Nebraska ballot measure to repeal private school tuition law

Exciting News for Public School Advocates! A new opportunity to take a stand against the use of taxpayer money for private school tuition has emerged in Nebraska. According to Nebraska’s top election official, public school advocates have successfully collected enough signatures to put the issue to a vote.

Organizers of Support Our Schools revealed in July that they amassed over 86,000 signatures from registered voters, far exceeding the required number of nearly 62,000. This achievement qualifies the repeal effort to be included on the ballot for voter consideration. Signatures were gathered from 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of Nebraska’s 93 counties, demonstrating widespread support for the cause.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen confirmed that just over 62,000 signatures had been verified, meeting the 5% threshold in 57 counties. This marks a significant step towards challenging the controversial law that diverts public funds to private school tuition.

This effort follows a previous signature-gathering campaign last year, which was ultimately derailed by lawmakers who supported the private school funding bill. Despite the setback, public school advocates remained resilient and launched a renewed petition drive to combat the diversion of public money to private schools.

Nebraska’s new law reflects a nationwide trend among conservative states to implement various forms of private school choice, such as vouchers and education savings accounts. The controversy surrounding this issue is expected to escalate, with both opponents and supporters bracing for a legal battle.

As the deadline for certifying the November ballot approaches, the fate of the repeal measure hangs in the balance. County election officials are diligently verifying signatures, with the potential for the measure to be officially certified if the threshold is met. Stay tuned for further developments as this crucial issue unfolds.