Lawmakers narrow, advance bill on computer science, special education, reading and more

LINCOLN — A package of education-related bills is one step away from heading to the governor for approval, including the recruitment of special education teachers and training programs in reading and computer science.

Lawmakers advanced Legislative Bill 1284 on Tuesday from second-round debate while significantly reducing its fiscal impact through a plan to tap into existing funds for the proposed programs. The package of bills, spearheaded by State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, would also set aside funds for dyslexia research grants and to put menstrual products in select schools.

“This bill is so important to make sure that we are meeting the ever-changing needs of our students, teachers and parents,” Walz said during debate.

Fiscal impact significantly reduced

Originally, LB 1284 included nine other bills with a cost of $1.25 million this fiscal year, followed by $17.3 million and $11.3 million in the next two.

The bill also came at a time when senators are running short on funds for their proposals.

Lawmakers adopted two amendments reducing LB 1284’s General Fund impact, from the state’s main pocketbook, to administrative costs for the Teach in Nebraska Today Act, a teacher retention program. 

The reductions lead to a General Fund impact of just under $150,000 in the next fiscal year and about $80,000 the year after. 

The teaching act would be restructured as a grant program rather than loan repayment. Lawmakers kept the annual appropriation at $5 million rather than doubling it as originally proposed.

All other programs in LB 1284 would be funded through the Education Future Fund created last year ($4 million) or cash funds ($2.4 million).

Special education proposals

LB 1284 originally included two bills aimed to bring more special education teachers to Nebraska, but one was removed Tuesday and the other was significantly reduced.

Walz’s LB 1238, the Special Educators of Tomorrow Act, is no longer part of LB 1284. It would have provided scholarships and loans to individuals who work with disabilities as direct support professionals to become special education teachers.

A proposal from State Sen. George Dungan would extend eligibility for Nebraska Career Scholarships to include teaching in special education. As amended it would no longer provide forgivable loans to a handful of students studying special education each year.

The final ‘rah rah’

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn originally sought to appropriate $10 million annually for reading improvement mentorship programs and to employ regional coaches to train teachers in kindergarten through third grade how to teach reading. That funding was reduced to $2 million.

Linehan said Tuesday that half of students will pick up how to read just through repetition, but the other half need more intensive help, such as a focus on phonics or vocabulary.

“The funding in this bill will help the Department of Ed and the ESUs [educational service units] make sure that all our teachers have all the tools they need to make sure we increase reading,” Linehan said.

Other proposals with reduced funding:

• Walz sought to create a Computer Science and Technology Education Fund with an initial $1.5 million investment to provide teachers training and support to help students meet a related graduation requirement in those areas. The fund would instead begin at $1 million, and the state treasurer would add $500,000 annually to the fund if matching private donations are raised.
• Linehan, who has dyslexia, sought to create a $1 million Dyslexia Research Grant Program to support Nebraska companies researching artificial-intelligence-based writing assistance for individuals with dyslexia, such as a group of University of Nebraska-Lincoln students. Instead, grants could be awarded up to $500,000.

Linehan noted that she previously worked with former State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks on third grade reading and dyslexia programs, and LB 1284 capped off her efforts. Both Linehan and Walz are barred from seeking reelection in the fall due to term limits.

“This is kind of the last ‘rah rah’ on those things,” Linehan said.

LB 1284 advanced to a final round of debate via voice vote.