By: Zach Wendling - Nebraska Examiner
A new state law could lead to
greater efficiency in setting rules,
regulations and safety standards
for some of Nebraska’s smallest
school districts.
One of the immediate effects of the law gives school boards of smaller districts the option to authorize select school security personnel to carry firearms on school grounds.
That change, also included in LB 1329, applied to private schools beginning last July.
State Sen. Tom Brewer of northcentral Nebraska introduced the measure last year for school districts of all sizes before working with Murman and other senators on a narrower approach.
Brewer had said smaller school districts are more often farther away from emergency services in crises, such as in a school shooting, when every second matters. He said those districts usually don’t employ an armed school resource officer as many larger districts do.
The State Board of Education in December adopted a model policy regarding the firearms law created in consultation with the Nebraska State Patrol.
It suggests general guidelines for how a district can authorize who would be allowed to carry firearms, including proper storage and training and evaluation requirements.
In December, the Education Department distributed $10 million to more than 120 public school districts and 43 private schools to improve school safety and security infrastructure as part of a different law from State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont.
Here’s a breakdown of some other education-related laws set to take effect later in 2025:
Modernized parental involvement policies — School districts must update policies regarding how parents and guardians can access certain school materials or be involved in their children’s education by July 1. This includes access to testing information and curriculum and explaining how a child could be excused from specific instruction or activities. (LB 71 of 2024, from State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue).
Dress code protections — K-12 school boards must adopt written student dress codes and grooming policies by July 1. The push came after a school secretary cut two Lakota girls’ hair in the spring of 2020 without parental consent. The State Board of Education passed a model policy in August 2024 (included in LB 298 of 2023, from State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha).
Tribal regalia protections — Indigenous students are explicitly protected in wearing tribal regalia in public K-12 schools and postsecondary education institutions after July 1 (included in LB 43 of 2024, from Brewer, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe).
Computer science and technology education — Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, school districts must offer computer science and technology courses in elementary, middle and high schools. By the 2027-28 school year, students must have at least five high school credit hours to graduate (LB 1112 of 2022, by McKinney; amended by LB 705 of 2023, by Walz).
Free menstrual products — A pilot program for schools to distribute free menstrual products in bathrooms, including tampons and pads, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Priority goes to school districts classified as “needs improvement” or in which more than 40% or more of students are poverty students. The program is subject to available funds, up to $250,0000 (included in LB 1284 of 2024, from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln).
Increased financial support for schools — Beginning in 2023, the Legislature gave public school districts roughly $1,500 per student as new “foundation aid.” Another bucket of funds, “equalization aid,” is calculated from a district’s needs minus resources. In the next school year, the state’s calculation of a district’s resources will include 60% of foundation aid, rather than 100%, increasing the “needs” side of the equalization aid formula (LB 583 of 2023, from Sanders).