[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6297825,"mediaKeyId","2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64","parentId",2506597,"title","Bill to clarify extracurricular access for homeschool and part‑time students advances after parents, music groups testify","audioSeconds",886,"startMs",12834000,"endMs",13720000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64&start=12834&end=13720","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64/thumbnail_12834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297825/Nebraska/Bill-to-clarify-extracurricular-access-for-homeschool-and-parttime-students-advances-after-parents-music-groups-testify","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297825-83f2771a83d94c98df4f811eb059cab6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770722058&Signature=IkOhKoJ99F1w7lWHMb9QZ~Wbyj1PI8oa9MH301iO00exD~teTeuBEtZ1BbDm7DE21W5RFYZ0jgFT7bHvGm7KmjsUZRiwBsZGIA~19kXKgPdd5a26S7iTBp1mCLDfmZ9NnyKVwipJZQM4PxQiYv2uZJc-QKhoPEer1DPbScctI40iAsuG2HQeBjJRZcMEG4G0dg9bkwZ9v1bHo7hshydp4LGAxv~zqzUyPJY9vnU4gUZxyCElnlLZJHruzdmqnvB3dHgrQDFJfH0SRBBHYR6OolLhtJ0ZbpO1cfeC~awExJD7bzU4JkmGb5gvwD9EKgvnTEpuS7HcicHwA-O4xrnWSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nebraska Legislature","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Dave Murman introduced LB497, which combines two related items: (1) a change that would allow students whose parents educate them at home to participate in extracurricular programs offered by neighboring districts when the home district does not offer the activity; and (2) clarifying language to ensure part‑time students are not improperly limited to a single course after the 2023 change that established a five‑credit minimum for participation in NSAA‑regulated activities.

Murman said the bill responds to practical problems: rural schools may not offer some activities (for example girls’ wrestling or certain career clubs), and some families want to combine home education with partial access to district courses and extracurriculars. He also said the 2023 change unintentionally created confusion in some districts that read the law as limiting part‑time students to exactly five credit hours or to one course.

Multiple proponents testified. Representatives of the Lincoln Homeschool Orchestra and parents described cases where homeschool students were previously able to participate in auditioned, after‑school music ensembles but some districts recently imposed enrollment or credit restrictions that prevented access. The Lincoln Homeschool Orchestra secretary said the district‑run ensembles are educational, non‑competitive music groups and asked the committee to ensure NSAA rules (which govern interscholastic competition) do not inadvertently apply to non‑competitive, educational after‑school music programs.

Homeschool parents and students testified about local school districts interpreting the statute differently; examples included Gretna and Norris, where parents said district policies restricted part‑time course enrollment and thereby blocked extracurricular participation. Supporters asked the committee to adopt a clarifying amendment to narrow the five‑credit rule to NSAA‑regulated activities only. Several parents said their districts had previously accommodated part‑time and homeschool families but changed policies after 2023 statutory language was adopted.

No formal vote occurred during the hearing. Sponsor and supporters said they would work with committee staff on an amendment to make the NSAA‑only carve‑out explicit and to preserve existing non‑competitive extracurricular arrangements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education Committee - 3/3/2025","oneSentenceSummary","LB497 would let students from home‑based instruction participate in neighboring districts’ extracurriculars when their home district does not offer them and would clarify that the five‑credit minimum applies only to NSAA‑regulated competitive activities, not to all after‑school programs.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NE, Nebraska","taxId",77675,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297830,"Lawmakers debate move of state learning‑platform grant from Education to Treasurer after NDE failed to award funds",2648,9324000,11972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64&start=9324&end=11972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64/thumbnail_9324000.jpg","/articles/6297830/Nebraska/Lawmakers-debate-move-of-state-learningplatform-grant-from-Education-to-Treasurer-after-NDE-failed-to-award-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297830-7d176af290e6ffb2a5fae01d01e780da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770722058&Signature=CRz~9kUYLMq0YZrXIo5bKc655G~7LWU9Eu1Uyt3psZmaV80tbiZQWTpLSYLf7nVR9KeOA5cP6fgU6M5Q~-N7RLeUY1sE1Pt3V2ClWaLuPlkwrwHAt6EuTKhhIdwxe1JW42U6utMZ4Xd9VxgHRWfu8o1LOGWh-7nEJpA-UD0kQIwXIT-mAj42j4RiFQ3kqjQxhUds4ovU2XnlyaueyDVZlYUoxMzyp-BC1lNjWRkxH8Yp6K~rMTJcsvgsSagObaIdBjmVT5jIv1viw1fOgc~fCVuzlPbTppTRFoY6tjM7ycB7hpktfUAnIRvkscLeJUht2gxte9tJO3txQC1LKX7l0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Mike Jacobson introduced LB528 to relocate administration of a legislatively created, lottery‑funded “learning platforms” grant from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) to the State Treasurer’s office. The move follows the 2023 enactment of a law creating a competitive grant for online, game‑based STEM learning platforms; according to the sponsor, the department did not award any funds even after it received proposals.

Jacobson said the original 2023 bill intended to give every school in Nebraska access to a game‑based STEM platform without cost. He told the committee he had seen a demonstration and that at least one vendor with a ready product (Plasma Games) submitted a compliant proposal; NDE staff, however, declined to award the grant and later told the sponsor it would reopen competition at the board’s discretion. The bill therefore proposes shifting oversight to the State Treasurer, which already manages a statewide EverFi online financial‑literacy platform and — advocates said — has hands‑on procurement experience with web‑based instructional vendors.

Plasma Games and another vendor, Immerse Games, both testified as proponents. Plasma Games’ representatives described a 3D, game‑based platform that maps STEM standards to gameplay and said independent studies found usage correlated with test‑score and career‑interest improvements. Immerse Games and other education experts warned the committee that a transfer of authority and statutory restrictions in the draft bill could unintentionally prevent necessary customization and research‑and‑development work that a state‑scale rollout typically requires.

Several public‑education witnesses, including a former NDE science specialist and school leaders, urged letting NDE — with its standards expertise and educator connections — retain program oversight and authority to require Nebraska‑specific content and middle‑school emphasis. The Nebraska Department of Education filed written opposition online, saying that none of the bidders met statutory or NDE requirements. Proponents disputed that characterization and urged committee members to either require NDE to act on the RFP or to move administration to an office that will implement the program within the legislature’s intent.

The hearing produced sharp questions about procurement, potential conflicts of interest and the department’s selection process. The sponsor said he had asked NDE leadership to investigate an allegation of conflict in the prior procurement process but had not received a substantive explanation. Committee members pressed proponents and staff on implementation issues — scope, grade levels (middle vs. high school), customization to Nebraska standards, R&D funding and whether the platform would be adopted statewide or offered only to interested districts.

No votes were taken; testimony indicated divisions between vendors and education specialists on best implementation approach and between the sponsor and NDE on whether the department followed legislative intent.","LB528 would transfer administration of a previously approved online STEM learning‑platform grant from the Department of Education to the State Treasurer’s office after NDE declined to award the statute‑required contract following an RFP; vendors, educators and NDE disagree about whether proposals met statutory criteria.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297835,"Bill would let districts pay student teachers outside local tax/spending caps to recruit candidates for rural classrooms",87,891000,978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64&start=891&end=978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64/thumbnail_891000.jpg","/articles/6297835/Nebraska/Bill-would-let-districts-pay-student-teachers-outside-local-taxspending-caps-to-recruit-candidates-for-rural-classrooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297835-7d69412c3ed67f502a8f8a621a897e95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770722058&Signature=RlS-zt-8-7~49IBiYLtS-Dkd8zBo~AOCNBNAz948zAjr~Ftt~~9uuZTJXCdpEk5KfYMf5IOPovbYo3ns7eaY9USLJ4hjwDGM5aERbC7d3DtUgHuNIcF1GW1chYdF1MCvXCoaKlO8RYEDvavoz6nsZbJ1yXD1pHx8hGXwJ2et9DEUoNKU9n16pAXsyH~8J6BljBK6ZTOouGRTpM4r1gE~r5MBuZr7wILr0pCeDYQzX~0cYJv-Q766MF3dbTuBBsp0B-IuUWIiJaPO~U0nNqPyfwqUr1HesJZ-x22Ku8Eva4BkApm3wKJ1KOP6UoAj~28WUzqthduQ4ucayWPqypJ90w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Janet Hughes’ office introduced LB572 to allow school districts to pay student‑teacher stipends without counting those modest payments against local taxing and spending caps. The idea targets small rural districts that report difficulty attracting student teachers who must pay tuition and living costs while student‑teaching.

Matthew Howe, who presented the bill for Senator Hughes, said the measure would be optional and limited: it would not create a major new open‑ended entitlement but would let districts use a small amount of local funding to offer stipends to student teachers in places where housing and mileage barriers prevent placements. Supporters argued the practice is a targeted recruitment tool that helps districts develop a local pipeline of teachers who often stay on after graduation.

No proponents or opponents spoke in the hearing; the bill sponsor waived closing remarks and indicated she planned to work with the committee on drafting details. Committee staff noted the proposal is narrowly drawn and intended to help a small set of rural districts rather than create a broad exemption for district compensation.","LB572 would exempt modest stipends paid to student teachers from district taxing and spending caps to help small, rural districts attract and host student teachers; sponsor said the change is limited and targeted to districts that need recruitment help.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297839,"Committee hears cleanup bill to remove CEP multiplier from school funding formula",246,819000,1065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64&start=819&end=1065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64/thumbnail_819000.jpg","/articles/6297839/Nebraska/Committee-hears-cleanup-bill-to-remove-CEP-multiplier-from-school-funding-formula","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297839-e4c5bf3a3fc27e22e3421cabca360ed2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770722058&Signature=a3e5FodV7FEa1XzqCuCx5lB1s4UnhyQf1y~F4E9FF5RF1o2RvpYGTC-gi6NhT~p6IdCgrnAsRZR3F43yIvjqB6UDWl0f6MYzg~d9pfSCUKfDFulWDmnWBQEvoRtlDAjrlEBGNuQJkGmBx873YMzhAw8wRf6pWJ2uae5adEMiCubB3FYO76oTdL~HEv1beJP3IXrk12GxBQ1XO5Z94vegX-m8xXVmLT7KeG1OQLF07Pl06gQhIGE9LD7BEH~Q2iP~MT4ZiIpRMqj2WCGjvLna39Y2YeRDqmn0-ZyHkz8bKvuVGNZczoTZNStClguiqfXAWgRuxQTZdR6bbOWofPPXdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A short, technical bill, LB142, drew proponent testimony explaining why the committee should remove a 1.1 multiplier from the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEOSA) calculation for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) participation.

Matthew Howe, legislative aide introducing the bill for Senator Janet Hughes, explained CEP allows high‑poverty schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students by using direct certification (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF) rather than individual free‑and‑reduced applications. LB142 removes a TEOSA adjustment that multiplied CEP counts by 1.1 when converting CEP certification numbers into the poverty counts that feed the state needs calculation.

Eric Saviano, program manager for Food and Nutrition Access at Nebraska Appleseed, told the committee that the 1.1 multiplier was initially adopted to protect districts that switched to CEP from losing state aid. After an interim study (LR419) and a Department of Education analysis, Saviano said the multiplier is no longer needed because more timely federal data and improved methodology makes the adjustment unnecessary.

Saviano said removing the multiplier is a cleanup item intended to right‑size TEOSA calculations and avoid penalizing districts that adopt CEP. He and the committee emphasized CEP remains a federal USDA program; this change affects only how state TEOSA calculations treat CEP counts and would not change federal CEP eligibility criteria.","An Education Committee bill would remove the 1.1 multiplier applied to Community Eligibility Program (CEP) counts in the TEOSA school funding formula after a Department of Education analysis; advocates said the change right‑sizes state aid and preserves CEP participation.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297844,"Senate committee hears hours of testimony on bill to allow weekly off‑campus religious instruction for public school students",751,244000,995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64&start=244&end=995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2506597-bc7ab37516a58698a0f81dad98599d64/thumbnail_244000.jpg","/articles/6297844/Nebraska/Senate-committee-hears-hours-of-testimony-on-bill-to-allow-weekly-offcampus-religious-instruction-for-public-school-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297844-515f5efe0e8d287e37c82627a42d546c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770722058&Signature=Y~Z~Go-JIyVVSZa~ViyYPda6S2E7PSR56-KwAZ5z85-V6MZJM1KyqMpyMRd2UcrTh7IEQWjbjRL8avTDqdjOQxoDyVG-7IfAqTtYfdqZ4JLLDYv6EmZGMsI0WGXE8PgfZQ~IWVaDHsfEBuvWcQgYi7qg~V30lTVkfg~H689~AVerNE2sck4dELs0IVacDL9aGUr1cEJLzccIVzYC1q8rM9sNV1WtrKsQrKkla-PxfpL5tIy9tEm5VawYY7rMgPPuPqJFhGGHvIKxFuGAe40hWR0bGUdvT8B9I~aNATSwqxMXum82qK0rhpBYUjsatOilT2F06PvkVHTANLQkRFCeJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Lauren Lippincott, sponsor of Legislative Bill 550, told the Education Committee she introduced the bill to give parents a formal option for weekly, released‑time religious instruction (RTRI) during the school day and to require school districts to adopt policies allowing it.

Lippincott said the program would be off campus, require written parental consent, use no school district funds and be limited to one class period per week. “This bill would be at no cost, 0, to the school district,” she told the committee, and she cited a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision as the controlling precedent for constitutionality.

Proponents — including representatives of Lifewise Academy, the Nebraska Family Alliance, faith‑based youth groups and public school parents and officials — said RTRI programs already operate in other states, that some Nebraska families had asked for access, and that programs had shown improved attendance and reduced disciplinary incidents in outside studies presented to the committee.

Jesse Bowinkle of Lifewise Academy said Lifewise operates programs in multiple states and that more than 70 school districts in Nebraska have contacted the organization about starting a local offering. “Each week over 40,000 public school students are attending Lifewise classes,” Bowinkle testified. Lifewise told the committee it charges a small per‑student fee to cover curriculum and insurance but does not bill districts or parents for participation.

Other proponents described personal and community concerns they said RTRI would address. Karen Dittbrenner, a Beatrice educator and former participant in release‑time instruction, cited statewide youth mental‑health statistics and referenced research summarizing a correlation between religious participation and lower rates of depression and substance use.

Opponents — including some school officials and the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) representative — urged caution, saying the bill delegates too much of the decision about instructional time to the state and could undermine local control. Piyush Srivastav, representing Lincoln Public Schools and the Nebraska Association of School Boards, told the committee that LPS supports parental choice but opposes a statewide mandate that would constrain local decisions about instructional time and could lead to inequality or peer‑pressure effects.

Doris Martin, a Beatrice pastor and retired educator who testified in opposition, told the committee that removing students from class on a regular weekly basis can create extra work for teachers and may disadvantage students who remain in school. Martin said schools need stable, predictable time for instruction and that some families already provide religious education outside school hours.

Committee members pressed for details on how programs would be scheduled so students would not miss core instruction, how districts would record attendance and liability, and whether districts could award academic credit. Lippincott repeatedly emphasized the bill’s limits: off‑campus instruction, parental consent, and no district funding. An attorney testifying for the Nebraska Family Alliance said the bill’s language tracked the parameters the U.S. Supreme Court approved in Zorach v. Clauson (1952) and that awarding credit could be constitutionally permissible if districts used neutral, secular evaluation criteria.

Senators asked proponents for evidence. Lifewise representatives said third‑party studies and internal evaluations showed attendance improvements and behavioral decreases after program adoption in other states; they offered to provide the committee a copy of the study cited. Several Nebraska public‑school parents and local officials — including Beatrice board members and local pastors — testified that their communities had surveyed families and reported local interest.

The committee heard two dozen proponents and multiple opponents over roughly three hours of testimony, with several public‑school board members, educators and faith‑based organizatons urging different approaches. No formal action or vote on LB550 was recorded during the hearing.

The committee’s closing discussion focused on balancing parental choice against local control of instructional time. Senator Lippincott said she would continue to work with committee members to clarify operational details and to provide the studies supporters cited.","Supporters told the Education Committee LB550 would let parents send students to voluntary, off‑campus religious instruction one class period per week with parental consent and no school funds; opponents raised concerns about academic disruption, promotion and equity and whether districts or the courts should set boundaries.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to clarify extracurricular access for homeschool and part‑time students advances after parents, music groups testify

Lawmakers debate move of state learning‑platform grant from Education to Treasurer after NDE failed to award funds

Bill would let districts pay student teachers outside local tax/spending caps to recruit candidates for rural classrooms

Committee hears cleanup bill to remove CEP multiplier from school funding formula

Senate committee hears hours of testimony on bill to allow weekly off‑campus religious instruction for public school students