Nebraska Homeschool Requirements

Under NE Rev Stat §79-1601(2)–(3), home schools in Nebraska are treated as private schools that 'elect not to meet accreditation or approval requirements.' An election is effective when the Commissioner of Education receives a signed statement from a parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker. The statement must indicate either that accreditation requirements violate sincerely held religious beliefs or interfere with the parent's educational decisions, commit to annual assurance filings, and confirm the school offers required courses of instruction. The annual assurance that requirements of subsections (4)(a)–(c) are being met must also be submitted.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(2) requires that non-accredited private schools (including home schools) offer 'a program of instruction leading to the acquisition of basic skills in the language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health.' Subsection (4)(c) mandates maintaining 'a sequential program of instruction designed to lead to basic skills' in these same five areas. Parents are responsible for selecting curriculum; there is no required state-approved textbook or course.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(4)(a) requires non-accredited private schools to 'meet minimum requirements relating to health, fire, and safety standards.' The statute does not impose a specific daily or annual hour requirement on non-accredited schools, unlike accredited schools which must provide at least 1,032 instructional hours annually under Nebraska administrative code. There is no explicit attendance-days requirement for home schools electing non-accreditation.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(3)(b) requires that 'an authorized representative of such parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker will annually submit to the Commissioner of Education an assurance that the requirements of subdivisions (4)(a) through (c) of this section are and will continue to be satisfied.' This assurance is a self-certification and does not require test scores, portfolios, or third-party evaluation. There is no testing mandate in Nebraska home school law.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(4)(b) requires non-accredited private schools to 'report attendance pursuant to section 79-201.' Subsection (4)(d) requires compliance with immunization requirements under §79-217 if the parent's election reason was non-religious interference with educational decisions (not religious objection). There is no mandate to maintain specific curriculum records, but the signed statement and annual assurance create a paper trail. Teachers are not required to be certified under subsection (5).

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(5) states: 'Individuals employed or utilized by schools which elect not to meet state accreditation or approval requirements shall not be required to meet the certification requirements prescribed in sections 79-801 to 79-815.' The parent must be 'satisfied that individuals monitoring instruction at such school are qualified to monitor instruction in the basic skills' under §79-1601(3)(d), but this is a self-assessment requirement with no state verification.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(4)(d) requires compliance with immunization requirements in §79-217 'if the statement signed by the parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker indicates a nonreligious reason pursuant to subdivision (3)(a)(ii)' for electing non-accreditation. If the parent elects non-accreditation on religious grounds under §79-1601(3)(a)(i), this immunization requirement does not apply.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601 does not address special education requirements for non-accredited private schools. The Nebraska Special Education Act (NE Rev Stat §§79-1110 to 79-1158) governs school district obligations. Federal IDEA Child Find obligations require the school district to identify and evaluate children with disabilities, including those home-schooled in the district. Home-school families may request evaluations from their local school district.

NE Rev Stat §79-1601(3) requires filing a signed statement with the Commissioner of Education to establish the non-accredited home school election. Nebraska does not have a specific statute mandating formal withdrawal notification to the former public school, but attendance reporting requirements under §79-201 and general truancy laws make notification a practical necessity. Re-enrollment into accredited schools is governed by district policy.

NE Rev Stat §79-201 requires attendance for children between ages 6 and 18, with some provisions allowing parents to delay enrollment until age 7 if the child has not previously enrolled. Enrolling in a compliant non-accredited private school (including home school) under §79-1601 satisfies the compulsory attendance requirement. Failure to comply may result in prosecution for truancy under §79-201 or §79-1601(6).

Nebraska law does not establish graduation requirements for non-accredited private schools. There is no state-issued diploma for home school graduates. Higher education institutions establish their own criteria for home school applicants, often requiring a GED or standardized test scores. NE Rev Stat §79-1601 does not address graduation or diploma issuance.

Unlike Montana, Nebraska does not have a statutory provision expressly granting home school students access to public school extracurricular activities. Some Nebraska school districts may allow home-educated students to participate on a case-by-case basis. The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) governs eligibility for interscholastic activities; home school students typically cannot participate unless enrolled as part-time students or permitted by district policy.