How to Start Homeschooling in Nebraska

Yes. Homeschooling is fully legal in Nebraska. It has been for years.

The governing law is Neb. Rev. Stat. Sections 79-1601 through 79-1607. The regulations are in Rule 13 (Nebraska Administrative Code, Title 92, Chapter 13). Nebraska classifies your homeschool as an "exempt school." That means your home is officially a school. It is exempt from the accreditation rules that apply to public and private schools. You declare it, file the paperwork, and the state acknowledges it. NDE does not approve or deny your filing. They simply process your notification.

Here is something helpful to know. Nebraska's homeschool laws changed dramatically with LB 1141 in 2012. Before that reform, Nebraska had some of the most restrictive homeschool rules in the country. The 1980s and 1990s brought significant legal disputes over those old rules. Today's framework is far more flexible. If you run into older resources with different requirements, they probably predate 2012. Always check that your information is current.

Nebraska compulsory education covers ages 6 through 18 under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-201. Your child must attend school — including an exempt school — until they turn 18 or finish secondary education.

Watch for the January 1 trigger. If your child turns 6 before January 1 of the current school year, they must enroll for that year. If they turn 6 after January 1, they can wait until the following year. Children under 6 may start homeschooling voluntarily whenever you are ready.

Nebraska has one of the higher compulsory ages in the nation. Iowa stops at 16. Missouri at 17. Plan to keep teaching through age 18 unless your child finishes your program earlier. You decide when your child has completed their education. You issue the diploma yourself.

Ready to start? Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Get your child's birth certificate. Nebraska requires a certified copy of each child's birth certificate the first time you file. One-time requirement. You will not need it again.

Step 2: Complete Forms A and B. Go to the NDE exempt schools page at education.ne.gov/fos/exempt-schools/. Download Form A and Form B. Together, these make up the Statement of Election to Operate an Exempt School. Fill in your name, contact info, the address where you will teach, and each child's name and date of birth. Acknowledge that you will follow exempt school requirements. No fee.

Step 3: Submit to NDE by the deadline. File with the Nebraska Department of Education — not your local school district. First-time filers: submit promptly when you begin. Returning families: file by July 15. The hard deadline is August 1. Starting mid-year? File within 30 days. NDE will send you an acknowledgment of receipt.

Step 4: Withdraw your child (if currently enrolled). Send a letter to the school. Write this: "I am withdrawing [child's name] from [school name] effective [date]. My child will attend an exempt school filed with the Nebraska Department of Education under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-1601." Send it by certified mail or get a signed copy. Ask for academic records, immunization records, and test results at the same time. The school cannot deny or delay your withdrawal.

Step 5: Pick your curriculum and start teaching. Nebraska does not review what you teach. Choose your own approach. Cover the five required subjects. Meet the hour requirement. You are now officially homeschooling in Nebraska.

Nebraska requires one annual filing: the Statement of Election to Operate an Exempt School. You file it with the Nebraska Department of Education under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-1601. Find Forms A and B on the NDE exempt schools page.

Your filing includes your name, address, instruction location, each child's name and date of birth, and your compliance acknowledgment. First-time filers add a certified copy of each child's birth certificate. Returning families renew by July 15. The absolute deadline is August 1.

This is a notification, not a request for approval. NDE does not approve or deny you. They process your form and send a receipt. No fee. No curriculum plans. No instructor credentials. You must re-file every year. This is not a one-time registration. Miss the deadline, and your local district may file a truancy referral.

If your child is currently enrolled in school, take two steps at once. File your Statement of Election with NDE. Then send a withdrawal letter to the school.

In your letter, include your name and contact information, your child's name and withdrawal date, and this sentence: "My child is being withdrawn to attend an exempt school filed with the Nebraska Department of Education under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-1601." Send it by certified mail or hand-deliver it and get a signed copy. Keep everything.

The school has no power to deny or delay your withdrawal. Once NDE has your filing and the school has your letter, you are done. You can withdraw any time, including mid-year. Just file with NDE within 30 days. While you are at the school, ask for copies of academic records, immunization records, and test results.

Nebraska requires five subjects under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-1601 and Rule 13, Section 003. These apply to all grades — elementary through high school.

Here are your five required subjects: language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and oral communication), mathematics, science, social studies (including U.S. and Nebraska history, civics, and government), and health. That is the full list. No PE required. No art or music. No foreign language.

Now for the good news. You have total freedom in how you teach these subjects. The statute names subject areas but says nothing about curricula, textbooks, or lesson plans. NDE does not examine or approve your materials. No approval process exists. Religious curriculum, secular programs, classical education, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, unschooling — all work. Just make sure those five areas show up in your instruction.

Nebraska has real hour requirements. Elementary students (roughly K through 6) need 1,032 hours per year. Secondary students (roughly 7 through 12) need 1,080 hours per year. These come from Rule 13.

That sounds like a lot. Here is the context. Across 180 days, elementary works out to about 5.7 hours per day. Secondary runs about 6 hours. What counts toward those hours? Direct instruction, independent study, educational field trips, co-op classes, science labs, art projects, and technology-based learning. Most families find they meet the requirement naturally with a consistent daily schedule.

You have complete scheduling freedom. No minimum days per week. No required calendar. Year-round schooling, four-day weeks, block scheduling — all fine. You do not submit hour logs to NDE. But keep your own records. A simple spreadsheet or planner works. If a question ever arises, your log is your proof.

Nebraska offers two legal pathways for educating children outside public school. Only one makes sense for families.

Pathway 1: Exempt School (Rule 13). This is your path. File with NDE annually. Teach five subjects. Meet the hour requirement. No certified teacher needed. No testing. No curriculum approval. No NDE oversight beyond processing your filing. Nearly all Nebraska homeschool families use this pathway.

Pathway 2: Approved or Accredited Private School (Rule 10). Under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 79-318, this pathway requires certified teachers, state-approved curriculum, standardized testing, and NDE inspections. It is built for private school institutions, not families. Do not choose this for homeschooling.

One more thing. Nebraska does not have a formal umbrella school or cover school framework. Some private schools may nominally enroll homeschool students. But the legal obligation stays with you. You file under Rule 13. You are responsible for compliance.

File with NDE, not your school district. This is the most common mistake new families make. Your Statement of Election goes to the Nebraska Department of Education. Filing only with the district does not count. If the district contacts you about attendance, show them your NDE acknowledgment letter.

Re-file every year — set a July reminder. Your filing expires annually. Returning families should submit by July 15. The hard deadline is August 1. Set a calendar reminder for early July. Families who file once and assume permanent coverage find themselves out of compliance and at risk of truancy issues.

Handle immunizations upfront. Nebraska requires immunization for exempt school students, same as public school. Your child needs current immunizations or a valid exemption. Nebraska allows medical exemptions (signed by a physician) and religious exemptions. There is no philosophical or conscientious exemption. Keep immunization records with your homeschool files.

Keep records even though the law does not require them. Nebraska mandates no recordkeeping. But smart families keep four things from day one: (1) hour logs showing 1,032 or 1,080 hours, (2) a curriculum outline covering the five subjects, (3) student work samples, and (4) high school transcripts starting in 9th grade. Preserve records at least five years. Keep high school records permanently.

Start your transcript in 9th grade. Nebraska has no state homeschool diploma. You issue your own. The University of Nebraska system — UNL, UNO, and UNK — accepts homeschool applicants with parent-prepared transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Some schools may also ask for a portfolio, course descriptions, or GED. Document courses, grades, credits, and GPA from the beginning of high school.

Plan for sports outside public school. Nebraska does not give homeschool students access to public school extracurricular activities. NSAA rules generally make exempt school students ineligible for public school athletics. Bills have been introduced in the Unicameral, but none have passed. Look into homeschool co-op teams, community leagues, and club sports.

Ask about dual enrollment before you count on it. No state law guarantees part-time public school classes for homeschoolers. It is up to each district. Call your local school and ask: "Do you allow part-time enrollment for exempt school students?" Some districts say yes. Others do not.

Talk to your district about special education before withdrawing. If your child has a disability, their IEP becomes inactive when you begin homeschooling. Nebraska districts do not have to provide special education services to exempt school students. But your district must evaluate your child under federal Child Find. Call the special education office and say: "I would like a Child Find evaluation for my child." Speech therapy and occupational therapy may be available through community providers, Medicaid, or private insurance. Make a plan before you leave.

Do not count on state funding. Nebraska voters repealed the Opportunity Scholarships Act in November 2024 by a 57% margin (Referendum 435), winning in 45 of 49 legislative districts. Nebraska did become the first state to opt into the federal education tax credit scholarship program in October 2025. But no state-level ESA or voucher exists for homeschool families.

Join the Nebraska homeschool community. The Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association (NCHEA) at nchea.org is the primary state organization. Local co-ops across the state offer group classes, field trips, and fellowship. Other Nebraska families are your best source of curriculum advice, testing logistics, and encouragement. Reach out early.