Zach is a Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action. In this role, he works with leaders and lawmakers from the midwestern states to promote student-centered solutions.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts unveiled his 2021-2023 budget priorities to continue moving the state forward and overcome the challenges of the pandemic, including increased education funding, education opportunity and broadband connectivity.
Governor Ricketts remains committed to fully funding K-12 education with an additional $42.7 million over the biennium.
“We must continue to invest in the next generation of Nebraskans so they can access educational opportunities that can help them achieve their dreams.”
Governor Pete Ricketts
Governor Rickets is also committed to expanding educational opportunities for Nebraska students. He included $4 million in his budget proposal to create opportunity scholarships for low-income students to attend a private school that better meets their needs. The more opportunity a family has in finding the right educational fit for their child, the more likely they are to succeed in school and in life. If this passes, it would become the first private school choice program in Nebraska and would make a difference in the lives of students.
Investing in rural broadband infrastructure is also at the top of Governor Ricketts priority list. He proposed investing $20 million over the next two years to connect an additional 30,000 households to reliable high-speed internet. This is an excellent first step towards ensuring students, families and educators receive equitable access to participate in a meaningful digital learning experience.
I applaud Governor Ricketts for prioritizing education funding and educational opportunities to ensure all Nebraska students have the foundational skills to be successful in school and in life.
For a full transcript of Governor Ricketts’ State of the State address, visit his website.
