Career-readiness programs pulled from education bill

A bill proposing several technical changes to existing education statutes was advanced from select file May 18 after senators removed provisions to fund career- and college-readiness programs.

Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan introduced LB525, the Education Committee’s annual “clean-up” bill. The removed provisions originally were introduced as LB343 by Omaha Sen. Rick Kolowski and were adopted on general file.

Sen. David Schnoor of Scribner introduced the amendment, adopted 26-0, which removed the provisions.

They would have allowed schools to apply for reimbursement of implementation costs associated with providing college- and career-readiness programs. Funding totaling $2 million would have been available for programs of excellence, dual-enrollment courses or career-readiness programs in fiscal year 2016-17.

Schnoor said he supports the concept behind LB343, but it should be funded through the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act.

Following the adoption of a technical amendment, senators advanced the bill to final reading on a voice vote.