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Nebraska Homeschool Requirements Checklist

Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Nebraska, based on Neb. Rev. Stat. Sections 79-1601 through 79-1607. Nebraska is classified as Moderate regulation.

This is the general checklist for Exempt School (Rule 13), the most common of Nebraska's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.

Your compliance checklist

Do first

File your Notice of Intent

Submit to Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), Commissioner of Education. Deadline: July 15 of each school year; promptly if starting mid-year.

Deadline: July 15 of each school year; promptly if starting mid-year

More details

Include: parent/guardian name, address where instruction takes place, child's name, child's date of birth, compliance acknowledgment

Send a withdrawal letter

If your child is currently enrolled in school, send a withdrawal letter to the school the child is leaving, plus NDE filing.

Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)

Ongoing

Required subjects

language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, oral communication), mathematics, science, social studies (including U.S. and Nebraska history, civics, and government), health

Meet instructional time requirements

Minimum: 1032 hours/year.

Renew each year

You must renew your homeschool notice each year by July 15.

Good news

No testing or assessment required

No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.

Filing requirements

What to file
simple notice
Send to
Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), Commissioner of Education
Deadline
July 15 of each school year; promptly if starting mid-year
How often
annual

Your notice must include:

  • •parent/guardian name
  • •address where instruction takes place
  • •child's name
  • •child's date of birth
  • •compliance acknowledgment
Practical tip: LB1027 (2024) simplified the filing: only one parent needs to sign (previously both parents/guardians). Curriculum information is no longer reported to NDE. NDE no longer has authority to test students or conduct school visits.

Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601

Ongoing requirements

Required subjects

  • ✓language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, oral communication)
  • ✓mathematics
  • ✓science
  • ✓social studies (including U.S. and Nebraska history, civics, and government)
  • ✓health

Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): "general_list"; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): "detailed_by_grade"

Practical tip: No curriculum approval or review process exists. NDE does not examine or approve curriculum. You choose your own materials and approach.

Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601; Rule 13, §003

Instructional time

Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): false; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): true

Hours per year:
1032

Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601; Rule 13

Testing and assessment

Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): null; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): "Nebraska Department of Education"

Accepted types

See our full assessment guide for Nebraska for details.

Reporting

Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): "July 15"; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): null

Annual renewal
Required by July 15
Practical tip: Per LB1027 (2024), NDE no longer conducts inspections, site visits, or student testing.

Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601

What you don't need to worry about

No testing or assessment required

No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.

Other ways to homeschool in Nebraska

This checklist covers Exempt School (Rule 13), the most common pathway. Nebraska offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:

  • •
    Exempt School (Rule 13)(this checklist) : You file a Statement of Election and Assurances with the Nebraska Department of Education by July 15 each year, teach five required subjects, and provide 1,032 instructional hours (elementary) or 1,080 hours (secondary). No testing, no curriculum review, and no records need to be submitted — the annual filing is your only obligation to the state. LB1027 (2024) significantly reduced requirements, removing curriculum reporting, student testing, and school visits.
  • •
    Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10) : You operate as an approved or accredited private school under Rule 10, which requires certified teachers, a state-approved curriculum, standardized testing, and regular NDE oversight and inspections. This pathway is not practical for individual homeschool families and is designed for established private school operations.

Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Nebraska

Get your personalized checklist

This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.

Get your Nebraska checklist

Requirements sourced from Neb. Rev. Stat. Sections 79-1601 through 79-1607. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026