OPS committee outlines civics curriculum review and voter education efforts

Omaha Public Schools’ American civics committee described how the district is implementing state civics requirements, updating standards and supporting voter education during a committee meeting.

The committee’s work ties to Nebraska statutes and the state social studies standards, said Lindsay Beeney, secondary social studies teaching and learning consultant, and Carolyn Roby, elementary social studies teaching and learning consultant. "Our purpose is simple but vital. We are dedicated to ensuring that all our youth are provided the opportunity to become competent, responsible, patriotic, and civil citizens," Beeney said.

The discussion matters because Nebraska law and the state standards set specific civic content and procedural requirements that districts must follow. The committee outlined where OPS stands in that state-led review and what the district expects to do next.

Beeney and Roby told the committee that state statute 79-724 (as cited in the meeting) requires schools to teach about significant figures and events in American history and to include instruction…