Nebraska Education Code For Homeschooling
This is not intended to be legal advice and is distributed
for information purposes only. Check for updates to Nebraska
homeschooling laws at your public library or on the Nebraska Department of Education website.
Home schools are considered "private schools" in Nebraska.
Compulsory attendance: From 7 to 16 years of age. Section
79-201
Beginning with the 2005/2006 school year, the compulsory school
attendance law (Section
79-201, R.R.S.) states that a child is of mandatory attendance
age if the child (a) will reach 6 years of age prior to January
1 of the then-current school year, (b) did not reach 16 years
of age prior to July 16, 2004, and (c) has not reached 18 years
of age. For more information on compulsory
age requirements.
Days: 1,032 hours for elementary grades and 1,080 hours
for high school grades per year. Section 79-211
Teacher Qualifications: None. Section 79-1601(3)
Subjects: Section 79-1601
(2)
- language arts
- math
- science
- social studies
- health
Testing: While the State Board of Education could test
those in private schools, to date, they have chosen not to.
From Education
Support Services, Nebraska Department of Education
In Nebraska, "home schools" are referred to as exempt
schools. By State statute, they are referred to as non-approved
or non-accredited schools. On the ESS site you will find
information pertaining to the law affecting exempt schools as
well as frequently asked questions and answers along with a list
of home school resources.
EXEMPT SCHOOL GENERAL INFORMATION
Statutory Authority. Section 79-318(5)(c) of the Revised
Statutes of Nebraska (R.R.S.), authorizes the Nebraska Department
of Education to establish rules and regulations which govern
procedures and standards for private, denominational, and parochial
schools which elect, pursuant to procedures prescribed in subsections
(2) to (4) of Section 79-1601
R.R.S., not to meet all state accreditation or approval requirements.
Statutory provisions for exempt schools are summarized as
follows:
Parents may educate their child at home by electing to not meet
the States approval or accreditation requirements as prescribed
in Section 79-318
R.R.S. By filing for exempt status, parents are electing
to not meet State approval or accreditation requirements and
are complying with compulsory school attendance laws (Section
79-201
R.R.S.).
Election to not meet State approval or accreditation requirements
shall be effective when a statement is received by the Commissioner
of Education signed by the parents or legal guardians stating
that (a) either specifically i) the requirements for approval
and accreditation required by law and the rules and regulations
adopted and promulgated by the State Board of Education violate
sincerely held religious beliefs of the parents or legal guardians
(Rule
13), or ii) the requirements for approval and accreditation
required by law and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated
by the State Board of Education interfere with the decisions
of the parents or legal guardians in directing their child's
education (Rule
12).
Parents must file for exemption 30 days prior to the date
on which the exempt school begins operation and annually thereafter
by August 1st.
Prior to the date the exempt school begins, an authorized
parent representative will submit to the Commissioner of Education
the following:
Calendar for the school year indicating a minimum of 1,080
hours of instruction in secondary schools and/or 1,032 hours
of instruction in elementary schools. During the first
year of operation, the days of instruction may be prorated based
upon the remaining balance of the school year.
A list of the names of all instructional monitors which shall
also include for each, their address, age, highest level of education
completed, names of educational institutions attended and a summary
of prior teaching or monitoring experience.
A chart or written summary showing the scope and sequence
of the sequential program of instruction designed to lead to
basic skills in the language arts, mathematics, science, social
studies and health.
Section 43-2007
(3) Upon enrollment of a student who is receiving his or her education in an exempt school subject to sections 79-1601 to 79-1607, the parent or guardian of such student shall provide to the Commissioner of Education either (a) a certified copy of the student's birth certificate or (b) other reliable proof of the student's identity and age accompanied by an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate.
For more information, see statute (Section 79-1601,
R.R.S.),  Rule 12
or Rule 13
or Frequently Asked Questions. [revised annually]
- Forms (2011/12 School Year)
To access the forms and checklist for filing, select one of the following links
Rule 12 Forms
Rule 13 Forms
- For families seeking to renew their exemption for the 2011/12 school year, the completed documents must be filed with the Nebraska Department of Education by no later than July 15, 2011. Renewal packets were mailed to the parent representatives on May 6, 2011.
- For first year filers, the completed documents must be filed at least 30 days prior to when you begin your exempt school.
For more information, contact: Beth Bolte at
or (402) 471-2795,
or Micki Iverson at
Return to Nebraska homeschooling
information.
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