A Nebraska volunteer firefighter who was rejected for a career position because he was homeschooled, has lost his challenge before the Fremont Civil Service Commission.

Andrew Coates, 22, is a volunteer firefighter with the Cedar Bluffs Fire Department and a Nebraska-licensed EMT. Earlier this year, he applied for a career firefighter position with the Fremont Fire Department.

According to WOWT, the job posting in effect when Coates applied required “graduation from high school.” Coates submitted a diploma reflecting that he had been homeschooled. The city rejected his application on the grounds that his diploma was not from an accredited high school.

Fremont Human Resources Director Jennifer McDuffee told WOWT that accreditation was implicit in the requirement:

• I would say it’s a standard understanding that when someone requests a high school diploma or GED that they’re asking for an accredited diploma.

After Coates was rejected, the city changed the firefighter job requirements to specify “graduation from an accredited high school.”

Homeschooling is lawful in Nebraska. The state treats homeschools as exempt schools that are not required to satisfy the accreditation requirements applicable to accredited public and private schools.

Coates appealed his disqualification to the Fremont Civil Service Commission. Approximately 30 supporters reportedly attended the September 18 hearing, which lasted approximately five hours. Cedar Bluffs Fire Chief Chris Lichtenberg appeared in support of Coates and told the commission:

• I feel the city of Fremont’s really missing out here, and in my mind, because of his home schooling, you guys are discriminating against him.

Civil Service Commissioner Doug Backens disagreed with that characterization, stating:

• I don’t think there was any discrimination against him, and when they use that word, I don’t care to hear that word out there.

Commission Chairman Steve Tellatin expressed concern about “the posting of the original requirements for the job and the ambiguity of what a diploma is.”

The commission ultimately took no action to overturn Coates’ disqualification, concluding that it could not address the city’s hiring policy.

Coates said the dispute has become about more than his own application.

• We’re not mad about one applicant, my application. I think now it’s turned into we want to make sure that every homeschooler has an equal opportunity.

Coates’ father, Seth Coates, said the family has 30 days following the Civil Service proceeding to pursue the matter in court. No written decision from the Civil Service Commission appears to have been posted online as of September 22.