College and career readiness funding proposed

School districts could receive funding for implementing college and career readiness programs under a bill heard by the Education Committee Feb. 3.

Under LB343, introduced by Omaha Sen. Rick Kolowski, school districts could apply for reimbursement beginning July 2016 for each student who successfully completes a designated program of excellence, dual-enrollment course or career readiness program.

Kolowski said college and career readiness programs increase the rigor and relevance of students’ education.

“[LB343] will hold schools accountable for the success of their students because they will only receive funding once students prove mastery,” he said. “It’s not about body count, it’s about mind count.”

A school district would apply reimbursement through its educational service unit, which then would provide documentation to the state Department of Education. Applications for reimbursement must be made by Aug. 1 of each year, beginning in 2017. The department would award reimbursements no later than Oct. 1 of each year.

Dan Novak, superintendent of Elmwood-Murdock Public Schools, spoke in favor of the bill, saying it would help support the district’s current college and career readiness programs.

“Our goal is to have students graduate with 12 hours of college credit,” he said. “[LB343] would allow for the growth and continuation of these programs not only in our district but the entire state as well.”

Jennifer Creager, director of public policy for the Greater Omaha area Chamber, also supported the bill. She said it would help to produce more career ready students.

“We see immediate workforce needs in our community,” she said. “Targeting workers at a young age [with these programs] is a win-win for everyone.”

LB343 would authorize a one-time transfer of $7 million in fiscal year 2016-17 to fund the reimbursement program.

Any school implementing an eligible program also could apply for grant funding from the state Department of Education to offset the initial costs associated with implementation. A district could receive up to 49 percent of the total implementation costs. If an eligible program is not implemented within two years of application for grant funding, the district would be required to repay all awarded grant funding.

The bill also would authorize a transfer of $3 million from the Education Innovation Fund for FY2015-16 to fund the implementation cost portion of the bill.

No one testified in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action on it.