Thinking about homeschooling your kid in Nebraska? You’re not alone. Homeschool numbers have grown a lot over the last two decades, and Nebraska makes the process pretty simple once you know the steps.
This guide breaks down everything in plain language. No confusing legal terms. Just what you need to know, step by step.
What Is Homeschooling Under Nebraska Law?
In Nebraska, homeschools are called “exempt schools.” So simple, right? It just means your home school is exempt from state accreditation and approval.
Here’s the thing though. Exempt doesn’t mean unregulated. You still have to follow certain rules. You’re basically starting a tiny private school in your living room, then enrolling your own kids in it.
Nebraska calls this process Rule 13. It’s the one and only path to homeschool in this state. There used to be a second option called Rule 12, but that got repealed back in 2016.
Basic Homeschool Laws in Nebraska
Who Needs to Follow These Rules
Nebraska requires kids ages 6 to 18 to attend school. That’s called compulsory attendance. Homeschooling under Rule 13 satisfies this requirement completely.
Wondering if this applies to your family? If you have a school-age child and want to teach them at home instead of sending them to public or private school, yes, this applies to you.
You don’t need a teaching degree. You don’t need any special certification either. Nebraska doesn’t require any minimum education level for the parent or guardian who’s doing the teaching.
Filing Your Paperwork
Here’s where it gets interesting. Nebraska requires you to file two forms every single year. Miss this step and you could run into trouble.
You’ll need to submit a Statement of Election and Assurances, plus an Authorized Parent Representative Form. Both forms come from the Nebraska Department of Education. You can submit them online or by mail, but not both.
The Statement of Election declares you’re running an exempt school. It also asks for basic info like your contact details, your child’s name and birthdate, and whether your reason for homeschooling is religious or nonreligious.
Stay with me here, because this next date matters a lot. According to the Nebraska Department of Education, the deadline is July 15 of each year the school will be in operation. Set a calendar reminder now. Seriously, don’t wait until July to think about this.
If this is your very first year homeschooling a particular child, you’ll also need to hand in a certified copy of their birth certificate. After that first year, you just file the two forms annually.
Instruction Hours and Subjects
How Many Hours You Need
Pause for a second, this part trips people up. Nebraska sets specific hour requirements depending on grade level.
According to state guidance, elementary students need 1,032 hours of instruction each school year, while secondary students need 1,080 hours. That breaks down to roughly 5 to 6 hours a day if you’re following a typical school calendar.
You get to choose your own schedule though. Some families do school year-round with shorter days. Others pack in the hours over fewer months. Totally up to you.
What Subjects You Have to Teach
Not sure what counts as required curriculum? Let me break it down. Nebraska law says your exempt school needs a sequential program covering language arts, math, science, social studies, and health.
That said, there’s no state test checking whether you covered these subjects the “right” way. You have real freedom in how you teach them. Unschooling, unit studies, textbooks, whatever works for your family is fair game, as long as you’re covering the required areas.
Most families also add extras like physical education, art, and a foreign language. Not required, but it rounds things out nicely, especially if college is on the horizon.
Recent Changes to Nebraska Homeschool Law
Honestly, this is the part most people miss, and it’s a big deal. In 2024, Nebraska passed a law called LB1027. It significantly reduced homeschool requirements compared to previous years.
Before LB1027, the State Board of Education technically had the option to require achievement testing or school visits. In practice, Nebraska hadn’t enforced that option since a 1987 legal opinion. LB1027 helped simplify and clarify the rules going forward.
You’re not alone if this history confuses you. Homeschool law can feel like a maze of old statutes layered on top of newer ones. The bottom line for today: no standardized testing is required, and no home visits happen under current practice.
Nebraska also removed a rule that treated homeschool graduates as out-of-state residents for college tuition purposes. That barrier used to hurt homeschoolers applying to Nebraska public universities. Homeschool graduates now qualify for in-state tuition the same as anyone else.
Immunization Requirements
Here’s where things split into two paths. Your immunization obligations depend on why you’re homeschooling.
If you filed as a religious exempt school, you don’t have to follow the state’s immunization requirements. Makes sense, right? The religious exemption covers this.
If you filed for nonreligious reasons, it’s a different story. Nonreligious exempt schools must comply with immunization requirements covering measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. There are still exemption options available if you need one, like a medical exemption.
Keep your paperwork on file at home either way. You never know when you might need to show it, like during a doctor visit or a sports enrollment.
Penalties and Consequences
So what happens if you skip the paperwork or fall short on hours? Let’s talk about it.
Think of Nebraska’s compulsory attendance law like a seatbelt law, but for kids’ education. If your child isn’t enrolled in an approved school and you haven’t filed proper exempt status, you could be looked at for truancy. Truancy is basically the legal term for unexcused school absence.
Truancy issues can escalate into court involvement for the family. This is why filing that Statement of Election by July 15 matters so much. It’s your legal shield.
Similarly, if your child turns 18 mid-year but hasn’t finished their instruction, filing a completion report helps you avoid any truancy questions. It’s a small extra step that saves a big headache later.
Special Circumstances
Graduating and Diplomas
Personally, I think this is one of the more empowering parts of Nebraska’s system. Parents decide when their homeschooler graduates. There’s no state-mandated credit count or exit exam.
You issue the diploma yourself. Nebraska doesn’t provide official state diplomas for homeschool grads, but colleges and employers generally accept parent-issued diplomas without issue. Many families model their requirements after public school standards just to keep things straightforward.
Dual Enrollment and Sports
Wait, it gets better. Nebraska allows homeschool students to take classes part-time at their local public school. This is called dual enrollment.
But here’s a catch worth knowing. Nebraska doesn’t have a statewide law guaranteeing homeschoolers access to public school sports or extracurriculars. Local districts set their own policies. Some allow part-time students to play sports if they’re enrolled in a minimum number of credit hours. Definitely call your local district office to ask directly.
Special Education Services
If your homeschooled child has special needs, don’t assume automatic access to public school special ed services. Nebraska doesn’t explicitly guarantee this for homeschoolers. Contact your local school district to find out what’s actually available in your area.
How to Get Started Homeschooling in Nebraska
Ready to jump in? Here’s your simple roadmap.
First, decide your reason for homeschooling, religious or nonreligious. This affects your immunization requirements, so think it through honestly.
Next, download the Instructions and Forms Packet from the Nebraska Department of Education website. Fill out the Statement of Election and Assurances, plus the Authorized Parent Representative Form.
Then submit both forms, either online or by mail, before July 15. If it’s your child’s first year homeschooling, attach a certified birth certificate copy too.
After that, you can begin instruction once the Department of Education confirms they received your submission. Trust me, this part is easy once the paperwork is done.
Keep loose records of your hours and subjects covered, even though the state doesn’t require submission. It’ll make your life way easier if you ever need a transcript or want to switch back to public school later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching license to homeschool in Nebraska?
No. Nebraska doesn’t require any teaching license or specific education level for homeschool instructors.
When is the homeschool filing deadline in Nebraska?
The Statement of Election and Assurances is due by July 15 each year you plan to homeschool.
Does Nebraska require standardized testing for homeschoolers?
No. Nebraska does not require homeschool students to take standardized achievement tests.
Can homeschool students play public school sports in Nebraska?
It depends on your local school district. Nebraska has no statewide law guaranteeing this access, so policies vary by district.
Do I have to follow immunization rules if I homeschool?
Only if you filed as a nonreligious exempt school. Religious exempt schools are not required to follow immunization mandates.
Final Thoughts
Homeschooling in Nebraska is genuinely one of the more manageable setups compared to other states. File your paperwork by July 15, hit your instruction hours, and cover the core subjects. That’s pretty much the whole system.
Now you know the basics. Stay organized, mark that July deadline on your calendar, and when questions come up, reach out to the Nebraska Department of Education or a qualified education attorney for details specific to your family.
