The PARENT ADVOCATE Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 1, March 2006

IDENTITY UNITY   COLLABORATION   EMPOWERMENT

Legislature May Require Full-Day Kindergarten       

Full-day kindergarten may be a reality for all Nebraska children by the 2009-2010 school year if the Legislature’s Education Committee gets its way.  On February 16, the Committee voted 7-0, with one abstention, to advance a bill for debate by the full Legislature that, if amended with a proposed Committee amendment, will do just that. 

LB 228 originally proposed modifications to the public school financing laws to encourage public schools to offer full-day kindergarten to children from low-income families.  The Education Committee subsequently advanced LB 228 to General File accompanied by a committee amendment (AM1988) that, if adopted, will replace LB 228’s original provisions with new language; requiring all kindergarten programs offered by public, private, denominational or parochial schools to consist of 1032 hours beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.  Current state law permits kindergarten programs to consist of 400 hours per school term.

One of the most troubling aspects of this proposed amendment, at least as it pertains to private schools, is that it never had a public hearing.  Other bills pertaining to the establishment of a full-day kindergarten mandate applied only to public school districts.  There never was a bill that proposed such a mandate for private schools.  Thus, private-school representatives had no reason to testify on the impact such a mandate would have on the independent governance of private schools and on the families that choose them.

LB 228 is the priority bill of Senator Gwen Howard of Omaha, which means it is likely to be debated by the full Legislature in March or early April.  As Parent Advocate went to print, a further modification of making full-day kindergarten a mandate under accreditation, but not approval, was being considered.

Write a Note, Influence a Vote!

Most citizens do not realize how much impact their contact with an elected official can have.  Sometimes just a few letters, calls or e-mail messages can be the determining factor in an elected official’s decision!

Here are a few suggestions for writing an effective letter or e-mail:

• · Identify the topic, including the bill or amendment number. 

• · Be yourself.  Use your own words and be direct and specific in stating your position,   either for or against the proposed policy change. 

• · Make it clear why you are taking that position.  If possible, use personal examples of how and why the issue makes a difference to you.

• · Be positive, never curt and do not make threats. 

• · Focus on being persuasive, but do not overlook opportunities to express thanks when the elected official embraces your position. 

• If, on the other hand, he or she takes a position that is contrary to your views, do not hesitate to let him or her know of your disapproval, in a polite way.

You might prefer to telephone an elected official, especially if time is short.  When talking to the official, or a member of his/her staff:

· Identify yourself, and give your address and be sure to identify yourself as a constituent. 

Follow-up a telephone conversation with a short letter or e-mail expressing thanks and reiterating your strongest points.

LB 769: Education Expense Tax Credit Proposal Killed

A legislative proposal to permit parents to claim a limited state income tax credit for out-of-pocket educational expenses was killed by the Revenue Committee shortly after the bill had its public hearing.  The vote on the motion to kill the bill was 7-1, with Senator

LB 769, introduced by Omaha Senator Mike Friend, would have permitted parents to claim a state income tax credit equal to 8% of their out-of-pocket expenses, capped at $250 per dependent in grades K-6 and $500 per dependent in grades 7-12, on such expenses as tuition, fees, textbooks and some transportation.  The credit would have been available to parents with children in all schools, public and private.

A legislative fiscal analyst’s report estimated that the revenue loss to the state would be approximately $3.8 million dollars annually if LB 769 were to be enacted.  This high-end estimate of revenue loss to the state budget is negligible considering the parents of 40,000 children educated in non-governmental schools arguably save the state close to $300 million dollars annually in public education costs.

Several parents testified in favor of the proposal, including NFCSP president Jackie Ridder, Archdiocesan School Board president Jim Stolze, and Regina Tullos-Williams and Judy Haug, two parents with children educated in Omaha-area Catholic schools.  An excerpt from Jackie Ridders’ testimony is reprinted below.  The only testimony offered in opposition to the proposal came from the Nebraska State Education Association, the public school teachers’ union.  

Jackie Ridder, President of the NFCSP Board, Testimony in Support of LB 769

Good afternoon Senator Landis and members of the Revenue Committee.  My name is Jackie Ridder, and I am appearing both as a parent of children educated in West Point Catholic schools and as the President of the Nebraska Federation of Catholic School Parents, a statewide organization of more than 15,000 parents committed to school choice. The NFCSP strives to keep Catholic school parents informed of legislative activity pertaining to education issues of interest, and encourages its members to be active participants in the public policy process.  On behalf of the NFCSP, I wish to thank Senator Friend for introducing LB 769, and we heartily support this bill.

Our position on school choice is not unlike that of the Nebraska Legislature.  We believe that parents and legal guardians have the primary responsibility of ensuring that their children receive the best education possible.  That statement is part of our organizational philosophy, and it is also codified in state law [Section 79-232] as the legislative findings relative to the option enrollment program.  In recognition of this responsibility, the Legislature permits parents to consider several factors in deciding which public school is best for their children, such as the size of the schools in the area, the distance children have to travel, the course offerings and extracurricular offerings, and the quantity and quality of the staff. 

We have considered and evaluated these same factors and decided that the best school for our children is a Catholic school.  The main difference between the option enrollment program and the choice we made is the fact that, by virtue of our choice, we have incurred substantial out-of-pocket costs not incurred by parents optioning into a public school. 

If history is any guide, opponents of this bill will remind you that we made a choice to go outside of the public school system, and that we knowingly and willingly incurred the extra costs resulting from that decision.  This is true.  And, quite frankly, I would think you state senators would be thankful that we did make that decision.  Based upon the average cost per pupil in the public schools, currently in excess of $7,700 per pupil, the parents who enroll 40,000 children in nonpublic schools save state and local taxpayers more than $300 Million in public education costs each year.  Please keep that in mind when reviewing the fiscal impact statement that accompanies this bill...

...Nebraska, like all states, has a compulsory education law, and provides in that law that attendance at a private, denominational or parochial school satisfies the compulsory education requirements.  In addition, private, denominational and parochial schools are extensively regulated by the state through approval and accreditation rules and regulations adopted by the Nebraska Department of Education.  This state-imposed regulatory framework covers everything from the qualifications of the personnel the school may hire, the number and types of courses the school must offer, the number of new library books that must be purchased each year, and the number of periodicals that the school must subscribe to each year….

...Finally, one last point I would like to make regarding the fiscal impact of this bill.  Keep in mind that the fiscal impact to the state is only 8 percent or less of the total economic activity involved.  Under the bill, parents are limited to claiming a tax credit of 8 percent of certain out-of-pocket educational expenses.  That means that whatever the fiscal impact of the credit is, the parents claiming the credit infused 12.5 times that amount into the Nebraska economy.  When we pay tuition, the money doesn’t disappear into a dark hole.  It gets turned around almost immediately in the form of salaries for teachers, payments to utility companies, groceries for the lunch program, and additional supplies required for the operation of any school, public or private.

We believe that LB 769 is good public policy.  It makes sense from an economic standpoint, and it is a logical, practical and constitutional extension of the option enrollment concept to parents who opt for private and parochial schools.... Please look favorably upon LB 769 and vote to advance it to General File

Osborne Reacts to Parent Advocate Article 

The December 2005 issue of Parent Advocate reported that 3rd District Rep. Tom Osborne had opposed efforts to provide parents of children displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with vouchers to help pay for expenses associated with enrolling their children in private schools for one year following the hurricanes.  Parent Advocate reprinted a quote from Congressman Osborne as reported on Nebraska Public Radio:

In his radio interview, Rep. Osborne said he sympathized with the desire to help hurricane victims, but stated that he doesn’t think public tax dollars should be given to private schools: 

“And my main objection is simply that private schools are able to pick and choose who attends their institution. Sometimes they’re not burdened with some of the more expensive students – children with disabilities and so on – and as a result there’s an uneven playing field.”

Congressman Osborne subsequently heard that some NFCSP members were concerned about his statements, and he asked Parent Advocate to print the following statement. 

My opposition to school vouchers has been mentioned recently in this publication.  I oppose vouchers because I believe they blur the line between public and private education and could lead to government intrusion in private schools.  My children attended both public and private schools and I believe that there are unique qualities in each system that should be preserved.

Congressman Osborne included additional information about his voting record on other issues that are not relevant to educational choice.  His complete statement is available for review upon request by contacting the NFCSP at 402-477-7517, or e-mailing mitch.rowley@alltel.net. q

Families May Soon Assume Responsibility for Meds 

Bills considered by the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee may soon mandate that all schools allow students to possess and self-administer medications to control diabetes, asthma and allergic reactions.

LB 1107, introduced by Senator Nancy Thompson of Papillion, would allow a student with diabetes to possess and use the necessary medical supplies to self-manage his or her diabetic condition while attending school or a school-related activity. LB 1148, introduced by Senator Abbie Cornett of Bellevue, likewise would allow a student with asthma or anaphylaxis to possess and use the necessary medical supplies to self-manage his or her condition while attending school or a school-related activity. Both bills require the written permission of the student’s parent or guardian and the authorization of the student’s licensed health care provider

Proponents of the bills testified that many schools have restrictive medical policies requiring all medications to be locked in the school office and that critical time is lost if students need medical intervention and must walk to the school office to obtain their medical supplies.  Proponents also testified that even very young children can effectively self-manage their diabetic and asthma/anaphylaxis conditions without endangering themselves or other children.  Liability concerns are addressed by requiring parents to sign hold-harmless statements, and provide other civil immunity protections.  The sponsors of both bills indicated at public hearings that their intent is that their respective bills should apply to students in private and public schools. 

The Health Committee will likely combine the two bills into one before advancing the proposals for further debate.  Senator Thompson prioritized LB 1107 and Speaker of the Legislature, Senator Kermit Brashear, prioritized LB 1148, which enhances the chances of these proposals being debated in the remaining days of the 2006 session.

Catholic Schools Week

Proclamation Signing Ceremony Held January 19, 2006Ceremony participants (left to right):

Father John Perkinton, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Lincoln; Lauren Larson, Omaha St. James/Seton Catholic School; Lauren Armendariz, Omaha St. James/Seton Catholic School; Sister Samantha Nguyen, 3^rd grade teacher, Lincoln Sacred Heart School; Governor Dave Heineman; Theresa Nguyen, Lincoln Sacred Heart School; Cesar Ramirez, Lincoln Sacred Heart School; Lance Sorensen, Kearney Catholic Schools; Father Thomas A. Ryan, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Grand Island; Phil Hranac, Kearney Catholic Schools; Dr. Barbara Schweiger, Catholic Schools Office, Archdiocese of Omaha.

Working for Catholic School Parents

Any senator marked with (*) may be contacted by e-mail by typing the initial of the legislator’s first name, plus complete last name, followed by @unicam.state.ne.us . (example:  jdoe@unicam.state.ne.us).  The Nebraska Legislature’s webpage, www.unicam.state.ne.us, is another contact point.  A senator’s regular mailing address is Nebraska Unicameral, District #, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE  68509-4604.