Information For Families

The first five years of your child’s life set the foundation for all future learning. These resources provide tips to make sure you’re providing the support needed to help children as they learn and grow. Vroom provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments®.

Choosing an early childhood program is an important decision. Bright & Early ND can help families, just like you, by identifying high-quality early childhood programs that offer what your child needs to thrive.

Bright & Early ND rates early childhood programs across the state based on standards that focus on what your child needs to learn, grow, and develop during this critical stage of life.

Bright & Early ND prioritizes safe, healthy, and enriching environments, meaningful learning experiences, and well-prepared caregivers.

Licensed and Self-Declaration child care providers must follow law, rule and policy and receive monitoring visits to ensure compliance.

Milestones matter! How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about his or her development. Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age.

Use the CDC's developmental checklists to track your child's milestones and talk with your child’s doctor at every well-child visit about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.

(Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones)

Right Track

A free developmental screening and follow-along program for you and your child, birth to three years of age.

Right Track Consultants can meet with you in the privacy of your own home and can provide: developmental screenings, ideas on supporting your child's development, and Information and referrals to local, state and national organizations.

Information Sheet: Right Track

Early Childhood Special Education (Part B-619) serves children, ages three to kindergarten entrance, who meet criteria established by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction as needing specially designed instruction because of developmental delays in the general areas of cognitive/pre-academic, large and fine motor skills, social and emotional behavior, communication (articulation and language), and/or adaptive behavior, or who have vision or hearing losses.

Early intervention means early assistance. This program is designed to identify children at risk in the earliest stages, when the right help can make all the difference.

North Dakota’s Early Learning Standards: Birth to Kindergarten present a continuum of learning and development in the following domains: Approaches to Play and Learning; Social and Emotional Development; Language, Communication, and Literacy; Mathematics and Logical Thinking; Scientific Reasoning; Social Studies; Creative Arts; and Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development.

The Standards promote the understanding of early learning and development; provide comprehensive and a coherent set of expectations for children’s development and learning; and guide the design and implementation of curriculum, assessment, and instructional practices with young children.

Head Start and Early Head Start are child development programs, serving children from birth to age five, expectant mothers and families. The overall goal of Head Start is to increase the social ability of children in low-income families and children with disabilities and improve the chances of success in school.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements for children attending early childhood facilities, head start programs, and preschool educational facilities shall be age-appropriate immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenzae type B disease, varicella (chickenpox), pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. (NDAC 33-06-05)
 

Immunization Record

Parents or legal guardians may submit a record from their medical provider or have a medical professional complete and sign the Certificate of Immunization SFN 16038

Exemption

If claiming an immunization exemption, families should complete the Statement of Exemption to Immunization Law section of Certificate of Immunization SFN 16038

Children may be exempt from immunization requirements for the following reasons:

• Medical Exemption: Requires a certificate signed by a licensed physician stating that the physical condition of the child is such that immunization would endanger the life or health of the child
• History of Disease: Requires a certificate signed by a physician stating that the child has a history of disease. History of disease exemptions may be claimed for measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A, or hepatitis B
• Personal Belief or Religious Belief Exemption: Requires a certificate signed by the parent or guardian whose sincerely held philosophical, moral or religious belief is opposed to such immunization

Grace Period
All children need to be up-to-date according to the child care immunization requirements or have claimed an exemption within 30 days of enrollment or be excluded from care. (NDAC 33-06-05)

Additional Child Care Immunization and Infectious Disease Resources

If you are a parent seeking mental health services for yourself or your child, this tool is here to help.  The Mental Health Program Directory provides a single place for North Dakota citizens to search for mental health services that meet their needs.  This registry allows users to:

• Search by location and other details
• View program information, including program name, address, and phone number

Find a Mental Health Program Near You

Waterford UPSTART is a proven, at-home learning program. Prepare your child to start kindergarten with confidence. Families receive everything they need, including access to fun and interactive software, expert coaching and support, and even a computer and internet in participating regions. All at no cost.

Information Sheet: Waterford UPSTART