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Nebraska Department of Education warns $1.5M cut to ACT funding would disrupt mandated assessments; asks legislature to preserve teacher-certification reserve
Summary
Commissioner Brian Maher told the Appropriations Committee the Department of Education relies heavily on federal funds, warned a $1.5 million proposed reduction for the statewide ACT appropriation would force the state to find an alternative college-entrance assessment, and urged against sweeping the teacher certification cash fund reserve.
Brian Maher, commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education, told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 that the department’s staffing and programs depend on a mix of state, local and federal dollars and raised two specific budget concerns: a proposed $1.5 million reduction to the ACT appropriation and a possible sweep of the teacher certification cash fund.
Maher said the department has about 500 employees, and that more than two-thirds of its operating funds come from federal sources. He described four core agency areas — education services, operations, vocational rehabilitation, and disability determination services — and said almost half of NDE employees work in vocational rehabilitation and disability determination services.
Maher descri…
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