In Nebraska, a homeschool is considered a private school that elects not to meet accreditation or approval requirements for religious or nonreligious reasons. You first need to set up a private school in your home, and then enroll your children in it, using forms from Nebraska Department of Education.
You have two options for submission (online or paper). Both options require you to:
1. Submit a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate.
The first year that you homeschool your child, you must provide a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate (or other reliable proof of your child’s identity and age accompanied by an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate).
2. Annually file a Statement of Election and Assurances Form.
A parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker is required to fill out this form with the name and contact information of the parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker, along with information regarding the students attending the exempt school. If you are designating a different person to be the parent representative, you must put the name of that person on this form.
You must choose a reason for your desire to homeschool. If you indicate a nonreligious reason for homeschooling, you must also affirm that you understand that your school must comply with vaccination requirements (unless you have an exemption from vaccinating).
On your Statement of Election and Assurances form, you must affirm that you will provide instruction that complies with 79-1601 R.R.S., subsections (2) through (6), including instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health, and that you, as the parents, are satisfied that the instructor(s) are qualified to monitor instruction in these skills. Nebraska does not require any specific qualifications to teach these subjects other than the parents’ satisfaction.
This form must be filed promptly upon beginning homeschooling in Nebraska and by July 15 each year thereafter.
The Nebraska Department of Education refers to this form as Form A in Rule 13, a rule governing the procedures and standards for filing an exemption.
3. Annually file an Authorized Parent Representative Form.
The parent, legal guardian, or educational decisionmaker of the children attending the exempt school shall choose an authorized parent representative, who must file the Authorized Parent Representative Form. This form includes information about the exempt school and the dates of operation.
This form must be filed promptly upon beginning homeschooling in Nebraska and by July 15 each year thereafter.
The Nebraska Department of Education refers to this form as Form B in Rule 13.
Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.