Signed by Governor Jim Pillen

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a computer science education program expansion in kindergarten through 12th grade in Nebraska as well as other pilot programs to promote education.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the legislature to transfer funds from the Education Future Fund to the Computer Science and Technology Education Fund (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that funding in computer science education further promotes technical careers and training for success in other careers (Sec. 12).

• Defines a three-cueing system model as an approach to reading instructions that has three instructional cues that are called semantic, syntactic, and graphophonic (Sec. 13).

• Requires the State Department of Education to implement a professional learning system for children aged four to third grade (Sec. 13).

• Requires the Commissioner on Education to file an annual report regarding any updates on the implantation of the professional learning system (Sec. 13).

• Establishes the computer science education program to support educational programs in grades K-12 and train teachers to receive computer science certification (Sec. 15).

• Requires an annual report to be submitted to the clerk and governor detailing the amount of training opportunities that took place and any associated costs (Sec. 15).

• Appropriates $1 million to be allocated for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years to the computer science fund (Sec. 16).

• Authorizes the legislature to allocate a bonus $500,000 for the next two fiscal years to the computer science program as long as they receive matching private funds (Sec. 16).

• Establishes a pilot program to make tampons and pads available in school bathrooms for schools classified as needing improvement (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Dyslexia Research Grant Program to conduct research about using artificial intelligence writing assistance to develop literacy plans for students with dyslexia (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes teachers to apply for various types of grants as long as they have signed a contract with a school to complete a full year of employment (Sec. 4).

• Defines grant as something that will be used for teachers continuing their professional career under the Teach in Nebraska Today Act (Sec. 6).

• Appropriates $500,000 in funds to students eligible to enroll and complete a student teaching semester in relation to the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program (Sec. 20).

• Specifies that these funds can be used for the teaching program after July 1, 2024 and for the fiscal years following (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text