Voters reject state funding for private schools
Public funds, private use
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Nebraska voters rejected the new school voucher/scholarship program. The program aimed at using public funds in order to help students who are attending private K-12 schools. However, this came with opposition, specifically from rural and urban supporters of public schools, the Nebraska State Education Association and private foundations supporting public schools. According to president of the Nebraska State Education Association, Tim Royers, “It confirms what we knew, the majority of Nebraskans don’t want public dollars going to private schools.”
Royers also raised concerns that allocating even small amounts of public funding to private K-12 schools through scholarship programs or vouchers could undermine long-term support for public education. He cited examples from other states with similar voucher initiatives, particularly Iowa, where public school rankings have declined since the introduction of such a program. Moreover, it was emphasized that school choice initiatives often primarily benefit families that are already inclined to enroll their children in private institutions. Additionally, these critics warned that such programs could exacerbate issues of poverty in certain schools by siphoning off students who generally serve as a stabilizing presence. Educators from neighboring states such as Wisconsin urged Nebraskans to repeal the law that appropriates a considerable amount of money for scholarships to help families in Nebraska with attending private schools.
While facing many oppositions, the program, also called the “Opportunity Scholarship,” received backing from State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha as well as groups of lawmakers who stated that they would continue working on the program no matter the outcome of Tuesday’s election. Linehan and other legislators revamped the initiative, establishing a 10 million yearly state budget allocation for private school vouchers, which will be managed by State Treasurer Tom Briese, an associate of Linehan.
State Senator Justin Wayne, a Democrat from Omaha who advocates for school choice, emphasized that parents can't wait for public school systems to improve; they need immediate assistance for their children. Jeremy Ekeler, executive director of “Opportunity Scholarships” of Nebraska, noted that his organization and its supporters aim to assist families who cannot wait for changes within school districts. “Although the outcomes we observed tonight were not what we envisioned, the thousands of Nebraska families who now have access to suitable educational options for their children, thanks to LB 1402, will ensure their voices resonate for years to come,” he stated.
by Robert Tengker