In Nebraska, The Fate Of A New Voucher Program May Be Decided At Ballot Box
At Forbes .com
On May 30, Nebraska’s Governor Jim Pillen signed into law LB 753, creating tax credit vouchers for subsidizing private schools.
The concept has been floated in Nebraska before, notably turning up more than once in 2022’s session. In 2023, it finally progressed through the legislature. But NSEA political action director Brian Nikkelson told the Nebraska Examiner that the public did not support the vouchers, and if the bill was passed, there would be a petition drive to force the bill to go on the ballot for voters to decide. Now it appears that is just what is going to happen.
Voters may have the final say on whether or not Nebraska will launch its very first school voucher program.
The “Opportunity Scholarships” would be vouchers good for any approved private or religious school. They would be funded by private donors, who would get dollar-for-dollar tax credits for money they contributed. In other words, they could help fund a private school in place of paying taxes to the state.
Supporters argue that the voucher program would provide opportunity for poor students to have school choice, though it includes several eligibility tiers, and students can become eligible for non-economic reasons, such as claims of being bullied.
The bill also includes a standard “hands off clause,” indicating that even though the private school is accepting voucher money, the state may not exercise any authority over the school and how it operates. The state cannot, for instance, tell the school who it shall or shall not admit. As with many vouchers, having an Opportunity Scholarship does not mean that the school of student’s choice will accept that student.