LB1402 appropriates $25 million for FY2024-25 to provide education scholarships for Nebraska students entering kindergarten, sixth grade, or ninth grade at qualified schools, or transferring from public to private schools. Qualified schools must meet specific criteria, and scholarship organizations can apply to the State Treasurer for grants to fund these scholarships. The bill also establishes prioritization criteria for awarding scholarships and includes provisions for continued funding in future years, with a potential increase of up to $100 million if grant allocations exceed 90% of the appropriation.
The Nebraska State Senate passed LB1402 on April 18, 2024 by a vote of 32 to 15. We have assigned pluses to the nays because all government money comes with strings attached. Education Scholarships for school choice might sound good in theory, but they expand government involvement into all aspects of education — including homeschools and religious schools — and can potentially affect rules and curriculum. Additionally, this legislation grossly prioritizes certain people and schools over others. We encourage all parents to get their children out of the government school system and instead pursue sound alternatives such as homeschooling and patriotic private schools, such as FreedomProject Academy, that don’t accept government funds.