How Do I Homeschool In Nevada?

Homeschooling has become a popular option among parents. This is an excellent way to maintain control over what children are learning and teach them the values parents consider relevant for their child’s growth. If you live in Nevada and want to start homeschooling your children, you might wonder how to begin.

First, you must file a notice of intent with the local school district, then look for a curriculum that meets your child’s and the state’s needs. Make sure you comply with Nevada’s regulations and laws.

To get you started with homeschooling, there are a few pieces of information that you need to have handy. This article includes all the information required to begin your child’s homeschooling journey.

Homeschooling Options In Nevada

In Nevada, there is only one option to homeschool. It is relatively simple, and you will have to file a notice before starting a homeschool program or no later than ten days after the student has been formally withdrawn from school.

The homeschooling notice only needs to be done one time. A new file will need to be submitted within 30 days after the student’s name or address changes occur.

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Before You Begin Homeschooling

What Are The State Laws?

To homeschool in Nevada, parents should comply with the following requirements and laws:

File the notice of intent to homeschool with the local school district. This notice is done once unless there has been a change in demographics.
Must teach some required subjects (English, math, science, and social studies).
NRS 386.462; about the applicability of provisions for homeschoolers.

NRS 386.580
NRS 388D.010; about the definition of “parent.”
NRS 388D.020; the notice of intent to homeschool and acknowledgment of notification.

NRS 388D.03; about the release of child’s records.
NRS 388D.040; about the admittance or entrance to the school and the examination participation.
NRS 388D.050; about the educational plan.

NRS 388D.060; about the prohibition of discrimination.
NRS 388D.070; about the participation in programs and activities at a public school.
NRS 392.040; about the attendance required for a child between 7 and 18 years old.

NRS 392.070; about the attendance excuse.
NRS 392.072; about the participation of homeschoolers in programs of special education.
NRS 392.074; about participation in classes and extracurricular activities.

What Is The Registration Process?

The registration process consists in filing a form for the notice of intent to homeschool with the superintendent of your local school district. The Nevada Department of Education has a standard form for the notice available.

Along with the notice, the following information and documentation must be included:

Full name, age, and gender of the student.

Your name and address.
A signed and dated declaration that states you have custody of your child, have the legal authority to guide their education, and that you accept full responsibility for your children’s education while they are being homeschooled.
A curriculum showing your children will learn the required subjects. This curriculum should be appropriate for the child’s age and grade level.

The name of the Nevada public school the child attended, if applicable.
A statement from you that prohibits publishing the information you provided in your notice of intent is optional.

What About The Cost?

The cost of homeschooling can vary depending on the program that will be followed. As it is a personalized curriculum and parents can participate in more field trips, the cost can range from $300 to more than $1,800 per student per academic year. By taking advantage of free resources readily available, such as a local library and community-sponsored events, you can reduce and maintain lower homeschooling costs to fit your budget better.

Choosing A Homeschool Curriculum

Style

Selecting a curriculum style will impact the goals and achievements of the student’s post-graduation plans. In Nevada, choosing the curriculum style and the program is up to the parent. Some styles parents can choose from are:

Deschooling: this is a fun approach to transition from public school to homeschooling. Includes field trips, going out for lunch, and some outdoor learning activities.
Homeschooling-based curriculum with textbooks: is a prepacked plan with all the necessary information and lessons for the grade level chosen.

Eclectic curriculum: this is a personalized program; the parents choose what their children will learn. This is the most flexible option.
Unit studies: in this style, students will learn by doing. Parents will select an object of interest and apply it to the subjects. This is a good approach when parents teach a few grade levels and children with special needs.
Unschooling: with this option, the children will learn by living and directing their education. The parents should supervise this and always look for a “teachable moment.” Learning in this style will happen all the time. This is a method that parents have used since birth, so it is simple.

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State Standards

The curriculum is up to the parents; however, Nevada law requires a list of subjects that needs to be taught:

English (must include reading, composition, and writing)
Math

Science
Social Studies (must include history, geography, economics, and government)

There are multiple ways to set up a homeschool curriculum. To determine which method is more suitable for you and your child, research and compare companies that can provide an online learning environment, digital access to materials, or printed copies of everything needed for the school year.

Include your child in the decision to encourage engagement and excitement for the new experience. To get your search started, here is a list of popular curriculum providers:

School House Teachers
Alpha Omega Publications

Timberdoodle

Record Keeping & Testing Requirements For Homeschooled Student

When it comes to homeschooling in Nevada, parents are not required to keep any records. On the other hand, many families prefer to keep a homeschool portfolio and their kid’s academic records to track their child’s academic progress.

Programs such as Applecore, Homeschool Panda, and Homeschool Tracker are great tools for maintaining attendance and grades while also offering a place to generate reports and transcripts.

Keeping the records for at least two years helps back up any proof of compliance with the homeschooling laws. Another reason to maintain them is to simplify creating a high school transcript for college requirements which could also help enter the military and even pass an employer’s background check.

Some of the documents to keep in a file are:

Record of attendance.

Test results
Grades.
Portfolios.

Samples of the student’s work.
Copy of the curriculum.
Lists of textbooks, workbooks, and material used.

Correspondence with school officials.

Homeschooling And Special Education Services

It is necessary to comply with the state’s homeschool regulations while homeschooling a child with special needs. Nevada has no additional criteria for homeschooling children with special needs.

For special education, Nevada law treats homeschoolers the same as private schools. [NRS 392.070(2)].

A homeschooled child may be eligible for assistance supported by the federal IDEA program and the state since homeschooling is classified as a “private school” under Nevada law.

Homeschooled Students And Public School Access

When all statutory requirements are satisfied, the governing body of a charter school and the board of trustees of the school district must enable homeschooled students to participate in classes, extracurricular activities, and sports in the district where they reside.

The school system must get notification of a homeschooled child’s intent to participate in programs and activities.

The statutes that rule the access of homeschooled students to a public school are:

Nevada Revised Statutes § 392.070
Nevada Revised Statutes § 386.462

Nevada Revised Statutes § 386.580

Graduation Requirements

In Nevada, there are no specific requirements for graduating homeschooled students. Creating and following a suitable curriculum based on students’ post-graduation plans and aspirations is good. Parents can also review graduation criteria for public, private, or online high schools.

In Nevada, homeschooled students will not get a high school diploma from a public school, but parents can create a certificate showing they have graduated from high school. Parents are also responsible for creating the transcript required to be admitted into college to get an undergraduate degree.

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Field Trips For Homeschooled Students

Some locations parents have available to take their children on a field trip are:

Field Trip Destination	Location
Hoover Dam	30 miles southeast of Las Vegas
Austin Historical Society	Austin
Beatty Museum Historical Society	Beatty
Bowers Mansion Park	Carson City
The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada	Carson City
California Trail Interpretive Center	Elko
Northeastern Nevada Museum	Elko
Western Folklife Center	Elko
East Ely Railroad Depot Museum	Ely
Nevada Northern Railway Museum	Ely
White Pine Public Museum	Ely
Eureka Opera House	Eureka
Eureka Sentinel Museum	Eureka
Churchill County Museum & Archives	Fallon
Genoa Courthouse Museum	Genoa
Clark County Museum	Henderson
Ethel M Chocolate Factory	Henderson
Anderson Dairy	Las Vegas
Clark County Wetlands Park	Las Vegas
Discovery Children’s Museum	Las Vegas
Las Vegas Art Museum	Las Vegas
Las Vegas Natural History Museum	Las Vegas
Nevada State Museum and Historical Society	Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon	Las Vegas
Shark Reef Aquarium (in Mandalay Bay)	Las Vegas
Shelby Automobiles, Inc.	Las Vegas
Spring Preserve	Las Vegas
Marzen House	Lovelock
The Historic McGill Drug Company	McGill
Midas School House	Midas
Roos N More Zoo	Moapa
Nevada Test Site	North Las Vegas
Valley Of Fire	Overton
Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center	Reno
Nevada Museum of Art	Reno
Central Nevada Museum	Tonopah
Tonopah Historic Mining Park	Tonopah
Mackay Mansion	Virginia City
Humboldt Museum	Winnemucca

Conclusion

Homeschooling in Nevada can be reasonably accessible. The tricky part of this journey might be recognizing your child’s learning pattern, finding the time and curriculum style, and planning the schedule and program.

Besides this, homeschooling is an excellent option for parents who want to be more involved in their children’s education and development.