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
Called 'Statement of Election and Assurances.' Filed with NDE (Commissioner of Education), not the local school district. This is a notification, not a request for approval. Must include parent/guardian name and contact info, instruction address, names and dates of birth of all children, and acknowledgment of compliance with exempt school requirements. 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.
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)
More details
File Statement of Election with NDE and notify the school in writing that the child is being withdrawn to attend an exempt school. If withdrawing mid-year, NDE notification must be filed within 30 days. School cannot deny or delay withdrawal once NDE filing is made and school is notified. Request copies of academic records at time of withdrawal. Best practice: send via certified mail or obtain signed acknowledgment.
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
More details
Statute specifies subject areas but does not prescribe specific curricula, textbooks, lesson plans, or instructional approaches. No curriculum approval or review process exists. NDE does not examine or approve curriculum.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 1032 hours/year.
More details
1,032 hours for elementary (approx. K-6); 1,080 hours for secondary (approx. 7-12). No specific daily or weekly distribution required. Families have complete scheduling discretion (year-round, 4-day weeks, etc.). Records of instructional time are not required to be submitted to NDE but should be maintained for family protection.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by July 15.
More details
The annual Statement of Election and Assurances filing with NDE by July 15 is the sole mandatory reporting obligation. No progress reports, test score submissions, attendance reports, curriculum reports, or end-of-year evaluations required. Per LB1027 (2024), NDE no longer conducts inspections, site visits, or student testing.
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
- Official form
- Download / access form
Called 'Statement of Election and Assurances.' Filed with NDE (Commissioner of Education), not the local school district. This is a notification, not a request for approval. Must include parent/guardian name and contact info, instruction address, names and dates of birth of all children, and acknowledgment of compliance with exempt school requirements. 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
Statute specifies subject areas but does not prescribe specific curricula, textbooks, lesson plans, or instructional approaches. No curriculum approval or review process exists. NDE does not examine or approve curriculum.
Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601; Rule 13, §003
Instructional time
- Hours per year:
- 1032
1,032 hours for elementary (approx. K-6); 1,080 hours for secondary (approx. 7-12). No specific daily or weekly distribution required. Families have complete scheduling discretion (year-round, 4-day weeks, etc.). Records of instructional time are not required to be submitted to NDE but should be maintained for family protection.
Neb. Rev. Stat. §79-1601; Rule 13
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required by July 15
The annual Statement of Election and Assurances filing with NDE by July 15 is the sole mandatory reporting obligation. No progress reports, test score submissions, attendance reports, curriculum reports, or end-of-year evaluations required. 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
Related guides
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. Sections 79-1601 through 79-1607. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026