Meet Nebraska Homeschool

Who We Are

Nebraska Homeschool – The Home Educators Network (NH-HEN) is a nonprofit charitable organization that advocates for homeschooling, educates families about homeschooling, and guides them toward a successful homeschooling experience. Our mission - to encourage and support homeschool families.

 A brief history

From 1997 to 1984, Christian families in Nebraska were fighting for the right to educate their own children at home or in church schools. During that time period, parents were taken to court, several parents were jailed, and there were threats to remove children from families. Some families fled the state to avoid losing their children. Even churches where families met were impacted: pastors were jailed, churches fined, and the doors of churches were padlocked – all because parents wanted to educate their own children according to their values and beliefs!

Finally, in 1984, after much negative national media attention, Nebraska passed the exempt school law, which allows parents to educate their children if attendance at a state-accredited or approved school would “violate sincerely held religious beliefs of the parents or legal guardians.” It wasn’t until 1999 that the second reason for allowing home education was added: that attending a state-accredited or approved school would “interfere with the decisions of the parents or legal guardians in directing their child’s education.”

In 1987, just three years after homeschooling became legal in Nebraska, a few Omaha homeschool parents gathered around a kitchen table to form a local support group. With God’s blessing, the group continued to grow, and by 2008, it incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the name The Home Educators Network. The name was expanded in 2016 to Nebraska Homeschool - The Home Educators Network, Inc. (NH-HEN) to facilitate a broader reach and clarify the location. Today, we are known by our registered trade name: Nebraska Homeschool.

A homeschool advocate

Nebraska Homeschool advocates for homeschool freedom. We represent the voice of Nebraska homeschoolers to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Exempt School Program and in NDE Rule 13 revisions. We collaborate with other homeschool groups to monitor and respond to legislation at the local, state, and national levels. We help families connect with legal advisors for their protection and defense.