stigma around homeschooling. That said, I’ve seen a huge shift in recent years, and people are becoming much more open and accepting, which is encouraging.”

Ms. Hakkel shares, “I like the planning, the lessons, the reading and trainings, establishing a routine, and creating bonds with my students. My favorite part is that the whole family is involved in the learning process, we play and learn together, we have done car schooling and world schooling, I love the flexibility! I love that you can choose to make homeschooling using free resources or pay for a core curriculum, in my opinion homeschooling can be very affordable. And I like how I can customize the curriculum to meet my students’ needs. I dislike that there are no options (at least in my area) for working homeschooling moms for co-ops or groups, most of the groups meet in the mornings/weekdays and for working moms it is very hard to participate, so we have to look for other options or end up not participating at all.”

Why do you homeschool?

Ms. Walker shares, “Our decision to homeschool was based on a combination of factors. As a military family, homeschooling offers a consistent educational experience for our children, no matter where we’re stationed. We don’t have to worry about them falling behind or being ahead due to varying state standards when swapping schools. Safety, flexibility, and having more intentional family time also played a big role in our decision.”

Ms. Hakkel responds, “My main and only reason to homeschool is MORE TIME WITH MY KIDS. You blink and they are grown adults and they are gone. I enjoy every day with my kids, it’s truly a privilege to have them with me 24/7. Homeschooling isn’t only for the kids, but also for the mom, it’s very healing. You grow in patience and knowledge, you are forced to manage well your time, have routines…everything creates strong family connections and I love that.”

Both of these women’s perspectives match the traditional reasons many homeschool. According to Ms. Angela Watson, assistant research professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, “Conventional wisdom suggests that military families might choose to homeschool for the sake of stability amid numerous permanent change-of-station, or PCS moves or, following a deployment, to ‘prioritize that time together’ over sending a child to school” and Ms. Natalie Mack, founder of the Military Homeschoolers Association, agrees “stability and time together” are the traditional reasons military families homeschool. New reasons to homeschool, according to Ms. Mack, include: the ability to meet special needs, avoid bullying, and avoid the prospect of school violence (Miller).

What are your fears or hopes?

Ms. Walker shares, “It’s been amazing to see how much homeschooling has grown in recent years. My hope is that the momentum continues and that more people begin to understand what homeschooling really looks like. One of the biggest misconceptions is that homeschooled children aren’t well socialized, but in our experience, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are countless opportunities for socialization and enrichment. I hope that families who are curious about homeschooling feel empowered to give it a try – because it is absolutely possible, and their children can thrive!”

Ms. Hakkel states, “I rely totally on the Lord to guide me through this season, and I trust that He will use me to teach my kids His ways. No fears at the moment, I am in peace with the way we are homeschooling (the method we have chosen, the curriculum, and our philosophy of education) we don’t do it perfectly, but we try our best every day. I hope that we will have more opportunities on base or Minot for homeschooling meet ups, right now I know only about 1 group on base and 1 in town, unfortunately they are not working mom friendly.”

It is evident through both perspectives that homeschool was the best educational option for each military family. Mobile and motivated, these women thrived on running their own business (co-op director/childcare provider) and homeschooling their children, although times for meeting up with homeschool groups were not always conducive for Ms. Hakkel’s schedule. Looking more into the “strong sense of community” that Ms. Walker references, I gathered a number of unique opportunities and resources available for military-connected homeschoolers here at Minot AFB and in our surrounding community:

1. Minot AFB Library – “Teacher Packs” are available for checkout. This is a form any family can submit, which requests up to 50 library books at one time on any theme/topic. The librarians will gather the books and have them ready for pick-up.
2. Minot AFB Library brochure “Services for Homeschooling Families.” This features resources available for checkout including STEAM Kits, requests for library orientations to teach research skills, and summer/winter/Saturday reading programs. In addition, the library has a Homeschooling Resources Collection, which includes guides, activity books, and examples of curricula that can be borrowed.
3. Minot AFB Fitness Center access – Children with interactive adult-supervision may use the gym at the fitness center on Minot AFB. Please call to reserve in advance.
4. Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Services – Free, non-medical counseling to service members and their families that help with a range of issues including deployment stress, relationship problems, and coping with life changes. Contact MFLC, Ms. Megan Armenta, at 571-376-0703 to schedule your appointment.
5. Monthly Kid Scoop News – Leftover copies from North Plains Elementary School are collected and given to the School Liaison for homeschool families. Please visit the school liaison office for your monthly copy.
6. Annual Minot Shriners Circus tickets donated by local companies for Minot AFB homeschool families. For more information, visit the school liaison office.
7. Annual Month of the Military Child Proclamation Signing every April – Held in Bismarck, ND at the North Dakota State Capitol building every legislative season and Grand Forks AFB/Minot AFB every other year. For specific information, contact the school liaison office.
8. Homeschooled students in ND can participate in JROTC programs at public high schools. To contact our Air Force JROTC in Minot, please reach out to MSgt Dan Coopman and/or Capt Scott Evans at: 701-857-7618 and 701-857-4564.
9. FIRST Robotics Team – High School team founded last year at Minot North High School. Contact minotfirstrobotics@gmail.com or 701-240-6571 to join. They’re also always looking for volunteers, so please reach out if interested.
10. Tutor.com – Free, on-demand, 24/7 online tutoring in over 200 subjects for homeschool students.
11. The North Dakota Homeschool Association (NDHSA.org) – Non-profit website with resources and support for homeschool families.
12. Minot Public Schools has a homeschool website page, which includes a “MPS Homeschool Guidelines and Procedures” document available for download: https://www.minot.k12.nd.us/en-US/curriculum-and-instruction-073d79c8/homeschool-39bd0b1a
13. The Military Homeschoolers Association (MHA) was recently established in 2023 and is an advocacy and resource support nonprofit for military homeschoolers with a Base2Base Military Homeschooling podcast (militaryhomeschoolers.org).
14. Check the School Liaison Facebook Page for upcoming local school opportunities in which homeschool families may take part! This year, Glenburn Public School graciously invited homeschoolers to attend their Live Music event featuring Farah Siraj. More opportunities, including Scholastic Fairs, will be posted on this page.
    So, whether you decide to homeschool or not, we certainly see an upward trend for this type of schooling among military families in North Dakota and a number of resources exist to support it! As your educational advocate, I am here to assist you in whatever school choice option – homeschool, public school, inter- and intra- district, private school, or public charter school (effective Aug. 1st) – you seek!
    “Homeschool Growth: 2023-2024.” Johns Hopkins School of Education Website, 2025, education.jhu.edu/edpolicy/policy-research-initiatives/homeschool-hub/. Accessed 15 Jun 2025.
    Miller, Amanda. “Analysis Shows Military Families Homeschool at Twice the Average Rate.” Military.com website, 19 Mar. 2025, www.military.com/daily-news/2025/03/19/analysis-shows-military-families-homeschool-twice-average-rate.html. Accessed 16 Jun 2025.

The information in this article is provided as a resource and does not constitute endorsement by Minot AFB, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense of the external website, or the information, products, or services contained therein.