Policy Services: Included Services and Things to Know About Membership

Following a comprehensive review, the North Dakota School Boards Association has updated its Policy Services Membership Tiers and Fee Structure to better reflect the value and scope of services provided. Effective immediately (July 1, 2025), the Basic Membership tier has been eliminated. All current Tier 1 members must upgrade to at least the Required Membership to maintain access to NDSBA Policy Services, including the Quarterly Policy Update and associated guidance.

UPDATED MEMBERSHIP TIERS AND FEE STRUCTURE

• TIER 1: Required Membership (new entry-level tier, previously Tier 2)

Includes policies mandated by federal/state law, policies required for Cognia accreditation, 10 complimentary policy templates of the member's choice, additional templates available for a small fee, and access to Quarterly Policy Updates and legal guidance.

• TIER 2: Total Template Membership (expanded access tier, previously Tier 3)

Includes full access to NDSBA's complete catalog of policy templates, access to all associated regulations and exhibits, all benefits of the Required Membership; ideal for districts and multidistricts seeking robust policy development tools. 

• TIER 3: Webhosted/Maintenance Membership (premium hosted tier with full-service support)

Includes all benefits of the Total Template Membership, secure webhosting of policy manual linkable to district website, ongoing updates and maintenance, priority support, and customized implementation assistance.

MULTIDISTRICT SPECIAL EDUCATION UNITS MEMBERHIP TIERS

• TIER 1: Required Membership (new entry-level tier)

Includes policies mandated by federal/state law or regulation, policies required for Cognia accreditation, 10 complimentary policy templates of the member's choice, additional templates available for a small fee, and access to Quarterly Policy Updates and legal guidance.

• TIER 2: Total Template Membership (Expanded Access Tier)

Includes full access to NDSBA's Multidistrict Special Education Unit Template Manual, access to all associated regulations and exhibits, all benefits of the Required Membership; ideal for multidistricts seeking robust policy development tools.

• TIER 3: Webhosted/Maintenance Membership (premium hosted tier with full-service support)

Includes all benefits of the Total Template Membership, secure webhosting of policy manual linkable to unit website, ongoing updates and maintenance, priority support, and customized implementation assistance.

FAQ

The most commonly asked questions our office receives:

Why are policies needed?
School districts need policies to comply with state and federal law; to facilitate healthy school district operations; to establish guidelines and principals for the district; to furnish guidance, structure, and vision within a district; to provide direction to school staff; and to allow for consistency and efficiency within the district.

How can my district access NDSBA policies?
Member districts receive 10 complimentary policies of their choice.

• Required Policy Manual provides members with all policies mandated by law or regulation and the policies needed for Cognia accreditation.
• Total Template Service members receive access to all NDSBA policy templates along with any associated regulations/exhibits.

À La Carte Services
NDSBA also offers a number of à la carte policy services:

• Maintenance and Webhosting: NDSBA posts/hosts a district’s policies and board regulations on the district’s website in a searchable format.
• Policy review service: any current member of the “Required” or “Total Template Service” groups are eligible to receive an in-depth review of their existing policy manual for a separate fee.
• Purchasing an individual policy: districts can purchase individual policies of their choice by contacting NDSBA.

When are policies updated?
NDSBA issues the NDSBA Policy Update to all policy services members on a quarterly basis. The update provides members with important information regarding template policies, regulations, and associated documents. The number of updates will depend on factors such as the length of the policies updated, the number of updated included in each policy, and the content density of the updated policies. NDSBA will only release updates outside of the quarterly schedule if special or emergency circumstances arise.

Who can I contact if I have a policy-related question?
Contact NDSBA at (701) 255-4127, for assistance with any policy-related question or to find out more about our policy services offered.

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