Nebraska Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Nebraska, based on Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-1601. 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. Conditions: If your child is not yet a Nebraska resident on July 15, or is enrolled in an approved or accredited school and you choose an exempt school after July 15, the parent representative files promptly (92 NAC 13 004.01A1-A2). NDE accepts filings after July 15. The Statement of Election and Assurances also states whether the filer is a parent, guardian or educational decisionmaker, and names the authorized parent representative. The exempt school address is where the school is located, usually your home. The parent representative also files an Authorized Parent Representative form (92 NAC 13 004.02). Instead of a birth certificate you may give other reliable proof of identity and age with an affidavit explaining why. NDE asks for it only if it has not already received it (it keeps records five school years). A legal guardian or educational decisionmaker also attaches the appointing documents (92 NAC 13 003.03).
Deadline: July 15 of each school year; promptly if starting mid-year
More details
Include: name and address of the person filing, child's name, child's age, child's date of birth, address where instruction takes place, signed statement that the program meets the legal requirements, parent/guardian signature, date signed. Conditions: If your child is not yet a Nebraska resident on July 15, or is enrolled in an approved or accredited school and you choose an exempt school after July 15, the parent representative files promptly (92 NAC 13 004.01A1-A2). NDE accepts filings after July 15..
Ongoing
Required subjects
language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 1032 hours/year. Conditions: NDE states 1,032 hours for grades K-8 and 1,080 hours for grades 9-12, and its 2026/27 forms ask for school dates that allow these hours. Neither Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-1601 nor Rule 13 as revised effective June 28, 2026 states an hours minimum, and 79-1601(2) limits exempt-school rules to filing procedures. NDE guidance was written while Rule 13 was under revision.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Conditions: Neither 79-201 nor Rule 13 sets a form or schedule for this attendance report. NDE advises keeping attendance data and a transcript (2026/27 FAQ D22).
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year. Conditions: If your child is not yet a Nebraska resident on July 15, or is enrolled in an approved or accredited school and you choose an exempt school after July 15, the parent representative files promptly (92 NAC 13 004.01A1-A2). NDE accepts filings after July 15. The Statement of Election and Assurances also states whether the filer is a parent, guardian or educational decisionmaker, and names the authorized parent representative. The exempt school address is where the school is located, usually your home. The parent representative also files an Authorized Parent Representative form (92 NAC 13 004.02). Instead of a birth certificate you may give other reliable proof of identity and age with an affidavit explaining why. NDE asks for it only if it has not already received it (it keeps records five school years). A legal guardian or educational decisionmaker also attaches the appointing documents (92 NAC 13 003.03).
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
- If your child is not yet a Nebraska resident on July 15, or is enrolled in an approved or accredited school and you choose an exempt school after July 15, the parent representative files promptly (92 NAC 13 004.01A1-A2). NDE accepts filings after July 15.
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
Your notice must include:
- •name and address of the person filing
- •child's name
- •child's age
- •child's date of birth
- •address where instruction takes place
- •signed statement that the program meets the legal requirements
- •parent/guardian signature
- •date signed
Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓language arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓social studies
- ✓health
Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): "general_list"; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): "detailed_by_grade"
Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601(2), (4)(c)
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): false; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): null
- Hours per year:
- 1032
Rule 13 (NDE); Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): []; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): ["standardized_test"]
- Accepted types
See our full assessment guide for Nebraska for details.
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): true; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): false
- ✓Attendance records
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Exempt School (Rule 13): false; Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10): null
- Annual renewal
- Required
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 with the Commissioner of Education, signed by a parent, legal guardian or educational decisionmaker; your election takes effect when the Commissioner receives it, and each year you submit an assurance that the requirements are and will continue to be met. Your exempt school maintains a sequential program of instruction designed to lead to basic skills in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and health, meets health, fire and safety standards, and reports attendance under section 79-201 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-1601(3)-(4)). No testing is required. The filing is due by July 15 each year, or promptly when you start mid-year (Rule 13, 92 NAC 13 004.01). NDE's guidance states a minimum of 1,032 hours of instruction for grades K-8 and 1,080 hours for grades 9-12; neither the statute nor the revised Rule 13 states an hours minimum.
- •Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10) : You enroll in or operate a private school that meets state approval or accreditation requirements under Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-318 and Rule 10. Teachers are subject to state certification laws, courses of study for each grade are substantially the same as in public schools (79-1601(1)), and Rule 10 provides for standardized testing and Department site reviews. This pathway is built for established private schools rather than individual families teaching at home.
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 checklistRequirements sourced from Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-1601. Last reviewed October 2026