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OPS committee outlines civics curriculum review and voter education efforts
Summary
Omaha Public Schools’ American Civics Committee reviewed how the district is implementing Nebraska civics requirements, the statewide standards revision timeline and local voter-registration activities in high schools.
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 associated with specified national holidays and people. The consultants listed curriculum elements cited in the statute, including the Constitution; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Native American Heritage observances; Memorial Day; and the birthdays of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Teachers are provided resource documents and lesson plans, the presenters said.
Carolyn Roby summarized the district’s recent curriculum work: "In the spring of 2023, this committee approved the recommendation of our social studies high quality instructional materials, which were then adopted by the Board of Education. ... We are in year 2 of implementing our high quality instructional materials across all grade levels." She also noted the district adopted the Nebraska Social Studies Standards in March 2020, following the state board’s November 2019 adoption.
On standards revision, Beeney said OPS staff are serving on the state review team and that the state-led review and revision process is underway. She said the state’s timeline aims to complete the statutory seven-year cycle by fall 2026 and that school districts will have one year after state approval to adopt the state-approved standards or standards judged to be as rigorous. "We will provide updates to this committee as the process moves through the state level," Beeney said. After state approval, OPS plans to complete a crosswalk comparing current and revised standards and return recommendations to the committee.
Board members asked how the district measures civic engagement and how the community is involved. Vice President Snipes asked, "how do we assess whether students are developing not only knowledge, but also civic engagement skill. Right? Like, organizing, advocacy, public speaking." Beeney and Roby pointed to curriculum-aligned assessments and to a revised assessment for the twelfth-grade American Government course that asks students to identify an issue they care about, research relevant laws and policies and draft a plan for advocacy.
The presenters also described ongoing voter education and registration activities. Roby said OPS has partnered with the League of Women Voters Greater Omaha "since around 02/2018" to provide voter education in high schools and that drives are currently under way and scheduled at Benson High this week. The committee discussed community review opportunities during the state process; Board member Erdnembert confirmed there will be multiple opportunities for public comment at the state level.
Committee members also asked about representation of diverse perspectives in curriculum materials. Beeney said the district’s standards and materials require "multiple representations, multiple perspectives, multiple voices" and noted that community members, students and staff were involved in the curriculum adoption process.
No formal motions or votes were recorded on the civics item during the meeting. The committee presenters said next steps include awaiting further guidance from the State Social Studies supervisor and, after state approval of revised standards, completing an internal crosswalk and returning recommendations to the committee. The meeting record shows the session was adjourned at 5:49 p.m.
