Homeschooling in Nebraska: How To Homeschool While Following State Laws

by Rita Onyx

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. Just in the last years alone, homeschooling rose up by 700%. What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.

There are many benefits to homeschooling; it gives parents freedom in choosing the curriculums and subjects their children learn. Remote learning also ensures their children are kept safe, away from potential dangers like bullying or viruses in public schools. It’s a win-win situation.

Thinking of homeschooling your children too? Then follow this quick guide on how to homeschool your children if you live in Nebraska. Know the Nebraska homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

Quick Facts:

• There is one way to homeschool 

• Children between 6-16 of age must be in school 

• You MUST notify your local school district of your intentions

Requirements:

• There ARE teacher qualifications

• There ARE state mandated subjects 

• There ARE required assessments or testing 

• There ARE immunization requirements

How to Homeschool in Nebraska

• Understand that as a homeschool in Nebraska you are considered a private school that declines to be accredited or meet the state approval qualifications for religious or nonreligious reasons

• Both parents of the student must sign a Parent or Guardian (Form A) and have it notarized at the start of homeschooling and by July 15^th each year thereafter

• Form A states under oath that qualifications for state approval and accreditation of your private school “interfere with my decisions in directing my child(ren)’s education” or “violate my sincerely held religious beliefs”

• Send a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate (or other proof of child’s identity and age) to the Nebraska Department of Education

• File a Parent Representative Form (Form B) at the beginning of homeschooling and every year after by July 15^th

• Form B acknowledges that you accept the following responsibilities to submit the following each year:

a) Student enrollment

b) Attendance

c) Monitors

d) Sequential program of instruction

• File an Information Summary which is a supplemental sheet of Form B within 30 days of beginning to homeschool and then every year after by July 15^th

• Include in the Information Summary:

a) Calendar of school year that shows at least 1080 hours of instruction for high school and 1032 hours for elementary school

b) List of all “instruction monitors” including their names, ages, and highest level of education completed

c) Scope and sequence for each grade being taught

• Include the following subjects:

1. Math
2. Science
3. Language Arts
4. Social studies
5. Health

• Affirm on Form A that you are satisfied that the instructors are qualified to teach the mandatory subjects

• Keep a record of all immunizations if you are homeschooling for nonreligious

• If you are homeschooling under a religious reason then you must get a vaccine exemption form

Helpful links:

http://www.nchea.org/homeschool-101/state-requirements/

https://www.nebraskahomeschool.org/2082/faq/

https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/nebraska.html

Exempt School [Home School] Program

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• Nebraska Department of Education
  301 Centennial Mall South
  P.O. Box 94987
  Lincoln, NE 68509
  Phone: (402) 471-2295

• U.S. Department of Education, Nebraska

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.