‘If we care about kids, then get rid of the politics’: Nebraska school choice bill clears first hurdle

An education freedom bill advanced in the Nebraska Legislature this week, and its passage would make a November ballot question on the state’s current school choice law moot.

LB 1402 passed its first vote on Tuesday 33-13 and will undergo two more rounds of debate in the unicameral Legislature, according to normal procedure.

The bill would appropriate $25 million to the state treasurer to give as grants to scholarship granting organizations, prioritizing low-income students, special needs learners, and those from foster or military families. Scholarships cannot exceed 75% of the state’s per-pupil funding formula.

Proponents of school choice celebrated LB 1402’s advancement and praised the Democrats who crossed party lines to support it.

“My community can’t wait for another generation of ‘hope’ for their children to have a high-quality education,” said Democrat Sen. Justin Wayne, D-District 13. “People are looking for an alternative. And if we care about kids, if we say we want what’s best for kids, then get rid of the politics of it, and let’s just give them a chance.”  

But enacting school choice in Nebraska has been an uphill battle.  

Last year, Sen. Lou Linehan, R-District 39, who sponsored LB 1402, also sponsored a bill to create a tax-credit scholarship, which ultimately passed into law. 

But it was quickly challenged by teachers’ unions and other anti-school choice groups, claiming it would take money away from traditional public schools. 

Opponents successfully petitioned to put the law in front of voters in November, but if LB 1402 passes, the matter will be moot.  

“They [the teachers’ unions] have a significant amount of resources and infrastructure across the state,” Jim Vokal, CEO of the Platte Institute, previously told The Lion. “There’s a misinformation campaign going out there that suggests that this takes away funding and resources from public schools.”  

But voters are going to fall for it, Vokal believes. 

“Generally people in Nebraska want kids and families – especially those that don’t have the resources – to have the best opportunity to succeed with their education. That I am confident about,” he added.