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Homeschooling in Nevada: Guidance for Getting Started
If you are considering homeschooling in Nevada or are currently a Nevada homeschooler, this guide is for you. We cover Nevada state homeschool requirements, documentation, attendance, Nevada field trips, and what daily life really looks like as a homeschooler in Nevada. This is everything you need to successfully homeschool in The Silver State.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not written as legal advice. Check with your local school board and official Nevada laws before making decisions about educating your children.
Is it easy to homeschool in Nevada?
Nevada is considered a “low regulation state” by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). This means that homeschoolers in Nevada are given flexibility and independence in how they homeschool their children. This makes homeschooling in Nevada much easier than in other, more regulated states.
The number of families homeschooling in the state has been on the rise for years, with a more than 10% increase in the last two years alone. This means you’ll be in good company educating your children at home in Nevada, and have access to more and more resources for homeschoolers.
Requirements for Homeschooling in Nevada
Although Nevada is a low-regulation state, there are two basic, minimum requirements you must satisfy in order to homeschool.
- You must file a one-time notice of intent to homeschool with your school district.
- You must teach state-required subjects in your homeschool.
Let’s explore each of these requirements.
One time notice of intent
The State of Nevada requires homeschooling parents to file a one-time notice of intent to homeschool. This essentially notifies the state that you will be homeschooling and provides basic information about your family. The notice of intent must be filed within 30 days of moving to the state, or no more than 10 days after you withdraw your child from public school.
The Nevada Department of Education has a standardized form for the notice. It includes:
- Your child’s name, age, and gender
- Parent’s name and address
- A parent statement from you, signed and dated, stating that you assume full responsibility for your child’s education and that you are legally homeschooling
- An educational plan appropriate for your child’s age and level of skill, showing that you will be teaching the required subjects
- The name of the Nevada public school your child most recently attended (if applicable)
The school district superintendent is expected to acknowledge your notice of intent with a letter. It is important to retain this letter in your records to show that you are in compliance with Nevada homeschool statutes.
State required subjects
Under Nevada’s homeschool law, you are also required to teach your child the following subjects:
- English ( reading, composition, and writing)
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies ( history, geography, government, and economics)
While you are required to teach these subjects, how you teach them is entirely up to you under Nevada state law.
How many days are required for homeschool in Nevada?
There is no minimum number of days or hours required for homeschoolers in Nevada.
Many parents find that homeschooling takes a lot less time than a typical public school day. This is because homeschooling is much more efficient.
In public schools, teachers have to spend time on classroom management, moving children from the classroom to recess, library, and lunch, and splitting teaching hours between 20 or more students. You will find that eliminating these aspects of a school day allows you to focus on what’s most important in your child’s learning and that it takes a significantly less amount of time!
Because there are no minimum number of days or hours required for Nevada homeschoolers, documentation related to attendance is also not required.
Do parents need qualifications to homeschool in Nevada?
Do you have to be certified to homeschool in Nevada?
Is unschooling legal in Nevada?
Can I homeschool someone else's child in Nevada?
Do homeschoolers have to take standardized tests in Nevada?
Getting Starting & Daily Life Homeschooling In Nevada
With so few regulations, you may be wondering where to start as you begin homeschooling in Nevada. Once you have submitted your notice of intent, you’ve met the first state requirement. What do you do next?
A great place to start is with our 101 Guide to Getting Started as a Homeschooler. This guide helps you learn more about the various options available to you as a homeschooler and provides a roadmap to your first year.
Most homeschoolers find that before beginning any real learning, it helps to create a plan for learning and an overall routine for your day-to-day schedule. These two videos will help you prepare.
Do you have to have a curriculum for homeschooling in Nevada?
While homeschoolers in Nevada are required to teach very specific subjects (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies) how you go about teaching them is entirely up to you. This means you do not have to have a specific curriculum to homeschool in Nevada.
With so much flexibility, it can be a little overwhelming to find the learning resources you need for your homeschool. Although legally, homeschooling without a set curriculum is allowed, having a comprehensive, engaging curriculum makes homeschooling so much easier!
The Sonlight All-Subjects Package has everything you need to homeschool in Nevada. You’ll have the confidence of knowing that you are easily meeting all Nevada homeschool requirements and provide a rich and immersive learning experience for your child.
As you choose learning resources for your homeschool, you may wonder about online learning. While digitally-based learning has its place in homeschooling, we want you to know that there are incredible benefits to a literature-based approach to learning. Literature and story are the foundation of every subject in all Sonlight curriculum options, creating experiential learning for your child’s growing mind. (Learn more about the significance of Sonlight’s literature-based approach.)
What do I need to homeschool my child in Nevada?
Once you have an idea of your homeschool approach and overall plan for learning, you will want to begin to choose a curriculum and resources to teach each of the subjects required in Nevada.
We also recommend that you set aside a specific space in your house to organize all of your homeschool materials and learning resources. It is NOT necessary to devote an entire room to learning. In fact, many families find that learning happens most often around the dining room table or on the couch in the living room!
At what age is school mandatory in Nevada?
School is compulsory for all children ages 7-18 in Nevada. This includes homeschoolers.
How long can you homeschool a child in Nevada?
In Nevada, you can homeschool your child for all of their ages 7-18 education. You may also choose to homeschool for any portion of that time. The choice is yours for each year that your child is of school age.
Can you skip kindergarten in Nevada?
Because school is not mandatory for children until the age of 7, you can choose whether or not you would like to complete kindergarten with your child.
If you are interested in providing a rich early childhood learning experience for your child before the compulsory education age, Sonlight offers the following early years programs:
Must-see Nevada Field Trips for Homeschoolers
One of the advantages to homeschooling is the ability to learn in the world around us. Field trips are a wonderful way to add hands-on experiences to your child’s education.
These are just a few of the best field trips for homeschoolers in Nevada:
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- SeaQuest
- Dig This - Las Vegas
- The National Atomic Testing Museum
- Lake Tahoe State Park
- National Automobile Museum
- Madame Tussauds - Las Vegas
- Nevada State History Museum
- The Hoover Dam
- Nevada Museum Of Art
You can keep track of your learning on the go with our free printable field trip log. This Sonlight homeschool planner excerpt has everything you need to document your learning and fun!
Financial Considerations for Homeschooling in Nevada
In addition to planning for curriculum and field trips, most homeschool families need to also consider the costs associated with homeschooling. On average, it costs between $500-$2500 a year to homeschool a single child. Let’s look at the finances of homeschooling specifically in Nevada.
How much does it cost to homeschool in Nevada?
How much you spend on homeschooling in any state is entirely up to you. The greatest expense to consider when homeschooling is almost always curriculum and other learning resources. Homeschooling families also find that another significant cost is the potential loss of income associated with one parent giving up full-time employment in order to be the primary educator.
Learn more about what you can expect financially as you homeschool in Nevada in our comprehensive guide, How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?
Can I get money from the state for homeschooling?
Yes! The good news is, the state of Nevada offers a state tax credit of up to $400.00 per child to help offset the costs of homeschooling.
How can I homeschool in Nevada for free?
It is possible to homeschool for free, but there are disadvantages to consider.
When you choose to forgo buying any curriculum or learning resources, you must instead invest a substantial amount of time into finding free options available. Many families discover that they spend more time trying to find free resources than they do actually learning in their homeschool.
In addition to the time imbalance, it is often difficult to find quality educational materials that are completely free. This causes more frustration for parents, worried that they are providing an inadequate education for their children.
There's confidence and peace of mind when you invest in a pre-planned, trusted curriculum, knowing that professionals have designed a comprehensive, age-appropriate program.
Rather than trying to homeschool for free, we recommend that you consider the following cost-saving measures:
- Combine multiple children in a single program where possible.
- Choose a program that is high quality, builds a home library, and matches your family’s values.
- Use payment plans if needed
- Ensure the curriculum you choose has a money-back guarantee.
Partnering with Schools in Nevada
The Nevada Department Of Education protects a homeschooled child’s right to participate in public school classes, extra-curricular activities, and sports. Parents must formally request to participate through their local school district.
Public school districts are required to honor the request if there is space available in the class or activity, the family’s homeschool notice of intent is filed, and the parent is able to demonstrate that the child is qualified to participate in that class or extracurricular activity.
Christian Homeschooling in Nevada
You may have chosen to homeschool your family in order to incorporate faith into your child’s education. Christian homeschoolers in Nevada are able to weave faith-based resources into the state’s required subjects. Memorizing scripture, reading missionary biographies, and singing songs based on Bible verses are just some of the ways parents teach faith-based principles as part of their homeschool curriculum.
If faith is a key component of why you’re opting to homeschool, Sonlight has what you need to seamlessly infuse faith into everyday learning. Our Christ-centered curriculum weaves the gospel into every History / Bible / Literature package. Read Sonlight’s Christian homeschooling goals to see if they match yours.
Special Needs Homeschooling
If your child has special educational needs, homeschooling is a wonderful choice to individualize their learning. Nevada homeschool statutes require public schools to provide special education services to qualifying families. This may include assessments and evaluations, childhood therapies, and educational support.
Contact your local school district for more information about what is available for your child.
Finding Homeschool Community in Nevada
Ask any veteran homeschooler and they will tell you how valuable a homeschooling community can be in your overall success. Finding like-minded families and friends not only makes homeschooling more fun, it also provides encouragement and support as you navigate the ups and downs of home education.
If you are looking to meet other Nevada homeschoolers, a great place to start is with the Nevada Homeschool Network. This organization supports homeschoolers at all stages with information about state requirements, detailed examples of what homeschooling really looks like in Nevada, sponsored field trips, and so much more. They also provide a detailed list of the various homeschool groups available by county in Nevada.
Another great place to meet other Nevada homeschoolers is online.
The Sonlight Connections Page is designed to help you connect with other like-minded homeschoolers, both virtually and in-person.
Homeschooling High School in Nevada
Is the fear of transcripts, awarding credits, and college admissions holding you back from homeschooling your high schooler? Don’t let that get in the way of what can be an excellent choice for your teen’s education.
Watch this video for inspiration and then get the Sonlight College and Career Planning Kit.
Sonlight's College and Career Planning Kit
What are the high school homeschooling requirements in Nevada?
The good news is, in Nevada, homeschooling high school looks a lot like homeschooling every other grade level. The requirements are exactly the same.
You will determine what your child learns in each of the state-required subjects in order to graduate. While this freedom is wonderful, many parents are concerned about what subjects need to be covered in order to complete a high school transcript and be ready to apply to colleges and universities.
A good place to start is with the Nevada state graduation requirements for public and private schools.
These requirements include:
- 4 years - Language Arts
- 3 years - Mathematics Including at least Algebra 1 and Geometry
- 2 years - Lab science
- 3 years - Social Studies including:
- One semester of American Government
- One semester of Economics and Financial Literacy
- One year of American History
- One year of World History or Geography
- Additional coursework from The Arts, Computer Science Education and Technology, Health, and Physical Education
- Homeschoolers in Nevada are also eligible to participate in dual enrollment programs. Check with your local community college or university for more information.
It can be a huge relief to find a curriculum program that meets state requirements for graduation and also provides an exceptional education for your child. We are committed to supporting you and your high schooler all along the way.
High School Transcripts For Homeschoolers
Now that you have an idea of graduation requirements in Nevada, you may also be looking for support in creating high school transcripts for your homeschooler. Sonlight has everything you need to create an excellent transcript for your child’s future endeavors. Take a look at our free guide to creating homeschool transcripts.
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