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Crete Public Schools outlines American civics plan, cites LB 399 and state statute
Summary
District staff described how Crete Public Schools is meeting state civics requirements under LB 399 and statute 79-7-24, detailing student activities used this year and plans to align curriculum with forthcoming state standards.
Crete Public Schools officials described the district’s plan to meet state civics requirements during a public hearing at the May 12 board meeting.
Dr. Hayek, a district staff member who presented the plan, said the discussion was driven by LB 399 and Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-7-24 and the district’s responsibility “to ensure that our youth are given the opportunity to become competent, responsible, patriotic, and civil citizens.” She said the statute requires two public meetings (one with public comment) and that social studies curriculum be aligned with current standards; the district is working from the 2019 standards while the Nebraska Department of Education updates social studies guidelines.
Why it matters: The statute prescribes both procedural steps (public meetings and recordkeeping) and curricular expectations; the district must show how students get direct civic experience under state law. Crete Public Schools’ explanation shows which of the state-approved activity options the district is using and how officials plan to document compliance.
District staff reviewed the three activity options named in statute: administering the civics portion of the naturalization test; having students between the end of eighth grade and completion of the 12th grade attend or participate in a meeting of a public body followed by a project or paper; or completing a class project or presentation on a person or event commemorated by a holiday. Dr. Hayek said the highlighted option used this year was student observation of a public meeting followed by written work.
For the current school year, she said tenth-grade government students observed the district’s Aug. 14, 2023, school board meeting (the district’s livestream archive was used). Students examined discussion of a student drug‑testing policy and the public comment process, then completed written responses and classroom discussion. Dr. Hayek read excerpts from student papers, including: “This statement has made me realize how dangerous it is to use drugs in schools and its consequences,” and, “I agree with mostly everything they have said because it is a deep concern for fairness, transparency, and accountability.” Another student questioned how the board follows up on technical issues raised during public comment.
District staff said the government-class activity will move to a senior-level American history course for sophomores next year and may shift focus to a project or paper tied to a person or event commemorated by a holiday to match statutory options.
Discussion versus action: The public hearing provided information and met the statutory public‑meeting requirement; no curricular adoption occurred at the hearing. The board adjourned the public hearing by motion (see actions below).
