Bill would create educational success council

The Education Committee heard testimony Jan. 27 on a bill that would create a new education council focused on strategic planning and coordination for the state’s educational system.

LB371, introduced by Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan, would establish the Nebraska Council for Educational Success.

Sullivan said the bill resulted from the committee’s interim studies of school finance and strategic planning. The studies included an electronic survey, roundtable discussions and public hearings to help identify education priorities, she said.

“I believe LB371 is the next step in this visioning effort,” Sullivan said. “It creates the Nebraska Council for Educational Success—an entity that will continue the discussion of those educational priorities and, in so doing, keep the Legislature informed on their recommendations.”

The 22-member council would include the state commissioner of education, chairpersons of the Appropriations, Education and Revenue committees as well as representatives from the state and community college systems, the state departments of Labor, Economic Development and Health and Human Services and seven stakeholders appointed by the governor.

The council would:
• facilitate and strengthen collaboration of publicly funded programs from early childhood through postsecondary education;
• identify a process for measuring implementation of the strategic plan to create a statewide vision for education; and
• make recommendations for a more coordinated, integrated and seamless education system that enables children to enter school ready to learn, receive challenging instruction, graduate from high school ready for postsecondary education and careers and continue their education in ways that make them productive in the workforce and successful citizens.

Mike Baumgartner, executive director of the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, testified in support of the bill. He said LB371 would create a place for state leaders to push forward their vision to improve the state’s educational system.

“These are all issues that need to be addressed in a collaborative nature in Nebraska,” he said.

Virginia Moon of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators also supported the bill, while suggesting the addition of more administrators to the council’s membership. For example, she said, elementary and high school administrators would bring different expertise to the council.

“We would like to see administrators from a variety of levels,” Moon said.

No opposition testimony was given and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.