Firefighter Rejected Because He Was Homeschooled
Andrew Coates hopes another department will recognize his volunteer experience.
[ToddStarnes.com] A Nebraska volunteer firefighter's bid for a paid position was rejected because he was homeschooled, igniting a dispute over whether his diploma should keep him from a firefighting career. (Screengrab image: via ToddStarnes.com)
Andrew Coates, 22, volunteers with Cedar Bluffs Fire and holds a state EMT license. Fremont rejected his application in April, WOWT reported.
Coates told the station "we want to make sure that every homeschooler has an equal opportunity."
The original job requirements specified high school graduation. After rejecting Coates, the city explicitly added an accreditation requirement. Human Resources Director Jennifer McDuffee said accreditation had been implied.
Cedar Bluffs Fire Chief Chris Lichtenberg accused the city of discrimination. Civil Service Commissioner Doug Backens countered: "I don't think there was any discrimination against him."
Nebraska's education rules draw a distinction between accreditation and complying with school attendance laws. The Department of Education says families can legally educate their children through its exempt-school system without meeting state approval or accreditation requirements.
Those schools are classified as private, nonaccredited schools. Receiving exempt status allows families to satisfy compulsory attendance requirements while choosing an educational alternative to an approved or accredited school, according to the department. The department estimated 18,036 exempt-school students in 2025-26 as of May 1, with the figure subject to audit.
But the state does not issue diplomas to exempt-school students or certify diplomas those schools create. Its guidance recommends keeping transcripts documenting courses and grades.
"It is up to the receiving entity on whether or not the diploma presented is acceptable," the department's guidance states.
That guidance also outlines a separate path to a state-issued diploma: passing the GED examination and meeting eligibility requirements. It does not promise that every employer will accept a homeschool diploma.
About 30 homeschool supporters backed Coates' appeal. Although commissioners expressed concerns about the original posting's ambiguity, the commission declined to intervene, saying it could not address city policy. Coates hopes another department will recognize his volunteer experience. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here
