The Parenting Education Classes provide information and practical tips to help parents with the impact of divorce or separation on children, and provides information about mediation, parenting plans, and the legal process.

The Parenting Education Providers are those approved by the Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution, on behalf of the State Court Administrator, to educate parties about the impact of separation and divorce on children.

BASIC PARENTING EDUCATION: Each parent is required, under the Parenting Act, to attend a basic level parenting education course. Basic Level courses are offered for parents to attend in-person (identified below as “Basic”) or take through an online computer-based course (identified below as “Online”). Basic Level courses include information on the developmental stages of children, adjustment of a child to parental separation, the litigation and court process, alternative dispute resolution, conflict management, stress reduction, guidelines for parenting time, visitation, or other access provisions for safety and transition plans, and information about parents and children affected by child abuse or neglect, domestic intimate partner abuse, and unresolved parental conflict. 

SECOND (2ND) LEVEL PARENTING EDUCATION: A court may also order some parents to attend a second (2nd) level parenting education course (identified below as “2nd”) subsequent to the completion of the basic level course when screening or a factual determination of child abuse or neglect, domestic intimate partner abuse, or unresolved parental conflict has been identified. Second level parenting education courses are only provided by Nebraska educators, and in-person attendance is required. ODR has not approved online 2nd level courses. During the COVID-19 pandemic and until which time the State Court Administrator determines that the online format is no longer necessary, 2nd Level courses can be provided online in a synchronous format wherewas the trainer and the participant(s) are online at the same time allowing them to interact. Second level courses include information about the development of provisions for safety and transition plans, the potentially harmful impact of domestic intimate partner abuse and unresolved parental conflict on the child, use of effective communication techniques and protocols, resource and referral information for victim and perpetrator services, batterer intervention programs, and referrals for mental health services, substance abuse services and other community resources. 

Please note that each of the providers/agencies charge their own fees and fees may vary. Some of the providers offer both a first (basic) level parenting course and a second-level parenting course and it is the parent’s responsibility to determine which class is needed/court ordered.

If you have questions regarding any of these classes, contact the individual agency/organization through their website or email link.

Every Parenting Education provider is required to provide participants with written proof of completion at no cost.

In addition to the provider's certificate, parents will need to provide the court with the Nebraska State Court Form DC6:5.5 titled "Certificate of Completion of Parenting Education Course." The form is available in English and Spanish.