Nebraska treats home schools as “exempt schools,” non-public schools that elect not to meet state accreditation or approval requirements based on sincerely held beliefs. Parents file annual exemption forms with the state Department of Education.
Legal framework
Exempt schools are governed by Nebraska Revised Statutes §79-1601 and the corresponding Rule 13. The Nebraska Department of Education's Exempt Schools page publishes the current forms and instructions.
Notification & registration
Parents file Form A (Statement of Election and Assurances) and Form B (Information on Exempt Schools) with the Nebraska Department of Education by July 15 of the first year and by July 15 each subsequent year.
Recordkeeping
Exempt schools must offer a sequential program of instruction in the basic subject areas and operate for the standard school year. Parents maintain attendance records. There is no state testing requirement.
Graduation requirements
Nebraska does not prescribe specific high school graduation requirements for exempt schools. The parent determines completion. Aligning the transcript with the Nebraska public high school graduation requirements is a useful reference.
Who issues the diploma
The parent operating the exempt school issues the diploma in the name of the family's school.
College & military recognition
University of Nebraska system institutions and Nebraska community colleges admit exempt school graduates routinely. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the Nebraska Department of Education. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.