Education
Nebraska lawmaker threatened with censure for comparing transgender legislation with genocide
LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker faced a threat of censure Wednesday for alleging that a couple of bills aim to perpetrate genocide against transgender Nebraskans. State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar offered the motion after State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha made comparisons between past genocides and two bills that she said would lead to […]
Four finalists named to be next Nebraska Education commissioner
LINCOLN — Four finalists have been named to be Nebraska’s next commissioner of Education. A search committee of the Nebraska State Board of Education announced the four finalists Friday. The committee seeks to interview each in public meetings March 30. Candidates will also meet with various groups throughout that day. The board plans to hold […]
History Nebraska announces 2023 awardees from across the state
LINCOLN — History Nebraska has announced its 2023 awardees from across the state to Nebraskans in Beatrice, Hastings, Lincoln, Peru and Omaha. This year, History Nebraska will present five awards at an April 26 event at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. The awards recognize people who provide “significant contributions to the preservation and interpretation […]
Nebraska lawmaker presents task force recommendations to improve school safety
LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker on Monday presented four recommendations to improve school safety, the result of a task force that formed after last year’s shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Legislative Bill 516, proposed by State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, would implement recommendations from the state’s School Safety Task Force. Then-Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt and […]
Conservatives win another legislative battle, advance ‘opportunity scholarship’ bill
LINCOLN — Nebraska would join 48 other states in providing some form of public funds to private schools under a bill given 31-12 first-round approval Wednesday. The advancement of the Opportunity Scholarships Act marks the first time in several years that a “school choice” bill has moved forward in the Nebraska Legislature. It also marks […]
Nebraska Board of Ed roles targeted by four legislative proposals
LINCOLN — Defenders of a separately elected Nebraska State Board of Education lined up Tuesday against four legislative proposals aimed at curbing the powers of an increasingly conservative State Board and handing them to the governor. Legislative Resolution 24CA, a constitutional amendment by State Sen. Joni Albrecht, would eliminate the State Board and place its […]
‘Opportunity scholarship’ bill heads to filibuster vote Wednesday
LINCOLN — The contentious battle over public funds for private schools will come to a head Wednesday morning when state lawmakers vote on whether to halt a filibuster and advance Legislative Bill 753. The “opportunity scholarships” bill needs 33 votes to end the filibuster and advance the measure from first-round debate. By all accounts, it’s […]
American Indian College Fund announces 2022-23 honorees, including three Nebraskans
LINCOLN — The American Indian College Fund has announced its Student of the Year and Tribal College and University Honoree of the Year awardees, who include three Nebraskans. The College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity that supports Native higher education for 33 years. This includes distributing more than $259 million in scholarships, programmatic […]
Debate begins on legislation granting $25 million in tax credits for private school scholarships
LINCOLN — Debate began Monday on a long-controversial bill to provide state tax credits for donations to private school scholarships, with advocates maintaining that the measure is about helping low-income families. State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the chief sponsor of so-called “opportunity scholarships” bills in recent years, said poor families should have the […]
NU asks for more funding to avoid deeper cuts, higher tuition
LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska and business interests that say the state benefits from a well-prepared workforce made the argument Friday that the university should receive 1 percentage point more in state funding than currently proposed in order to avoid increased tuition and deeper spending cuts. NU President Ted Carter, a retired Navy admiral, […]
Nebraska lawmaker proposes expanding NEST 529 plans to K-12 private education
LINCOLN — State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln said she realized last year she could not use an educational savings plan to support her grandchildren’s private K-12 tuition costs. Congress approved an expansion in 2018 for NEST 529 plans under the College Savings Plan Program, but Nebraska is one of 10 states that lag in […]
Nebraska lawmakers weigh proposal to use state funds for private school enrollment
LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker encouraged a legislative committee Tuesday to allow students to use state funds toward private schools if they are denied a school district transfer. Legislative Bill 528, proposed by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would create the Nebraska Option Enrollment Tuition Account Program. Option enrollment is when students seek to […]