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