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Homeschooling in Nebraska

A year-round Nebraska homeschool marketplace — curriculum, tutoring, therapy, STEM, arts and enrichment providers, plus a plain-English guide to Nebraska's exempt school law, the July 15 filing, the 1,032 and 1,080 hour rule, diplomas and the GED, where Nebraska stands on school choice, part-time enrollment and activities, dual enrollment and the ACE Scholarship, special education and teen driver's permits.

Nebraska homeschooling by topic

Nebraska Homeschool Options at a glance

Overseen by: The Nebraska Department of Education's Exempt School Program Office receives the annual filings and sends an acknowledgement letter signed by the Commissioner of Education — exempt schools are acknowledged only, not approved or disapproved. NDE notifies the family's resident school district. The State Board's Rule 13 sets the filing procedures; NDE lists it as effective June 28, 2026.
Annual filing: By July 15 each year (NDE accepts filings after that date), online through the Nebraska Exempt School Program or on paper by mail or drop-off — not both, and never by fax or email. One parent, legal guardian or educational decisionmaker signs the Statement of Election and Assurances; the parent representative files it with an Authorized Parent Representative form and, the first year, a certified birth certificate for each child. No fee.
Instruction required: A sequential program of instruction designed to lead to basic skills in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and health (§ 79-1601(4)). At least 1,032 hours for elementary grades (K–8) and 1,080 hours for secondary grades (9–12) each school year, all within July 1–June 30. Families choose the curriculum and the calendar; teachers need no certification.
Testing and records: No test is required, and NDE doesn't collect grades or progress reports. NDE advises keeping attendance records and a transcript of classes and grades for each child. Families who file under the nonreligious statement follow the immunization law (§ 79-217) and keep the records at home.
Diplomas: The State of Nebraska does not issue high school diplomas to exempt school students. A family may create its own; NDE doesn't collect or certify it, and the school, college or employer receiving it decides whether to accept it. A student who passes the GED and meets NDE's eligibility rules can receive a State of Nebraska high school diploma from NDE.
Homeschool funding: None. NDE says "There is no funding available through NDE" for exempt schools, families assume all curriculum and operating costs, and exempt schools can't use the Rule 4 textbook loan program. Neither LB 753 (2023) nor LB 1402 (2024) covered exempt schools, and both are gone.
School choice status: As of November 2026, Nebraska has no state-funded or state tax-credit private school choice program. LB 753's tax-credit scholarships were repealed by LB 1402 (2024), whose scholarships (up to
0 million a year from fiscal year 2024–25) voters repealed on November 5, 2024 (Referendum 435: 508,140 to repeal, 382,921 to retain). LB 509 was indefinitely postponed on April 17, 2026. Nebraska elected to take part in the federal scholarship tax credit for 2027; the Department of Revenue hasn't posted SGO procedures yet.

Read the full guide: Nebraska Homeschool Options — Exempt Schools, the July 15 Filing, Hours and Subjects, Diplomas and the GED, Where Nebraska Stands on School Choice, Part-Time Enrollment, Activities, Dual Enrollment and Driver's Permits

Coming up in Nebraska

Fri, Nov 27, 2026 · Durham Museum Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Omaha · The Durham Museum, 801 S 10th Street
The Durham Museum opens its Christmas at Union Station season with the annual tree lighting (4–8 p.m.); White Christmas: The Exhibition opens the same day.
Fri, Dec 4, 2026 · Concordia University Visit Day: Christmas at Concordia
Seward · Concordia University, Nebraska, 800 N. Columbia Ave.
A 9 a.m.–3 p.m. visit day at Concordia University, Nebraska, held during the campus's Christmas at Concordia season.
Fri, Dec 4, 2026 · Durham Museum Holiday Cultural Festival
Omaha · The Durham Museum, 801 S 10th Street
An evening holiday festival (4–9 p.m.) during Christmas at Union Station, celebrating holiday traditions from different cultures.
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · Chadron State College Eagle Experience Day (December)
Chadron · Chadron State College Student Center, 1000 Main Street · Free
Chadron State College's campus visit day: check in at the Student Center 8–8:30 a.m., then a classroom experience (Fridays), a guided campus and residence-hall tour, faculty in your area of interest and current students. Runs 8 a.m.–noon;…
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 – Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · Kiewit Luminarium: From Streets to Streams
Omaha · Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive
Keep Omaha Beautiful leads a hands-on look (11 a.m.–1 p.m. both days) at how water moves through the local landscape and what that means for streams.
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · Santa Goes to Space at the SAC Museum
Ashland · Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, 28210 W. Park Hwy.
A holiday afternoon among the aircraft: meet Santa from noon to 4 p.m., visit two real reindeer and have cocoa in the Fireside Room.
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · SAT Weekend Test Date (December 2026)
Statewide · Test centers across Iowa · SAT registration fee; late registration costs extra; fee waivers for eligible students
National SAT weekend administration; registration deadline Nov. 20, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET).
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · Yuletide Festivities in the Forest
Bellevue · Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N.
Fontenelle Forest's holiday afternoon (noon–4 p.m.): Santa in the Great Hall 1–3 p.m., raptor ambassadors, festive crafts, hot cocoa and a seasonal snack.
Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · CCC Columbus: Sounds of the Season Concert
Columbus · Central Community College – Columbus Campus
Central Community College's holiday music concert (3 p.m.) on the Columbus campus.
Mon, Dec 7, 2026 · Fontenelle Forest Homeschool Day Camp: Astronomy
Bellevue · Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N.
Fontenelle Forest's homeschool day camp on astronomy, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

See all 97 upcoming Nebraska events

Nebraska homeschool & school choice news

Federal Scholarship Tax Credit — Nebraska Department of Revenue
Gov. Pillen outlines key policy priorities for upcoming legislative session — KOLN/KGIN (1011now)
Exempt School [Home School] Program — Nebraska Department of Education
NDE Board Report for September 2026 — Nebraska Department of Education

All news & regulations

Co-ops, groups and vendors

62 homeschool co-ops, support groups, microschools and hybrid schools across Nebraska — browse the list. Homeschool vendors serving Nebraska.

Homeschooling by city

Omaha · Lincoln · Bellevue · Grand Island · Kansas City · Kearney · Liberty · Belden · Blair · Chadron · Colbert · Columbus · Crete · Elkhorn · Ellsworth · Gering · McCook · North Platte · Papillion · Phillips · Portland · Scottsbluff · Seward · Sidney · South Sioux City · Springfield · Waterloo · all cities

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