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Homeschool laws in Nebraska

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 3 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Nebraska to-do

  1. File the exempt school election forms Every year
    By July 15 of each year the school will operate (filings after July 15 are accepted).
  2. File promptly when starting after July 15 First year
    If you move to Nebraska or take your child out of an approved or accredited school after July 15, file promptly; instruction can begin once NDE has received the filing.
  3. Report changes to NDE Every year
    Promptly, when you add a child, a child stops attending, the parent representative changes or you move.

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What Nebraska asks

Nebraska homeschools are exempt schools: by July 15 each year a parent files a Statement of Election and Assurances and an Authorized Parent Representative form with the Nebraska Department of Education, and the school year must allow at least 1,032 hours of instruction (grades K-8) or 1,080 hours (grades 9-12). The program must lead to basic skills in language arts, math, science, social studies and health, with no state tests, reports or teacher credentials, but since July 18, 2026 people teaching must not have certain felony convictions.

School age: Ages 6–17. A child who turns 6 before January 1 of the school year is of mandatory attendance age until 18. Parents of a 6-year-old can delay school entry to age 7 by filing an affidavit with the resident school district. A child of 16 or 17 can be withdrawn by filing a withdrawal form with the Commissioner.

Exempt school (home school)

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-1601 (as amended by LB 1027, 2024, and 2026 revisions effective July 18, 2026); § 79-201; 92 NAC 13 (Rule 13) · Level 3: Moderate

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: By July 15 of each year the school operates: a Statement of Election and Assurances and an Authorized Parent Representative form (with the school's dates of operation) to the Commissioner of Education, online or by mail; the first filing also includes a certified birth certificate. Late filings are accepted; a family that moves to Nebraska or leaves an approved school after July 15 files promptly, and instruction begins once NDE has the filing.
The state's form
Time
1,032 hours (grades K–8) or 1,080 hours (grades 9–12)
The school year must allow at least 1,032 hours of instruction in grades K-8 and 1,080 hours in grades 9-12, between July 1 and June 30. There are no rules on start date, school day times or days in session. When homeschooling starts mid-year, the hours can be prorated, counting the hours already spent in school.
Subjects
  • language arts
  • mathematics
  • science
  • social studies
  • health
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
No formal educational qualifications: the parent assures that the people monitoring instruction are qualified in the basic skills. Since July 18, 2026, people teaching or monitoring at the school must not have been convicted of the felony offenses listed in § 79-1601(5)(b).

Deadlines

  • File the exempt school election forms: By July 15 of each year the school will operate (filings after July 15 are accepted).
  • File promptly when starting after July 15: If you move to Nebraska or take your child out of an approved or accredited school after July 15, file promptly; instruction can begin once NDE has received the filing.
  • Report changes to NDE: Promptly, when you add a child, a child stops attending, the parent representative changes or you move.
NDE advises keeping records such as attendance data and a transcript of classes and grades for each child (advice, not a legal requirement).
Unless the election is made for religious reasons, school immunization requirements apply, and the school should keep a record of the immunizations.
An exempt school can be outside the home and can include children from more than one family.
Since LB 1027 (2024), curriculum and the names of instructional monitors are no longer reported to NDE.
During an active child abuse or neglect investigation of a parent, the child cannot be disenrolled for 14 days and a new exempt school election is invalid during that time.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Nebraska Department of Education.

Keep your Nebraska records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Nebraska asks for.

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