LINCOLN - Educators from Iowa, Wisconsin and the National Education Association (NEA) are joining Nebraskan educators in urging Nebraskans to vote “repeal” on Referendum Measure 435. If passed, the measure would repeal LB 1402, a law that funds “education scholarships” for private K-12 schools. LB 1402, which was passed in April, appropriates $10 million annually for the State Treasurer’s Office to distribute “education scholarships” for students to attend private schools.

Representatives from the NEA are pointing Nebraskans to look at Wisconsin where there are two funding systems, one totalling over $568.5 million for a private voucher system. They argue the system harms public schools and makes it tough, “to keep the doors open and the lights on” in public schools. However, Senator Linehan, who has spearheaded the legislation during her time in the legislature noted that, “$10 million represents 0.02% of the total cost for Nebraska’s public schools, which receive more than $5 billion.”

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