Fremont, Nebraska Now Accepts Homeschool Diplomas for City Jobs
Local Homeschool News: Nebraska
Homeschool graduates in Fremont, Nebraska, now have an equal shot at city jobs. On Sept. 29, the Fremont City Council voted unanimously to accept lawfully issued high school diplomas, including homeschool diplomas, for city positions (LifeSiteNews).
The change came after the city rejected 22-year-old Andrew Coates, a state-licensed EMT, for a firefighter job because he was homeschooled. The job listing first asked for a high school diploma and was later changed to require an accredited one, which Nebraska homeschools are not (WOWT). WOWT’s report drew comments from across the country.
“I think it’s turned into every homeschooler has an equal opportunity,” Coates said. Council member Paul Von Behren proposed the fix, and Mayor Dev Sookram backed it, saying it “rights a wrong in policy” (WOWT).
At the meeting, Chief Chris Lichtenberg of the Cedar Bluffs Fire Department, where Coates volunteered for two years, spoke up for him and for homeschool graduates across the state. The American Center for Law and Justice had also sent the city a letter (LifeSiteNews).
Coates is working toward a fire science degree at Metro Community College and plans to apply when Fremont posts openings. HSLDA attorney Kevin Boden noted that homeschool graduates still face similar barriers elsewhere and pointed to the proposed federal Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act. For more, see our Nebraska Homeschool Laws page.
Sources:
- Mike McKnight, “Fremont proposes policy change on hiring homeschoolers after firefighter applicant rejected,” WOWT, September 25, 2026
- Matt Lamb, “Anti-homeschool bias dropped from Nebraska city hiring policy,” LifeSiteNews, October 6, 2026