Education

We Support: 

● Fully funded public education, at all levels, to meet the needs of all students. 

● The Nebraska Constitutional provision that all public schools shall be free of compulsory religious instruction. 

● Public schools providing specialized educational programs such as vocational training programs. 

● Retired teachers covering one substitute for a medical illness or maternity leave per semester without a retirement benefits penalty. 

● Local control of public schools through direct election of school board members. 

● Direct election of members to the Nebraska State Board of Education (NSBOE).

● Changing Nebraska state statute to revise the appointment process for vacant seats on the NSBOE and permitting vacancies to be filled by the board. 

● Public tax dollars going only to public schools. 

● Fair and equitable compensation and benefits for teachers, faculty, and staff members. 

● Alternative and flexible methods to obtain substitute teaching credentials through accredited institutions and programs. 

● A broad curriculum featuring core subjects (English, math, science, social studies and world languages) and the arts, physical education, technology, vocational education, and school supported extra-curricular activities. 

● Civics education as a graduation requirement. 

● The establishment of a media literacy curriculum for K-12 by the State Board of Education. 

● Academic freedom that embraces critical and independent thinking for students and faculty and ensures academic freedom of speech. 

● Requiring human relations training for teachers. 

● Strong co-curricular programs. 

● Accessible, high quality libraries and information systems. 

● Age appropriate, comprehensive, and inclusive sex education. 

● A fully funded early childhood program available at no cost to every child in the State of Nebraska. 

● Affordable and equitable access to Nebraska’s public post-secondary educational institutions. 

● Reform of the student loan program and a system of student loan forgiveness. 

● Investment in behavioral and mental health professionals to assist students and staff in their social and emotional well-being. 

● Free access to healthy and nutritious meals to pre-K through 12 students.

● A safe educational environment that is conducive to learning and free from all forms of bullying, harassment, or violence. 

● Limit class sizes using research-appropriate student-to-teacher/faculty ratios. 

● A ban of firearms at educational institutions with exceptions for sanctioned school sponsored shooting clubs, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students, emergency responders, and for select school resource officers. 

● Initiatives to break the school-to-prison pipeline. 

● The enforcement and full funding of both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for students, families, faculty and staff with disabilities. 

● Queer students, families, and staff. 

● The enforcement of Title IX to ensure all education programs that receive federal funding are free of gender and/or sex discrimination or harassment. ● Increasing the resources and programs for students, families, and staff of all languages and cultural, economic, and racial backgrounds. 

● Development of comprehensive policies to combat gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence. 

● Re-issuing federal guidance from the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to prevent the disparate disciplinary treatment of BIPOC children and children with disabilities in educational settings. 

● Supplying sufficient funding to employ guidance counselors, social workers, nurses, and school psychologists rather than turning to law enforcement to resolve disciplinary issues. 

● Science-based vaccination requirements. 

● School accreditation and certified staff. 

We Oppose: 

● Banning books. 

● Charter schools. 

● Voucher programs. 

● Arming teachers. 

● Mandatory religious instruction in public schools. 

● Using test results to determine the quality of a school and its teachers.