K-12 Public Schools and Students (2002-2003)
K-12 Public School Teachers (2002-2003)
K-12 Private Schools (2001-2002)
K-12 Public and Private School Student Academic Performance
Nebraska offers statewide public school choice that allows students to attend any school outside of their home district, provided certain conditions are met. State funds for the transportation of students across district lines are available for all low-income children. Background Two years later, the Court's rationale in Meyer v. State of Nebraska was used to support a second, equally important decision. In Pierce v. Society of Sisters,[3] the Court struck down an Oregon law mandating that all children attend public schools. In this decision, Justice James C. McReynolds wrote for the Court that Under the doctrine of Meyer v. Nebraska...we think it entirely plain that the Act of 1922 unreasonably interferes with the liberty of parents and guardians to direct the upbringing and education of children under their control.... The child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations[4] In 1989, Nebraska adopted an open enrollment law, Legislative Bill 183, which permits parents to choose a school outside their district, subject to restrictions of space and legal requirements for racial balance. Under the law, students may exercise their transfer option only once in their academic career (unless the family moves). The law does not address choice of schools within district boundaries, and each district is free to set its own policy. State funds for the transportation of students across district lines are available for all low-income children who qualify under the national free and reduced-price lunch program or who are disabled. A district may provide transportation for free or for a fee to children who are not poor or disabled.[5] In 1998, Omaha became one of 40 Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF) "partner cities." The CSF is a $100 million foundation created to promote educational options. In Omaha, it matches the money raised by state residents to fund private scholarships for low-income K-8 students to attend a school of choice.[6] Several choice bills were introduced in 1999. L.B. 385 would have created vouchers of up to $5,000 for low-income students to attend private or parochial schools. The bill died in committee.[7] L.B. 483, the Parent Education Equitable Reimbursement System Act, would have provided state aid to students in non-public schools. Half of the state's funding per public school pupil would have followed a child to the private school; half would have remained within the public school system. L.B. 484 would have provided a tax credit of up to $100 per child in a private elementary school and up to $200 per child in a private secondary school for education expenses. Both L.B. 483 and L.B. 484 also died in committee.[8] In 2001, L.B. 271, the Elementary and Secondary Scholarship Assistance Act, was introduced to provide state income tax credits of up to $500 for contributions by individuals and businesses to education scholarship programs. The bill died in committee.[9] State Senator Philip Erdman (District 47) introduced L.B. 534 in 2003 to allow home-school students to participate in public school educational activities or athletics. The bill died in committee.[10] In 2004, Senator Erdman introduced another bill to allow home-school students to participate in public school educational activities or athletics. L.B. 896 died in Committee.[11] Legislative Bill 868, introduced in 2004 by Senator Pam Redfield (District 12), declares home-school records “private information.” The bill was signed into law on April 15, 2004.[12] State Choice Laws See Education Commission of the States Governor Mike Johanns, a Republican, has no stated position on school choice.[13] Nebraska has a unicameral, independent legislature. State Contacts Children's Scholarship Fund-OmahaJudy Tamisiea, Executive Director Judy Booth 3212 North 60th Street P.O. Box 4130 Omaha, NE 68104 Phone: (402) 554-8493 Fax: (402) 551-3426 E-mail: csfomaha@archomaha.org Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association Nick and Kathleen Lenzen P.O. Box 57041 Lincoln, NE 68505 Phone: (402) 423-4297 Website: www.nchea.org E-mail: nchea@alltel.net State School Report Card Greatschools.net Web site: www.greatschools.net/modperl/go/NE Lincoln Public Schools Web site: www.lps.org/about/statistics/ Nebraska Department of Education Web site: http://reportcard.nde.state.ne.us/ SchoolMatters.com Web site: www.schoolmatters.com [1] Meyer v. State of Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923). [2] Ibid., at 401. [3] Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925). [4] Ibid., at 534-35. [5] See Nebraska Legislature Online at http://statutes.unicam.state.ne.us/. [6] See Children’s Scholarship Fund Web site at www.scholarshipfund.org. [7] See Nebraska Legislature Online at http://statutes.unicam.state.ne.us/. [8] See Nebraska Catholic Conference, "Legislative Issues," at www.nebcathcon.org/education_leg__issues.htm#choice. [9] Ibid. [10] See Nebraska Legislature Online at http://statutes.unicam.state.ne.us/. [11] Ibid. [12] Home School Legal Defense Association, “Legislative Rollercoaster,” April 26, 2004, at www.hslda.org/hs/state/ne/200404270.asp and see Nebraska Legislature Online at http://statutes.unicam.state.ne.us/. [13] Nebraska Office of the Governor, “Mike Johanns,” at http://gov.nol.org/ (August 4, 2004). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
