Nebraska Textbook Loan Program (TLP)

The Textbook Loan Program exists to ensure that all students in Nebraska have access to quality instructional materials in required areas of instruction, regardless of whether they attend a public or non-public school.

Through this program, the State of Nebraska uses taxpayer dollars to purchase instructional materials that remain state-owned and are loaned to eligible non-public schools for instructional use. This structure is intentional. The loan model ensures responsible stewardship of public funds while ensuring all students have access to materials aligned to Nebraska’s required content areas.

Roles at a Glance 

• Non-public schools: Identify needs, submit requests, manage loaned materials
• Nebraska Department of Education: Confirms participation and allocations
• ESU Coordinating Council: Coordinates ordering, fulfillment, and statewide logistics

Access the Nebraska Department of Education's Rule 4 Textbook Loan Program Page

At a high level, the Textbook Loan Program operates through a recurring annual process designed to provide clarity, consistency, and statewide coordination.

• Eligible non-public schools indicate to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) their intent to participate in the program for the upcoming school year and identify instructional materials aligned to required areas of instruction.
• NDE confirms participation and distributes an allocation to each participating non-public school based on student enrollment.
• Schools submit textbook requests to the ESU Coordinating Council, which coordinates ordering, fulfillment, and program logistics on behalf of participating schools.
• Instructional materials are loaned to schools for use with students, while ownership remains with the State of Nebraska.
• Schools maintain local records of loaned materials and follow established procedures related to inventory management, use, and surplus.

While specific timelines, forms, and procedures may vary from year to year, this core structure remains consistent. Additional details related to annual processes, important dates, and reporting expectations are shared each year to support participating schools.

The Textbook Loan Program supports access to instructional materials used in required areas of instruction, as defined by Nebraska law and Rule 4.

Eligible Materials
In general, materials eligible for loaning include:

• Textbooks and core instructional materials used directly for student instruction

• Instructional materials aligned to Nebraska's required areas of instruction, including:

  • Language Arts

  • Mathematics Science

  • Social Studies

  • Career and Technical Education

  • World Languages

  • Visual and Performing Arts

  • Personal Health and Physical Fitness 

• Student-facing, supplemental instructional resources used as part of required coursework

Materials That Are Not Eligible
To maintain alignment with statutes and program intent: 

• Teacher-only materials, such as teacher editions, professional references, or instructional guides are not eligible for loan.

• Materials that fall outside required areas of instruction are not eligible.

Subscriptions and Digital Materials

• Subscriptions are allowable but must be fully covered by a school's allocation amount in the year in which the subscription is ordered.

• Digital materials must be directly tied to instructional use in a guide subject area.

For additional examples, clarifications, and frequently asked questions related to eligibility, schools are encouraged to review the Nebraska Department of Education’s Textbook Loan Program FAQ.

The Textbook Loan Program follows a recurring annual process that allows non-public schools to plan ahead while ensuring statewide coordination and consistency.

Annual Participation and Allocation 
Non-public schools indicate intent to participate in the Textbook Loan Program for the upcoming school year through the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). NDE confirms participation and determines each school's allocation based on student enrollment.

Requesting Instructional Materials
Participating schools submit textbook and instructional material requests to the ESU Coordinating Council. The ESU Coordinating Council coordinates ordering, fulfillment, and program logistics on behalf of participating schools.

Use and Stewardship of Materials
Instructional materials are loaned to schools for student use, while ownership remains with the State of Nebraska. Schools are responsible for maintaining local records of loaned materials and following established procedures related to inventory management, use, and surplus (see NDE’s Rule 4 page for more details).

While specific timelines, forms, and submission windows may vary from year to year, this overall process remains consistent. Schools receive annual guidance and communications outlining important dates, expectations, and next steps for the current program cycle.