How to Start Homeschooling in Nevada

Absolutely. Homeschooling is legal in Nevada. Your right to homeschool is protected under NRS 392.070. This statute exempts children receiving home instruction from compulsory attendance.

Here is what makes Nevada so welcoming: there is no approval process. When you file your notice of intent with the superintendent of your local school district, you are not asking permission. You are informing them. The superintendent receives your notice. That is all. The superintendent cannot deny you, add conditions, or require anything beyond what your notice already says.

You might hear that the superintendent can request a "consultation" after receiving your notice. This worries some new families, so let us clear it up. A consultation is not an evaluation. The superintendent cannot ask you to change your curriculum or demonstrate progress. It is purely informational — a conversation, not an exam. Attending is a courtesy, not a legal requirement.

Nevada's compulsory education ages run from 7 to 18, under NRS 392.040. The cutoff date is September 30. If your child turns 7 by September 30 of the school year, compulsory attendance applies. Your child must receive instruction until age 18 or high school graduation.

Most states start at 5 or 6. Nevada gives you an extra year or two. If your child is under 7, you do not need to file anything. Let your child learn through play and exploration. No paperwork required.

Kindergarten is not compulsory. Neither is any program for children under 7. When your family is ready, you start. No rush.

Starting homeschool in Nevada takes four steps. You can finish in a single afternoon.

Step 1: Write your notice of intent. This is a one-time letter to the superintendent of your local school district. Under NRS 392.070, include these four elements:

• Your child's name, age, and gender.
• Your name and address as the parent or guardian.
• A signed statement accepting responsibility. Write something like: "I, [your name], accept full responsibility for the education of [child's name]."
• An educational plan covering four subjects. You do not need to list textbooks or describe daily schedules. Write something like: "Our educational plan will provide instruction in English language arts (reading, composition, and writing), mathematics, science, and social studies (history, geography, economics, and government/civics)."

That is the whole letter. Keep it simple. One page is plenty.

Step 2: Send it to the superintendent. Mail or deliver the notice to the superintendent of your school district. In Clark County (Las Vegas area), that is the Clark County School District — check ccsd.net for their homeschool forms. In Washoe County (Reno area), that is the Washoe County School District — check washoeschools.net. Send by certified mail or hand-deliver for a stamped receipt. Keep a copy. This is your proof of compliance.

Step 3: Withdraw your child (if enrolled). If your child is currently in school, do three things in this order: (1) send the notice of intent to the superintendent, (2) notify the school your child attends that you are withdrawing, and (3) request copies of your child's educational records. File within 10 days of withdrawal. The school district cannot refuse. This is your right under NRS 392.070.

Step 4: Start teaching. You are in full compliance. No waiting period. No approval letter coming. Start whenever you are ready.

One more thing: the notice is one-time only. Nevada removed the old annual renewal requirement. Refile only if your name or address changes (within 30 days) or if your child re-enters public school and then withdraws again.

One document: a written notice of intent under NRS 392.070, filed with the superintendent of your local school district. Include your child's name, age, and gender; your name and address; a signed statement accepting responsibility; and an educational plan covering English, math, science, and social studies.

Your district may provide a form. State law does not require a specific form — a plain letter works. But if your district offers one, using it can simplify the process.

Timing matters. Withdrawing from school? File within 10 days. New to Nevada? File within 30 days of establishing residency. Starting before compulsory age? File before you begin instruction.

No annual renewal. No end-of-year reports. No test scores. One letter, one time.

If your child is currently in school, here is your action plan. Do these three things:

1. Send your written notice of intent to the superintendent of your local school district.
2. Notify the school your child currently attends.
3. Request copies of your child's educational records.

File the notice within 10 days of withdrawing. Send everything by certified mail or get a receipt. Keep copies of all correspondence. The school district cannot refuse your withdrawal. You do not need the principal's approval, a meeting, or anyone's signature. NRS 392.070 protects you.

If your child has an IEP: Think this through before you withdraw. IEP services generally end when you leave public school. Under NRS 392.072, homeschooled children are treated the same as private school students for special education. You will not have a full IEP or FAPE.

But you still have options. Call your school district's special education office and request a Child Find evaluation. If your child qualifies, the district may develop a service plan. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other services may be available — though coverage varies by district. This is not a full IEP, but it can help. Make this call before you withdraw so you understand what your child will and will not have access to.

Nevada requires four subjects under NRS 392.070:

• English (reading, composition, and writing)
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social studies (history, geography, economics, and government/civics)

That is the complete legal list. Health, PE, foreign language, art, music — none required. Most families add subjects their children enjoy, but legally these four are all you need.

Here is the freedom that surprises families from other states: no state-approved textbooks. No required scope and sequence. No curriculum submitted for review. You pick the materials. You design the approach. Religious, secular, classical, project-based, eclectic — your call. Nobody checks and nobody approves.

Nevada offers two pathways for home-based education:

Pathway 1: Home Education Notification (NRS 392.070). This is the standard pathway. File a one-time notice of intent with your local superintendent. Cover four subjects. No testing, no reporting, no renewal. Almost every homeschool family in Nevada uses this pathway. This guide covers it because it is simpler, more common, and purpose-built for homeschool families.

Pathway 2: Exempt Private School (NRS 394). Register as an exempt private school with the Nevada Department of Education. This involves state-level registration and is less commonly used for home-based education. NRS 394 does not explicitly address single-family private schools. Most families will not need this.

You may also hear about virtual public schools like Nevada Virtual Academy or Nevada Connections Academy. These are public schools with full state testing and accountability. Your child would be enrolled in the public school system. This is home-based learning, not homeschooling.

You do not need teaching credentials. Nevada requires no teaching certificate, college degree, or high school diploma to homeschool your child. Under NRS 392.070, the parent, legal guardian, or another person chosen by the parent may teach. No training or coursework needed.

Start a records binder on day one. Nevada has zero recordkeeping mandates. But keep records anyway. Here is what to track from the start: (1) a copy of your filed notice of intent with proof of delivery, (2) attendance — even a simple calendar with days marked, (3) a list of subjects and materials used each year, (4) samples of your child's best work, and (5) a running transcript for high school students listing courses and grades. You will thank yourself when college applications arrive. UNLV, UNR, and the NSHE system accept homeschool graduates but typically ask for ACT/SAT scores and a parent-issued transcript.

Your child has a right to play school sports. NRS 388D.070 requires that homeschooled children be allowed to participate in interscholastic activities governed by the NIAA (Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association). File a notice of intent to participate with your school district. This is state law — not a favor.

Your child can take public school classes. Under NRS 388D, homeschooled students may enroll in individual courses at the local public school for free. Contact the school directly to ask about the enrollment process.

You issue the diploma. Nevada has no state homeschool diploma. You create your child's diploma and transcript. There is no template. For college-bound students, research the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship early — it has specific GPA and graduation criteria that may affect homeschool eligibility.

There is no ESA money in Nevada. The 2015 ESA law (SB 302) was upheld in concept by the Nevada Supreme Court in Schwartz v. Lopez (2016), but the funding was struck down. The ESA statutes were repealed in June 2019. SB 252 in 2025 tried to revive the program and failed. No ESA funds exist. Do not budget for them.

Keep proof that you filed — permanently. Certified mail receipt or a hand-delivered stamped copy. If anyone ever questions your compliance, this one piece of paper is your answer. Keep it somewhere safe and make a digital backup.