Start homeschooling · Nebraska

How to start homeschooling in Nebraska

Everything Nebraska asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.

Legal options1
NoticeRequired
Days or hoursSet by the state
TestingNot required
RecordsNot required

Step by step

  1. Know what Nebraska requires

    Parents file an election with the Commissioner of Education stating that accreditation/approval requirements violate sincerely held religious beliefs or interfere with their decisions on the child's education, with annual assurances.

    Required school ages in Nebraska: 6 (a child who will be 6 before January 1 of the school year) to 18. Teacher qualification for this option: No formal educational qualifications or certification. Effective July 18, 2026, persons monitoring or providing instruction may not have felony convictions under §§28-319 to 28-322.05, 28-316.01, 28-323, 28-703 or 28-707. Monitors no longer reported to NDE.

  2. If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing

    Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Nebraska also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.

    Write the withdrawal letter

  3. File your notice

    Required.

    When: July 15 of each year the school will operate.

    What it includes: Statement of Election and Assurances plus Authorized Parent Representative form filed with the Nebraska Department of Education (online or paper, not both); signed by one parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker; certified birth certificate on first enrollment. Assurances submitted annually. Elections after July 15 for a child leaving an approved/accredited school follow Rule 13, Section 003.02A2. Effective July 18, 2026, a new election is invalid while certain child abuse/neglect investigations involving the parent are pending.

    Nebraska names its own form, affidavit or filing for this. Use that where it’s required; our letter can go with it as a cover letter or a record.

    Write the notice of intent

  4. Plan your school year: days and hours

    Nebraska sets a minimum.

    No day count; requirement is stated in hours. 1,032 hours for elementary (K–8); 1,080 hours for secondary (9–12); counted July 1 through June 30.

    Check your days and hoursMake a school calendar

  5. Cover the required subjects

    Language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health.

    Sequential program of instruction leading to acquisition of basic skills in these subjects. Curriculum information no longer has to be reported (LB1027, 2024).

    Find curriculum with lesson counts

  6. Testing or evaluation

    Not required under this option.

    Testing is not required of exempt school students; the state may not use achievement testing to measure, compare or evaluate them.

  7. Keep records anyway

    Nebraska doesn’t require records under this option.

    No statutory recordkeeping requirement; NDE does not collect grades or progress reports. Must report attendance pursuant to §79-201.

    Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.

    Printable logs

  8. Start teaching

    Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.

    Start a free plan in My HomeschoolAll free tools

  9. High school and graduation

    The State of Nebraska does not issue diplomas to exempt school students; the exempt school may issue its own.

    Keep a transcriptGPA calculatorSample transcript
Also good to know in Nebraska: Must comply with health, fire and safety standards. Immunization requirements (§79-217) apply unless the election states religious reasons.

Official sources for this option

Not confirmed on an official page: Hours (1032/1080) and the July 15 deadline are confirmed from the NDE FAQ citing Rule 13; the text of Rule 13 (effective 06/28/2026) on rules.nebraska.gov could not be read. Mid-year (after July 15) filing timeline not verified. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.

Your Nebraska checklist

Tick as you go, or print it. Nothing here is saved or sent anywhere.

Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Nebraska · homeschoolcorral.com

  • Read Nebraska’s rules for “Exempt school”
  • Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
  • File the notice (July 15 of each year the school will operate)
  • Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
  • Choose curriculum for each required subject
  • Start a simple attendance log and reading log
  • Make a first-week plan and start

Questions Nebraska parents ask

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Nebraska?

Yes. When: July 15 of each year the school will operate. What to file: Statement of Election and Assurances plus Authorized Parent Representative form filed with the Nebraska Department of Education (online or paper, not both); signed by one parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker; certified birth certificate on first enrollment. Assurances submitted annually. Elections after July 15 for a child leaving an approved/accredited school follow Rule 13, Section 003.02A2. Effective July 18, 2026, a new election is invalid while certain child abuse/neglect investigations involving the parent are pending.

How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Nebraska?

No day count; requirement is stated in hours. 1,032 hours for elementary (K–8); 1,080 hours for secondary (9–12); counted July 1 through June 30.

Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Nebraska?

No. Testing is not required of exempt school students; the state may not use achievement testing to measure, compare or evaluate them.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Nebraska?

No formal educational qualifications or certification. Effective July 18, 2026, persons monitoring or providing instruction may not have felony convictions under §§28-319 to 28-322.05, 28-316.01, 28-323, 28-703 or 28-707. Monitors no longer reported to NDE.

What subjects are required in Nebraska?

Language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health.

What records do I need to keep in Nebraska?

Nebraska doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.

Keep going

Nebraska homeschool rules in fullEvery option, by grade, with the state’s sources Moving to or from Nebraska?See what changes, side by side Nebraska scholarshipsFor homeschool students, with deadlines Plan your year, freeMy Homeschool, free while we’re in beta; an invite code is needed to create an account

This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.

Start homeschooling in another state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming