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Residents urge Fremont to drop 'accredited' diploma requirement for city jobs
Summary
Several public commenters told the council the city's new requirement for an 'accredited' high‑school diploma excludes lawful Nebraska homeschool and nonaccredited graduates and asked the council to reverse the policy or clarify its definition.
Public commenters at the May 26 City of Fremont City Council meeting urged the council to reverse a recent change that requires an "accredited" high‑school diploma for city employment, arguing the requirement excludes lawful Nebraska homeschool and other nonaccredited graduates.
Scott Preston, who introduced the topic during public comment, said data show low proficiency rates for Fremont public‑school students and questioned why accreditation should be the determinant of hiring eligibility. "This city is plainly and intentionally discrediting not only the education homeschoolers have given to their children," he said, and asked the council to "accept diplomas from legally operating nonaccredited schools, including those from the Nebraska homeschooling community." Stephanie Preston, who identified herself as a parent and homeschool educator, asked directly: "What is the city trying to accomplish by adding the word accredited?" She said a public records request seeking a definition of "accredited" had been met with claims of attorney‑client privilege and asked the council to put the requirement back on a future agenda if there is no clear justification.
Resident Seth Coates framed the issue in statutory terms, citing statutes read into the record (transcript references: "NRS 85 6 0 7" and "NRS 9 79 7 30") and argued the city's directive that homeschool graduates obtain a GED is inconsistent with Nebraska law. "A Nebraska exempt school graduate who receives a diploma through a lawful education pathway is in fact a high school graduate," he said, and asked the council to order an independent review and identify the written authority that led to excluding "rule 13" graduates.
The council did not take immediate action on hiring policy during the meeting; the comments were entered during the public‑comment period and request follow‑up. The speakers requested the council either rescind the "accredited" language or place a clearer policy definition and justification on an upcoming agenda.
