Following a controversial measure passed last year in Nebraska that would have used public money to fund private school tuition, the measure to repeal this law has been pulled from the November ballot. The Nebraska Secretary of State, Bob Evnen, announced that he will not be placing the measure on the ballot since the law it aimed to repeal is no longer in effect. This law would have allowed corporations and individuals to divert state income taxes to nonprofit organizations that would award private school tuition scholarships. However, the Nebraska Legislature replaced this law with a new one that directly funds private school tuition scholarships from state coffers.
The original law, which was supported by Republicans, sparked backlash from public school advocates who saw it as a school voucher scheme that would divert public money away from public schools and into private schools that might discriminate against LGBTQ+ students. Supporters of the law argued that it provided choice for students and parents who were unsatisfied with their public school options. A petition drive was organized by critics of the law to get it repealed and the drive successfully collected more than enough signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. However, the author of the private school funding law, Republican Senator Lou Ann Linehan, introduced a new proposal this year to directly fund private school scholarships after realizing that the tax-credit funding plan might be rejected by voters.
The new law, which passed on the last day of the legislative session, has reignited protests from opponents who have started another signature-gathering petition effort to repeal this law as well. The group, Support Our Schools Nebraska, is urging voters to sign the petition to protect their right to vote on this issue, stating that politicians should not impose a costly private school voucher scheme without allowing Nebraskans to have a say. The group has until July 17 to collect about 90,000 signatures of registered voters across the state in order to get the measure on the ballot for repeal. The move to directly fund private school scholarships is seen as an “end-run” around last year’s successful petition drive, prompting renewed calls for voter input on this issue.
While public school advocates continue to fight against the direct funding of private school scholarships, supporters argue that it provides much-needed opportunity and choice for students and parents. The debate over public versus private school funding is ongoing in Nebraska, with both sides passionate about their beliefs. The decision to pull the measure from the ballot reflects the changing landscape of education funding in the state, with lawmakers and activists continuing to push for their respective agendas. The upcoming signature-gathering effort will determine whether the new private school funding law will face a challenge from voters in November.
