Session Review: Education

Senators worked on legislation related to alternative education opportunities, student progress measures and testing for lead poisoning this session.

Omaha Sen. Heath Mello introduced LB1079, passed on a 42-4 vote, which designates funding for programs that assist adult students in obtaining academic, career and technical skills.

The bill defines a bridge program as a structured career pathway program, developed in partnership between the provider of the adult education program and a nonprofit social services organization, which assists students in obtaining academic, employability and technical skills needed to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and training and the labor market.

LB870, introduced by York Sen. Greg Adams, creates an educational accountability system based on student progress, including student growth and improvement and graduation rates.

The bill, passed on a 46-0 vote, incorporated provisions of LB1144, a bill introduced by Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford that allows school districts to partner with community colleges or educational service units to provide career-focused academies.

LB996, introduced by Lexington Sen. John Wightman, provides a mechanism for students wanting to drop out of school for financial or health reasons.

Any parent or legal guardian wishing to withdraw a student from school must notify the student’s school district. The parent or guardian must provide evidence that the student is facing either a financial hardship that requires that the student be employed to support the student’s family or an illness making attendance impossible or improbable.

The superintendent will conduct an exit interview and must provide information about alternative educational opportunities as well as the reduced future earning potential and likelihood for unemployment for high school dropouts.

LB996 passed on a 27-20 vote.

Cortland Sen. Norm Wallman introduced LB1090, passed 26-15, which provides $140,000 for grants to be awarded by the state Department of Education in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.

LB1038, introduced by Omaha Sen. Brenda Council, authorizes the state Department of Health and Human Services division of public health to create a lead poisoning education and outreach program for school children.

LB1038 passed on a 44-0 vote.

Adams introduced LB946, passed on a 46-0 vote, which establishes a new formula for appropriating funds to the state’s six community colleges. The formula applies to any funds in excess of the projected $87.8 million in state aid already allocated to the colleges. The bill also authorizes an aggregate levy authority of 11.25 cents per $100 of taxable valuation.

LB446, also introduced by Adams and passed on a 46-0 vote, allows for Lincoln and Omaha to continue operating as single-district educational service units (ESUs). The current infrastructure funding formula will be modified to reflect a 5 percent decrease in student counts for the single-district ESUs. An additional 5 percent of core service dollars will be dedicated to statewide initiatives.

Adams sponsored LB633, passed 41-0, which permits school districts to issue refunding bonds to redeem any part of an outstanding bond authorized under current law at or before the maturity date. The bill includes provisions of LB634, a bill introduced by Adams that allows a school district to exceed the 5.2-cent levy if its current valuation is lower than the year in which bonds were last issued and the current maximum levy cannot service the bonds.

Lincoln Sen. Tony Fulton introduced LB990, a bill that would have required that all public school students be led in the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag every day school is in session. The bill would have required that the U.S. flag and the state flag be displayed in a prominent position in every public school classroom.

The bill was advanced by the committee but remained on general file.

LB809, introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would have required school administrators to spend more time evaluating teacher performance.

The bill was indefinitely postponed by the committee.

Two additional bills were held in committee.

LB1068, introduced by Adams, would have established the Medicaid in the Public Schools Task Force to determine whether state schools are eligible for additional Medicaid reimbursement funds.

LB1156, introduced by Holdrege Sen. Tom Carlson, would have allowed more spending flexibility and local control over spending decisions for school districts that currently do not qualify for state equalization aid.