For military families stationed at Minot Air Force Base, homeschooling has become an increasingly popular educational path, offering flexibility, personalized learning, and strong community support. Whether families are new to homeschooling or seasoned educators at home, Minot AFB offers a wide range of resources to support their journey.
Like all states, homeschooling in North Dakota comes with specific requirements that homeschool families must follow.
According to Military OneSource, families must submit a statement of intent to their local school district before the start of each academic year for children aged seven and older, and there are certain levels in which certain subjects are supposed to be taught. According to North Dakota requirements, “a parent is qualified to supervise a program of home education if the parent holds a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED), A parent who does not hold a GED or high school diploma can still supervise their child’s home education, but would require monitoring from their school district”
One of the really valuable assets for homeschooling families on base is the Minot AFB Library. With a wide selection of materials tailored for students of all ages, the library provides:
- STEM kits and educational materials
- Children’s and Teen Literature
- Test prep resources for the ACT, SAT, and GED
- Books on homeschooling techniques and strategies
- Audiobooks, DVDs, and more
- Newbery Book Club and Summer Reading Programs
These resources help families enrich their homeschool curriculum, explore new subjects, and keep students engaged year-round.
Military families can receive additional guidance through the Minot AFB School Liaison Office, which provides support for K-12 education and helps families navigate both local and state homeschool guidelines.
Community plays a vital role in homeschooling, and the Brilliant Minds Homeschooling Group at Minot AFB is making a meaningful impact. Led by Mrs. Jessica Walker, who previously directed the group at Keesler AFB, Brilliant Minds meets weekly at the Base Housing Community Center. The program serves students from Pre-K through high school, and families interested in joining can connect through the group’s Facebook page, where Mrs. Walker provides enrollment details and additional resources.
Jessica shared her enthusiasm for homeschooling, saying, “There’s something special about watching your child learn and seeing that moment when it finally clicks, it’s truly rewarding”.
Mrs. Walker organizes engaging activities for students from Pre-K to high school, including arts and crafts, hands-on science experiments, and educational field trips, like a recent visit to BNI Coal to explore earth sciences.
Ariel Harwood, a parent of three children in the program explained why her family loves being a part of the Brilliant Minds Group. “Jessica is organized and passionate about what she does, and you can see it when she interacts with the kids. She tailors her approach to different learning styles and really understands that all kids learn differently.”
For families like the Harwoods, homeschooling is a deeply personal choice. “After we had Amelia, I decided to stay home and raise her,” shared Mrs. Harwood. “Though we had mixed feelings at first and my husband was hesitant, we prayed about it and ultimately decided it was right for our family.”
Parents are responsible for choosing and managing their children’s curriculum, but they are far from alone. Co-ops like Brilliant Minds and the Minot AFB Homeschooling Facebook Group give children the chance to socialize, collaborate, and learn in a group setting, essential components of a well-rounded education.
Over the past three years, the Harwood family has explored a variety of homeschool curricula, including: The Good and The Beautiful, Ambleside Online, Apologia and Notgrass History by Charlene Notgrass
There are nearly endless learning paths available for parents who choose to homeschool their children. If you think you might be interested in homeschooling, start looking around and talking to people about it, there is no right or wrong way to go about it, which is one of the most desirable things about homeschooling.
Minot AFB continues to foster a supportive environment for homeschooling families, blending educational resources with a strong sense of community. From library offerings and test prep tools to organized co-ops and peer support, families here are empowered to craft a homeschool experience that fits their unique needs.
For more information, families are encouraged to visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or contact the Minot AFB School Liaison Officer. Additional resources are also available through the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).
