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LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After being repealed by voters in November, an effort to award public money to private school scholarships is being brought back to life.
On Tuesday, competing groups fought over Legislative Bill 624, which would give $10 million a year to the scholarships.
The Nebraska State Education Association and other opponents spoke out, saying this is a disrespect to educators and voters.
“Not only are these legislative proposals a slap in the face to our great public schools, they’re a slap in the face to Nebraska voters,” State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln said. “Our second house has spoken out resoundingly and said, ‘We reject these ideas to move public dollars to private schools.’”
SEE ALSO: Foes of Nebraska school choice bill submit more than 86,000 signatures in repeal effort
On the Now Local News App, Lorraine also said this issue has already been settled.
“I feel like voters already used their votes to declare how they feel about legislation sending public funds to private schools,” she said. “As a parent, I think the public fund should stay in public schools. And I wish our representatives would listen to us.”
SEE ALSO: ‘The voters will reject this’: Petition in motion against Nebraska school choice bill
Supporters said this bill will help children get opportunities they might not otherwise be able to.
“This important and proven, emphasis on proven, legislative bill will provide more scholarships for kids who need educational freedom,” State Sen. Tony Sorrentino said. “During the implementation of LB 753 last year, over 1,600 student lives were changed because they had access to the Opportunity Scholarships.”
The mother of two past scholarship recipients said it filled them with hope.
“It was truly life-changing for our family,” Christina Chvala said. “What it meant for us practically is that my daughters were able to have a parent at their games, were able to have a parent Ubering them back and forth to practices, were able to have a parent at the dinner table because I did not have to work multiple jobs to ensure that my children were in the environment that best fit their learning needs.”
SEE ALSO: Nebraska group submits over 117,000 signatures to repeal school choice bill
Sorrentino said despite many claims, the funding for the bill does not take away from public schools.
The bill will be voted on in the next legislative session.
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