LINCOLN- The chair of the Nebraska Legislature's Education Committee, Sen. Dave Murman, recently prioritized a set of studies on the use of critical race theory, as well as several other controversial issues, in Nebraska's classrooms. The studies were prompted after several state senators called for an investigation into the Nebraska Department of Education last year over similar issues. The three studies, which will focus on parental involvement in public schools, the use of "social-emotional learning" and critical race theory, and how federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funding was used in Nebraska, are set to be brought up at a hearing on July 31st.

Testimony for this hearing will be heard from invited Department of Education officials, retired educators, and parents. Public testimony will not be heard. Last year, Murman questioned the Department of Education after it was found that its newly-created website, Launch Nebraska, provided materials to teachers promoting critical race theory. However, after calls for an investigation into the Department, it was found that the document, titled Winning Racial Justice in Our Schools, was not actually accessible on the Launch Nebraska website, and instead required the viewer to enter a different website.

Murman claimed that, to this day, resources containing information related to critical race theory and comprehensive sex education remain all over the Launch Nebraska website, but couldn't provide any specific examples. Despite claims from the Department of Education that such materials haven't been utilized in any state school systems, Murman maintains that he's heard concerns from several parents that inappropriate material is being taught in certain schools. These concerns prompted the creation of the three interim studies the Education Committee prioritized.

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