How to Start Homeschooling in Nebraska

Yes. Homeschooling is fully legal in Nebraska.

The governing law is Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-1601 (as amended effective July 18, 2026). A private school may elect not to meet state accreditation or approval requirements, and Nebraska calls this an "exempt school." Your election takes effect when the Commissioner of Education receives your signed statement (79-1601(3)). It is not an approval process.

In your statement, you state that either the accreditation and approval requirements violate your sincerely held religious beliefs, or that they interfere with your decisions in directing your child's education. You also state that you will submit an annual assurance, that your school offers the required courses of instruction, and that you are satisfied the people monitoring instruction are qualified to do so (79-1601(3)(a)-(d)).

Nebraska compulsory education is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-201. A child who will reach age 6 before January 1 of the current school year must attend school, including an exempt school, until age 18.

There are statutory exceptions, including graduation or completion, lawful withdrawal from age 16, and a qualifying affidavit that can delay attendance for some six-year-olds. Children under 6 may start homeschooling voluntarily whenever you are ready.

You decide when your child has completed your program, and you issue the diploma yourself.

Ready to start? Here is what to do.

Step 1: Go to NDE's exempt school filing site. Nebraska handles exempt school filings online at exemptschool.education.ne.gov.

Step 2: Complete your forms. The Statement of Election and Assurances asks only for your name and address, whether you are the parent, guardian or educational decisionmaker, each child's name, age and date of birth, your exempt school's name and address, the parent representative, the elections and assurances in 79-1601(3), and your signature and date (Rule 13, 92 NAC 13 003.02). Your parent representative also completes an Authorized Parent Representative form. The first time you file for a child, include a certified copy of the birth certificate, or other reliable proof of identity and age with an affidavit (92 NAC 13 007).

Step 3: Submit to the Commissioner of Education. File with the Nebraska Department of Education, not your local school district. Your election takes effect when the Commissioner receives your statement.

Step 4: If your child is enrolled, withdraw after you file. A withdrawal letter is not required by state law. NDE advises withdrawing after it has received your filing and talking with local school officials first. Request your child's academic and immunization records at the same time.

Step 5: Pick your curriculum and start teaching. Nebraska does not review what you teach. Maintain a sequential program of instruction in the five subject areas.

Nebraska's filing is a statement signed by a parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker of each student, received by the Commissioner of Education (79-1601(3)). Each year after that, an authorized representative submits an assurance to the Commissioner that the requirements are and will continue to be met (79-1601(3)(b)).

File by July 15 each year. If you move to Nebraska after July 15, or move your child from an approved or accredited school after July 15, file promptly (Rule 13, 92 NAC 13 004.01). NDE accepts filings online at exemptschool.education.ne.gov or on paper.

This is a notification, not a request for approval. No fee, no curriculum plans, and no instructor credentials are part of the statutory filing.

Under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-1601(4)(c), your exempt school maintains a sequential program of instruction designed to lead to basic skills in five areas:

• Language arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social studies
• Health

You choose how to teach them. The statute names subject areas but says nothing about curricula, textbooks, or lesson plans. Religious curriculum, secular programs, classical education, Charlotte Mason, unit studies: all can work.

Section 79-1601 and Rule 13 as revised effective June 28, 2026 do not set a number of instructional hours or days for exempt schools. NDE's 2026/27 guidance and forms still state a minimum of 1,032 hours of instruction for grades K-8 and 1,080 hours for grades 9-12, and ask for school dates that allow for them. Planning for those hours keeps your filing consistent with NDE's forms.

You have scheduling freedom. Year-round schooling, four-day weeks, and block scheduling all work. A simple spreadsheet or planner is an easy way to keep track.

Nebraska requires no testing for exempt school students. Section 79-1601 lists the exempt school's duties (health, fire, and safety standards, attendance reporting, a sequential program of instruction, and immunizations in some cases), and none is a test. No standardized tests, no portfolio reviews, and no results to submit to anyone.

If you want to test voluntarily, your children can take the ACT, SAT, or a standardized achievement test. These can help with college prep and benchmarking.

Nebraska offers two legal pathways for private education.

Pathway 1: Exempt School (Section 79-1601). File your statement with NDE and give an annual assurance. Teach the five subject areas. No certified teacher needed. No testing. No curriculum approval.

Pathway 2: Approved or Accredited Private School (Section 79-318 and Rule 10). Teachers are subject to state certification laws, and courses of study for each grade are substantially the same as in public schools (79-1601(1)). Standardized testing is given in at least one grade in grades 2 to 5, one in grades 6 to 8, and once in high school. Instructional time is 1,032 hours through grade 8, 1,080 hours for grades 9 to 12, and 400 hours for kindergarten (92 NAC 10). This pathway is built for established private schools, not individual families.

Nebraska does not have a formal umbrella school framework.

File with NDE, not your school district. Your statement goes to the Commissioner of Education. Filing only with the district does not count.

Give your assurance every year. The annual assurance is required under 79-1601(3)(b) and is due by July 15 (92 NAC 13 004.01A). Set a calendar reminder.

Attendance reporting. Section 79-1601(4)(b) says each exempt school reports attendance under Section 79-201, so keep an attendance record. NDE also suggests keeping a transcript of classes and grades.

Immunizations. Immunization requirements under Section 79-217 apply to an exempt school student only when your signed statement gives the nonreligious reason under 79-1601(3)(a)(ii).

Instructor rules. People teaching in an exempt school do not need state teacher certification (79-1601(5)(a)). As of July 18, 2026, anyone monitoring or providing instruction must not have been convicted of the felony offenses listed in 79-1601(5)(b).

Start your transcript in 9th grade. Nebraska has no state homeschool diploma. You issue your own. Document courses, grades, credits, and GPA from the beginning of high school.

Your child can enroll part-time and join activities. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-2,136, school boards must allow part-time enrollment for students of non-accredited schools and let them join extracurricular activities on the same terms as public school students. For activities governed by an athletics or activities association, your student takes five district credit hours per semester. Contact your district for its policies.

Talk to your district about special education before withdrawing. If your child has a disability, their IEP becomes inactive when you begin homeschooling. Your district must still evaluate your child under federal Child Find. Ask the special education office what services, if any, are available.

Join the Nebraska homeschool community. The Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association (nchea.org) is a statewide organization. Local co-ops offer group classes, field trips, and fellowship.