001The board meeting will begin in five minutes. If board members can take their seats, we'll start in just a moment. Right. The September 5th state board meeting will now come to order. Good morning and welcome to the September 5th, 2025 State Board of Education meeting. Board members, please engage your microphones before speaking and turn them off when you are finished speaking. Please note that the board members may be using their cell phones and laptop computers to access the agenda and information related to this meeting. Live streaming is available through the state board of education website >> with the recording. Secretary, please call the role. >> Kristen Christensen >> here. >> Maggie Douglas >> here. >> Lisa Shonhoff >> here. >> Liz Rener >> here. >> Kirk Penner >> present. Sherry Jones >> here. >> Elizabeth
002Tegmire >> here. >> Deborah Ner, >> Commissioner Maher >> here. >> Seven present, one absent. Quorum is established. Please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Information regarding the Open Meetings Act is posted as you enter the room from the main entrance doors. The open meetings act is also posted on the state board of education's website. Susan Stake, president of NCTTE, please join us at the front of the room for the annual NCTTE presentation. >> Dr. Maher, would you like to introduce? Yeah, maybe I'll just say as she's getting settled there that this is the annual report and we appreciate Miss Stake
003being here to uh present to us and also a point of personal privilege if you don't mind. We used to work together so it's good to see you again and welcome to the group. Well, good morning, President Tegmier, members of the state board of education, Dr. Maher, Dr. For uh my name is Susan Stake and I am a teacher at Waverly Middle School and I'm also serving as president of the Nebraska Council on Teacher Education or NCTTE. I'd like you I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to share highlights from our annual report and give you a sense of how our council supports educator preparation programs and certification across Nebraska. Uh this is our executive committee uh for the 2526 uh year and I'll be going over an overview of NCTTE NCT membership and
004then our purpose and what we have worked on this year. So, NCTTE is an advisory group. Uh we bring together stakeholders from across the state that are directly involved or interested in teacher and administrator preparation and certification. This is the structure of NCTTE. We meet three times a year as a full council and three times a year as the executive committee. Some of our key responsibilities will be to review the educator preparation programs through site visits. Um, we approve and develop uh or develop, excuse me, the standards for certification and endorsements and we work with rule 20, 21 and 24. The NCTTE membership, we have three groups that are represented in the council. We have governance, teachers and higher ed. And we focus with balance uh our repres our membership with balanced uh representation. Uh
005we have um membership uh includes higher ed, school governance and then classroom teachers. and each member then serves as a liaison to their constituencies keeping communication flowing both ways. Uh if you'll look at the chart, each nominating organization is directed to um consider geographic location, state board district, gender, ethnicity, grade level, subject area, and school size. Um for membership members come from different sectors, colleges of education, school boards, administrators, teachers. We try to ensure that all perspectives are represented. NCTTE aligns with the strategic vision vision of the state board and the department of education um with educator effectiveness. We do want to ensure that uh students are taught by well-prepared educators. We provide um or we strengthen the department of education's regulatory and approval system with stakeholder informed recommendations. Uh we embed standards of assessment,
006instruction, and content readiness into our educator preparation programs. And we have worked on creating endorsement pathways to address the teacher shortage. Aligning to the state board's legislative priorities with foundational literacy, uh we are focusing with our educator preparation programs. um ensuring that teachers are trained in evidence-based literacy instruction and we support then the development of highquality professional learning for teachers, excellent educators. We support certification pathways um alternate routes for certification and also incentives to attract and retain teachers and then for engagement to increase engagement with students, families, communities. Um, we support policies for high quality quality educator preparation that are student centered, culturally responsive, and inclusive teaching practices. The next part of the presentation will be a review of our work with rule 20, 21, and 24. So items under consideration uh for rule 20
007are um the following uh the addition of a guidance document for dyslexia definitions evidence-based practices and science of reading and then the educator preparation program uh the approval process for rule 21. These were key revisions and changes this year. Um, just to summarize those as you look at those, these updates simplify certification, reduce administrative barriers, and provide schools with flexible staffing options, all without lowering standards. for rule 24. Um, rule 24 changes um and expands opportunities for educators to earn endorsements and to align programs with um evolving instructional needs. Rule 24, the endorsement process. Uh you can see we have ad hoc committees go to the NCTTE. Then we make recommendations to the state board and that goes through the process then for approval by the governor. These are endorsements and guidelines that have been
008reviewed or are pending uh for the 24, 25 and into the 26 year. uh the endorsements that have been reviewed and then endorsements that we will be working on uh for the educator preparation programs reviewed. Uh NCTTE NCTTE members actively participate in these reviews. They're both on-site and off-site and often in partnership with CAPE, a national accrediting body. And then our opportunities for 2526. Uh clear communication is central to NCTTE's work. We act as a bridge between the state board of education and the PK uh P20 stakeholders, making sure our feedback is timely and responsive. And this two-way engagement strengthens and supports highquality teaching and learning across Nebraska. On behalf of NCTTE, I would like to thank the board for valuing the recommendations and insights of our P20 educational experts, prioritizing highquality educator preparation where
009students benefit from excellent instruction and supporting educational excellence across the entire P20 continuum. Your support allows NCTTE to continue to provide thoughtful, balanced guidance to strengthen the teacher and administrator preparation programs and ultimately improves outcomes for all Nebraska students. Thank you for the opportunity to share our work today. Do you have any questions? Lisa. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you so much for being here and thank you for the work that you do. >> There we go. Um I appreciate the that you being here and explaining. Um, one of the questions that I have as we look at our NAPE scores across the state or across the nation, but in our state, how do you use the NAPE scores to determine what you're doing with your advisory group? >> That's a good question. um when the
010groups are formed. Uh I'm sure I might defer to maybe um do I have um maybe I could defer to one of our higher ed uh instructors if that's okay. >> Sure. >> So maybe Tim Fry is here. Could you >> I can come up I think. >> Okay. >> Really? This is a a Jen Ker question actually. >> Okay. >> I can try and answer. >> Okay. >> At least a little bit on my NCT experience. Morning everyone. My name is Tim Fry. I serve as the dean for the college of education at Don um and also as committee B uh chair uh for NCTTE right now. Thanks Susan. Um thanks for sharing too. So the question about NAPE scores right and how that impacts teacher ed advisory committee >> um when you're talking
011about endorsements which is what connected to content areas right nape scores overall performance for students >> and I was thinking about like you guys are kind of over standards for what's being taught in our education preparation program so I would think the my thought is that the nape scores are pretty indicative of some high needs that we have and so wondering how you're addressing that on the board. >> So the the NCT agendas are determined by the executive committee in partnership with um Jim Kent and Brad Dirkson and NDE right oversight of those pieces. >> Um and the endorsements themselves are typically on a rotation just like the standards are for rule 24. So they don't necessarily come to the committee based on scores. They come to the committee based on when they're up for
012review. um and how the data is used um is again more of a question for Brad and Jim. I think the committee's job is to take what um the different stakeholder groups in the state perceive about those um needs in teacher education and then implement them based on the guidance right from you all when we get the rule 20 and the rule 24s um back. So our input um is based on a lot of factors including what teachers and administrators are seeing in their school spaces. Um and that includes data and scores both from local right context and from statewide context. Um I'm not sure we see the national context a lot. I'll be honest with you right and what what's there? >> Can you tell me just a little more about the stakeholders? Which
013stakeholders are you referring to? >> Sure. So NCTTE is made up of those three groups that Susan shared, right? the higher ed one um institution member per uh the teachers represented and then the governance group which includes schoolboard members, administrators um I'm forgetting some other folks but district level administrators as well um on the governance side of things. So all of those folks we come together in those those committees right to talk about proposed rule changes, proposed guidance, proposed certification um that helps right strengthen teacher quality. >> Okay. And then can I ask one more thing? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. Yes, >> that's okay. Um I'm wondering um do you guys do like any kind of teacher surveys to feel to feel out how they're pre feeling prepared when they come out of our education
014preparation programs? >> Uh yes. Uh I think there was an administrator um survey actually that was sent to schools uh just last year. >> Okay. the where they gave feedback about how they are seeing the new teachers coming into the system, you know, for preparation. Do they have support? >> I'm kind of interested in learning because I know you're talking about science of reading if the push for science of reading in our college programs are helping our teachers feel more prepared to teach kids to read. That's that should that's like my priority in being here. So that's one of my biggest questions. Now >> I can speak to that a little bit. Yeah, that's okay. And I know again Jim and Brad could too. Um but each each year all of the firstear administrators and
015the candidates um who graduated from EPS in Nebraska and certified and took jobs uh receive a survey from the Nebraska Department of Education about their preparation >> um in including questions about science of reading, overall effectiveness, preparation in content, classroom, like the whole rubric worth of educator effectiveness. Um, and so those surveys go out every year and have for as long as I've been involved in teacher education in Nebraska. They also go to third-year teachers, so both first year and third year teachers. Um, and then the EPS get that information back. The state also compiles that data back on educator effectiveness from first and third year again from both the candidates and the um, principles or administrators who are supervising them. So yes, every year data is gathered on how they rate their teachers. And
016are you guys over the substitute teacher program too or is it just >> does that fall into your umbrella? Well, they've added that, you know, endorsement. Um, and I know from somebody who works in the system, um, uh, our we have had, um, for example, a par profofessional who, you know, used the alternative pathways to become a classroom teacher. That's just happened in the last couple of years. And um with a substitute uh I know that we have teachers that um have entered our system as substitute teachers have worked into maybe a paraprofessional role and now are working on certification. So those alternative pathways are important and I do think um encourage people to enter the teaching profession. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for the question. Um, are there any other questions, >>
017Sherry? >> Yes, I do. And first of all, Oh, yeah. Thank you, Susan, for being here. I appreciate that. And I guess I just want to say that it is my hope that the members of the um executive committee of NCTTE will do what they can to bring about a more inclusive teacher membership and specifically the inclusion of non-public school teachers and teachers not belonging to the union in its 16 teacher roster. And I believe this can be accomplished through the current organizational policies if you so choose. So I would I would appreciate some effort in that part. So thank you. >> That is on our agenda for our next meeting to review that policy. >> Any other board member questions or comments? >> Thank you for coming today. >> All right. I appreciate that.
018Thank you. Agenda item 2.2. Kristen, would you please read the resolution? Yes. This is a resolution for attendance awareness month, Nebraska everyday counts. Whereas the mission of the Nebraska Department of Education is to lead and support the preparation of all Nebraskans for learning, earning, and living. Whereas chronic absence, missing 10% of time in membership, including excused, unexcused, and out of school disciplinary incidences, is a leading indicator and cause of disproportionate educational opportunities. Whereas rates of chronic absenteeism have dramatically increased since 2020, whereas last year over 65,000 Nebraska students or 21% were chronically absent from school. Whereas a study of attendance and achievement data of Nebraska students illustrates negative academic effects for students after only five days of absence. Whereas students who improve their attendance rates improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating. Whereas the
019state board of education recognizes the importance of chronic absenteeism reduction as a measure of success for their legislative priority focused on student, family, school, and community engagement. Whereas the Nebraska Department of Education declared its commitment to having have having cutting in half chronic absenteeism by 2030. Whereas the Nebraska Department of Education has included reduction in chronic absenteeism in Aquest, the state's accountability and support system. Whereas some barriers to student attendance may include lack of access to health care resources, unreliable transportation, low student engagement, bullying, and mobility. Whereas schools and communities can work together to better understand the root causes of poor attendance. And whereas chronic absentee chronic absence can be significantly reduced with when parents, families, community and comm community communities and community partners work together to monitor and promote attendance and address barriers to
020regular school attendance. Now therefore be it resolved that the state board of education hereby proclaims that regular and consistent attendance matters to our state and students. Resolved that the state board of education believes state policymakers and each school district must put a concerted effort to reduce chronic absenteeism. Resolved that the state board of education joins stakeholders around the country in recognizing September as attendance awareness month with the campaign Nebraska everyday counts. resolved that the Nebraska Department of Education will provideformational resources to assist families, schools, and communities to reduce chronic absenteeism and resolved that the state board of education encourages local boards of education to commit to and establish goals and strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism in their district. Signed on behalf of the Nebraska State Board of Education, this fifth day of September, 2025. Thank
021you, Sher. Do you have a motion to adopt the resolution? >> I do, Madam Chair. I move to adopt the resolution to recognize September as attendance awareness month and commence the Nebraska Everyday Counts Campaign. >> Second. It is moved and seconded to adopt the resolution to recognize September as attendance awareness month and commence the Nebraska Everyday Counts Campaign. Is there any discussion on this motion? Um, well, I will just add that I think that this is a a an appropriate motion at the beginning of our of our school year to have a resolution about attendance. We know that kids can't learn if they're not in school. And I also appreciate the fact that this is one of our board priorities is addressing it. And I'm thankful for the work that that we saw our staff
022doing yesterday in helping guide our strategic plan to include this. And so while we can't we as state board members can't drive to students houses and pick them up, we certainly um can establish policies and um different things at our level to help encourage schools in attendance. So looking forward to seeing that chronic absenteeism reduced just a little bit, we hope every year. So, the motion is to adopt the resolution to recognize September as attendance awareness month and commence the Nebraska Everyday Counts campaign. Would the recording secretary please call the role? >> Rener, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Christensen, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Tagm, >> yes. >> Penner, >> yes. Mary Shonhoff. >> Yes. >> Seven yes, one absent. >> The affirmative has it and the resolution is adopted. Item
023three, the next item is commissioner's report. Commissioner Maher, please provide your report. >> Thank you. First of all, there are no items that have been identified to be removed from the consent agenda. If board members wish to remove any items from the consent agenda, please fill out the form at this time. Any items that are removed from the consent agenda will be taken up under additional business. Well, good morning board members and anybody who is uh listening to us today. By now, all of our schools are in session and I'm happy with what I'm hearing occurring uh across the state. I've greatly enjoyed seeing the many back- to-school pictures and also hearing the marching band in the morning as we as we come into the NDE offices. Just a reminder that school has started and
024so have fall activities. Also at the agency this year, we've been busy and in terms of getting back into the swing of the school year and I want to share a few brief updates from the agency. First, since the last time we met, the Department of Education hosted our first school financing review commission meeting. We had a great first meeting in this room, including the organization of the commission. An important agenda item included providing some context around the history of school finance. Um both um former deputy commissioner H Hallstead and Bryce Wilson did a a nice job of presenting in that regard and it really have talked about how we've gotten to where we are with school financing. You can find a recording and the materials from that meeting on the Department of Education website
025if you so choose. The consensus of the first meeting was to have the group meet monthly as we prepare for the commission's first legislative report which is due December 1st of this year. So our next convening of the group will be on September 22nd right here again uh in this room. There's a there's a a lot to get done if we want to have any real meaning in that in that first report. And I would tell you that there is a sense of urgency that I felt and that the evidence of having more meetings than were required to have indicates. Next, on the literacy front, we've been pleased with the implementation we're seeing in the field. As I shared in my report last month, we're seeing early indications that the work thus far is having
026positive impact on literacy outcomes. And I think um as time goes by, that's going to become more and more obvious. One of my concerns has been the long-term sustainability of our of the work we're doing in this area. Several of the funding sources that are currently in use have an expiration date. And uh believe it or not, th those time just keeps clicking away on those things. So, we need to continue to think through the long-term impact of our collective e efforts and talk about a word that I think some people are tired of me talking about and that is sustainability of the of the effort. How do we make sure that once we uh do improve those literacy outcomes that those outcomes are sustainable for long into the future? And in that regard, I
027received a little homework at the last board meeting from board chair Tegmire saying, "You need to find a book for us all to read and for us all to kind of rally around that is basic enough for everybody to understand." I think she meant me. Um, >> maybe maybe you as well. >> I think that's great. Yeah, it's a Yeah, required reading curve. >> Hey, this is this is my report. [Laughter] >> Immunity. >> Yeah, immunity. So, the so the uh the the challenge was accepted and I don't know if I got the perfect book for us, but I got but I got a book that I think really um meets the the challenge as presented. And I believe this book to be a good basis for us all to read. will get a copy
028for all of you. And the book is called Mighty Moves. It is a researchbacked classroom tested strategies to ensure K23 reading success. It's by Lindseay Kimy. And I and I know that it is used in at least one of our EP um by one of our EPS, maybe multiple, but I know for sure it's used by at least one. So, uh uh the challenge was accepted. I have brought this I have brought this book. We'll put a book in all of your hands. And u if I say this again for me it's an easy read. That concludes my report. >> All right. Any questions or comments for the commissioner? >> I I think there's colored pictures in this book, Kirk. So, we know not everybody enjoys reading, but thank you. That's that's exciting. and hopefully
029um other member members of the public um post-secondary educators just everyone can kind of it's kind of like the the one book one Nebraska you know I I see that as we can all sort of grasp onto the same vision for literacy so thank you for doing that there is no president's report that was it that was my president's report thank you Okay. All right. >> Right. We we don't have anyone signed up at this time for public comment there. Um submitted written public comments are attached in the electric meeting agenda for the board and the public to review. So item six, consent agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> I move to adopt the consent agenda. >> Second. >> It is moved and seconded to adopt the consent agenda. Per
030board policy, there is no discussion on the motion to adopt the consent agenda. Would the recording secretary please call the role? Shonhof, >> yes. >> Ner Christensen, >> yes. >> Rener, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Penner, >> yes. >> Tagmire, >> yes. >> Seven, yes. One absent. >> The affirmative has it and the consent agenda is adopted. Next item of business are reports from the standing committees. I will report on behalf of the executive committee meeting. The executive committee reports on its September 4th, 2025 meeting. Members present were chair Elizabeth Tigm, vice chair Deb Ner, Sher Jones, and Liz Rener. The committee reviewed four information items. First, NDE staff provided the committee with a presentation and update on the strategic planning process in preparation for the afternoon work session.
031Second, the committee reviewed potential board bylaw and policy revisions as recommended by NDE staff. The committee will continue discussion on this topic at future meetings. Next, the committee received notification of upcoming vacancies on the state rehabilitation council. Finally, the committee reviewed the recommendation of an appointment to the Nebraska assist of technology partnership advisory council. This item appeared on the consent agenda for approval. This concludes the executive committee report. Elizabeth Tgmire, chair. Are there any questions on the executive committee report? Okay. Item 7.2. Chair Kristen Christensen will report on behalf of the budget and finance committee meeting. The budget and finance committee reports that at its Thursday, September 4th meeting, members present were Kristen Christensen, Maggie Douglas, Kirk Penner, and Lisa Shonhoff. The committee reviewed four action items. The first item reviewed was for potential contracts
032using the improvement grant funds. The committee is recommending no action on this item. The second action item reviewed was for a contract with Bailey Education Group for work on the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network. The committee recommends approval of this item. Next, the committee reviewed the proposed Mckin Vento grant allocations for support of homeless students. The committee recommends approval of this item. The last action item reviewed was for contracts related to the statewide longitudinal data system grant. The committee recommends approval of this item as well. The committee then reviewed two discussion items, including board member travel expenses, noting no concerns. The other discussion item reviewed was the proposed deficit budget request, which will be an action item in October. Last, the committee reviewed four information items, including an update on the comprehensive literacy state development grant,
033the Nebraska literacy data dashboard, and a potential contract for its development, a proposed contract for a program quality anchor for early childhood and potential contracts for work on the early childhood integrated data system. This concludes the budget and finance committee report. Kristen Christensen, chair. Any questions on the reports? Okay. Are there any questions on the reports in item 7.2? Hey, 7.2.B. [Music] The committee recommends no action on this item. Item 7.2 C. Is there a motion on this item? >> Yes. I move to authorize the commissioner to approve the contract for the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network. >> Second. >> It is moved and seconded to authorize the commissioner to approve the contract for the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network. Is there any discussion on this motion, Lisa? just to let the public be aware that this
034one is one that I'm looking forward to um seeing throughout their work. It's uh basically one one of the most important things I think we're doing in the state is training our administrators in literacy instruction. And I think that's one of the best things we can do to support our teachers with teaching literacy. So, I'm excited about this one. >> Yeah, Liz. Um I am sure this was discussed in committee but I just want to say it out loud uh for everybody that this is a really significant investment. It's exciting and I hope that there is um going to be reporting along the way to account for that $4.5 million or wherever it lands. um because this was uh not in our regular budget and I just want to make sure that we're we're tracking
035how we do with this this gift. >> Can I respond to that? >> Yes, >> we did talk about that in committee yesterday. Um the plan that from what I understand is that there will be regular monthly reports kind of on the same schedule as the CLSD grant. Um, and at the beginning it'll be activity based and then as we move further into the project it'll be more outcomesbased. So we should we should be seeing things regularly. >> That's awesome. Love it. Thank you. >> Hi Dave president >> one one comment. Is there a comment? >> Yeah I have a question so you can give your comment. Yeah. >> Well which is my comment. When researching the Bailey education group, I saw that they had deep connections to Mississippi and so I think we all
036most of us have knowledge about the Mississippi miracle and all they've done with reading. So that gave me some encouragement that they're coming from Mississippi. >> Um so that's just a common in my research that I found. >> Excellent. Yes, we we are not piloting anything. We want we want proven strategies and techniques that we know will will raise those literacy scores. I do have a question and maybe a committee member. I'm not sure if I need to ask a committee member or a staff, but it is $4.5 million and I know that this was a grant given to us, not from our um budget that that we receive from state funds. Um so it's $4.5 million. And my question is how many administrators are going through this each year? That was not something we
037discussed in committee. So that'd be a good question. >> So that would be a question for >> Okay. Is could Lane come forward? >> As you get seated. So my question is, how many administrators are we looking for um being going through this program each year? >> Good morning, Lane Carr. in our commissioner's office. It's a great question and it's something that we asked um uh our vendor here on what we think would be possible, right? Especially as we're starting midway early in this semester. So, in our design of the grant as we were applying, we had intended on there to be 75 uh liters per year, but we want to be working and negotiable in that um with with this first year especially. So, so you're thinking that um 75 each year, like different
038ones, >> a cohort of leaders? >> Because I'm, you know, I mean, I'm not I wasn't an old math teacher, but I have a calculator. And 4.5 million and only 75 people going through, that's $60,000 a year spent on each participant. And to me, that's a big price tag. uh we can pay for an entire college education for somebody. This is an alarming number to me if we can only if our capacity is at 75 people. >> So what I would say is it's 75 people and then the plan is a cohort, right? So it'd be 75 people in the first year. We add 75 and those first 75 continue in that uh in that. So it'd be 150 and then ultimately on and on from that. So it's a huge investment. We agree. And
039it's really intensive supports. And I think that that's what's important about this is that it's um not only helping our leaders uh gain those skills, but then on the job coaching, intensive coaching with them. Well, I guess I mean I I guess as you know, like this part of our job is kind of be the fiscal hawks. And so, um I think it's really important that that we receive evidence that that this is starting to improve student proficiency in literacy because if it's not, then we are going to need to really re-examine this program. um each year to see if if this isn't moving the dial at $60,000 a person. Um we may need to to change direction. Uh nobody wants to squander $4.5 million a year when so much is at stake for our
040kids' futures. >> Madam President, >> could we could we clear that up just a little bit? And what Lane is saying is not inaccurate, but I'd like to give a little more of a complete picture as to what what that would look like. And I'd ask Dr. Ford to to mention that. Yeah. >> Good morning. I'm Ryan for I've been working with Lane on this project. And so what Lane shared is is true is that in the initial application to the Sherwood Foundation when we proposed uh the project it was for 75 leaders and with this vendor what they proposed was um for up to I'm going to say 89 schools with four people in a school and the a and the cost per school in that was either 33 or $36,000 and that includes
041all of their expenses related to that. So the proposal from the vendor costed out at um 89 schools at a either maybe it's 36,000 per school is at about 2.9 million. We are asking here for board approval for up to 4.5 million so that we've got some flexibility as we work in negotiation with the vendor if for example they are able to serve more than the 89 schools in their original proposal. But we would take that at the costing that they put in their proposal per school. Now you might be asking why 4.5 million. When we wrote the grant, uh, the grant was for five million a year and what we asked for in that grant was 4.5 million per year for activities like this. And so this gives some flexibility with this vendor up
042to 4.5 million if we do not contract with them for that much because they are not able to support that many schools. any contract under this program would come back to you for approval. >> So just so I understand because I'm not on I don't sit on this committee and I I miss out on those conversations. So just so that I understand so we've got so we'll have 89 schools that are going through this and four people per school. So 356 this first year or for all five years? >> This is for a one-year contract. >> Okay. So So we could actually be training instead of just 75 people 356. >> Correct. >> Okay. Well, that does bring the number down a little bit more reasonably, but we'll still be keeping our eye on you.
043Any other questions or comments? All right. Yes, Lisa. >> Okay. One thing I forgot to ask, how are the schools being chosen? >> Great question. So, uh, as Dr. stav is coming on board with this project and our literacy officer is coming on board with this project. Um we will be working internally um across the agency to determine um a coalition of the willing I'll say um and also maybe reaching out to some schools that we might know would be willing partners in that. >> Great. No other questions. The motion is to authorize the commissioner to approve the contract for the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network. Would the recording secretary please call the role? >> Rener, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Christensen, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Teagmier, >> yes. >> Penner,
044>> yes. Ner Shonhoff. >> Yes. >> Seven. Yes. One absent. >> The affirmative has it and the motion to authorize the commissioner to approve the contract for the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network is adopted. Is there a motion on item 7.2D? >> Yes. I move to authorize the commissioner to approve the Mckin Vento grants for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Second. It is moved and seconded to authorize the commissioner to approve the McKenna Vento grants for the 2025 2026 school year. Is there any discussion on the motion? Well, I have a question and it may not committee members can start and we'll see if we need to have a question for staff because this is the third this is my third year on the board. So, the third time that I've been voting to approve
045this grant. Um my question I'm just wondering how are these funds used exactly and how how is how are we measuring student success? What are the metrics on this? >> I can answer the first question. Okay. >> The second one um maybe might defer to someone else. The first question um how they're used from what our discussion included yesterday. It was kind of two main functions. The first one was a liaison um in the district or in the school that only supports homeless students and helping them and their family to find additional resources to help remove barriers to getting them to school. Um whether that be um helping them sign up for SNAP or WIC or um additional community resources that might alleviate some of their stress. And the second bucket was transportation um reliable
046transportation to get them to school as often as possible. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. So, yes. So, my question then is because the rationale that we received says that this is a grant process to promote the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth. Um, and I'm not sure who this who this falls under. Um, >> would be Beth. All right. Could you come forward and help me um with my second question, which is how are we measuring student success? What are the metrics that we're using to determine if if we're helping and we're seeing kids succeed? I'm curious about that. >> Yes. Good morning. I'm Ann Carney. I'm the McKinost state coordinator. Um the schools, they use uh a variety of ways to measure the success of the the grant funds. Um, one
047of the biggest ones they use is attendance. So, a lot of the kids who are experiencing homelessness also experience chronic absenteeism. And so, they use attendance rates um to really help measure whether or not that especially when it comes to the transportation component because that is a large uh component of the grant that a lot of districts use is are the kids getting to school? Uh, because that tends to be their number one barrier. They also on higher grades they look at graduation rates um just grades, behavior referrals, uh and then that all ties into their comprehensive needs assessment that they do with their school improvement plan or their continuous improvement plan. >> And so when because some of the districts I' I've noticed are are consistently on the list every year for for receiving
048this grant. Um do they have to show you know, are they having to prove that they are um seeing success in order to receive this grant in consecutive years? I I know we approve it every year, but but if we see a school district that is not maybe they're they aren't seeing success with these funds, does that factor into whether they receive it the next year or in subsequent? >> It does. So, there is a component in the grant that uh where they have to explain how they evaluate the use of the funds. um that is scored within our rubric of the grant since it is a competitive grant. Um that when they use that, so it also goes into identification and then excuse me, if we're seeing that the use of funds, like if
049they if they're not having a very good explanation and they're not scoring very well on that and in their evaluation of the use of funds, it could then lead to them getting a lower score when we when we grade it and then they wouldn't receive as many as much money. And so were there districts that were turned away for these funds this year? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, not this year. We had two new districts apply. Um we had Columbus public schools and Garing public schools apply. Uh and they after some professional development we did with them last year, they realized they were under identifying and so they were able to apply this year and get some funds. >> Okay. >> So since in the competitive grant, everybody got something. >> Okay. Great. Thank
050you for your explanation. Any other questions? And then could you reiterate they have the school districts have to match with their title one funds. >> Correct. So all the the numbers that you that were presented to you the those will actually double into the the pot of money that they have the district has to spend for Mckin Vento because under title 1A they have to match those funds. So if they were awarded $20,000 with Mckin Vento then they have to match those funds $20,000 or more in title one. >> I did not know that. Thank you. That's great. Any other questions or comments? >> Thank you. >> The motion is to authorize the commissioner to approve the McKini Vento grants for the 2025 2026 school year. Would the recording secretary please call the role? >>
051Christensen, >> yes. >> Ner Jones, >> yes. >> Rener, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. Shonhoff, >> yes. >> Doug Meyer, >> yes. >> Penner, >> yes. >> Seven, yes, one absent. >> The affirmative has it and the motion to authorize the commissioner to approve the McKini Vento grants for the 2526 school year is adopted. Is there a motion on item 7.2e? >> Yes. I move to authorize the commissioner to approve contracts for SLDS grant activities. Second is moved and seconded to authorize the commissioner to approve contracts for the SLDS grant activities. Is there any discussion on the motion? Lisa? Um yes, this is one that I did quite a bit of research on. Um as we as technology advances so quickly, it's one that I I feel alarmed about. And so I did a
052lot of digging in and trying to figure out everything that I could about it. And one of the things that I had noticed is that our data access and use policy and procedures including research and evaluations um manual for the for the uh NDE is dated back to 2013. And so one of the things that I did was I reached out to our um our officer, our information systems officer, Kristen, and she said that she's on it. She they're working on updating it and um making sure that it reflects current technology and where we're at. I mean, with it growing so quickly, we really do need to be cognizant of student data and student privacy. And so would you mind uh Kristen, is that okay, President, if um Kristen comes up and talks about her
053work with this manual? >> Yes, that that is fine. >> And I actually have two questions for her. So >> awesome. Kristen, do you mind coming up on here? Oh, there we go. Kristen Yates, information systems officer. Do you have a specific question that you wanted to talk about? >> I think um if you could kind of just reiterate what we talked about yesterday with the grants and then also um the work that you're currently doing with the manual. >> Yeah. So, um the work that we're currently doing with the manual is updating it. The major federal statute that protects student data and how we share it and how we use it both internally and externally is furpa uh which has a very attractive name. Um, we talked a little bit yesterday about the the
054situations in which we would potentially share data out of the SLDS uh data warehouse and basically out of Furpa, those are four main areas for research which would go through our research review board and be approved before we decided to sign on. research done on our behalf about things that we are interested in. Evaluation of our internal programs. Um in situations where um somebody's subcontracting out uh a function they would usually do like say they uh a bunch of schools in an ESU want the ESU to build them a dashboard. with their permission, we might uh release data from those schools who had consented to that uh to uh build that dashboard because it's more efficient for one person to do it. Um I think that you're absolutely right about the amount of change in
055in privacy issues and security. Um we are revising uh what is a dated document. It I do think it covers the major points of furpa which is a sort of our guiding light for uh privacy and security uh stuff. Uh feds don't often update that either and they probably should for the point reasons that you point out. The world is changing very rapidly. The intention with the update and we've already started on some uh parts of it is to uh make more clear that the the measures that we take to protect data even if it's aggregated data like on our website uh which involve um not showing any cells that are below 10 in size. Um, also I think we're going to hit a little little heavier on the privacy side of things. Um, you
056sort of have security, which is protecting the data, making sure nobody gets it, making sure nobody hacks us, and then there's privacy, which is us taking a lot of care in making sure that we never disclose individual identities of students. Um, so information about students is a privacy uh issue. Can I ask a follow-up question real quick then? Okay. Um, so, so you said one of the functions that occurs sometimes is subcontracting work and so do the private companies receive personally identifiable information on students. Do they have access to that? >> It would depend on the work. So that particular FURPA exemption is for schools who are subcontracting work that the A would ordinarily do themselves. So it really is limited to a situation. Sometimes it's easier for us to wrangle um data for small
057schools than it is for them to wrangle it themselves because we collect a certain data set every year um and we have that consistently. if they would come to us and say, "Hey, in writing, we give our permission for you to share this data with the ESUs because they're going to work on making us a dashboard." That's a that's a furpa permissionable situation for releasing data. The basic fura rule is you don't release data without consent. >> So, >> right. So, so my question is then are parents notified that their child's personally identifiable data is being released? Do do parent I mean because to me the school is not the guardian of the child's furpa. The parent is the guardian of the child's furpa. So do parents receive notification and are they able to opt
058out of having their child's data released? Y >> I mean because you know like the the internet is just this great big you know you release it out there anyone can >> use it and access it and that's my question is the school's not the final say so the parent is >> so under FURPA the school as the local education agency for that series of data that they collect which they should disclose every year um what data they collect what they use it for what their directory information is for that administrative data, the school is under FERA allowed to disclose it without individually asking permission from parents. What the right you do have under FURPA um as a parent is to go in any time and look and see what's in your kid's record and
059look and see what data there is. Another right you have as a parent under FURba is to uh say hey I don't want my students directory information disclosed. Um directory information is generally sort of um more benign demographic data like so and so is on the soccer team and is in ninth grade and got a national scholar merit scholarship. Um, but every school district has to define what's in their directory data and what they release. Um, and you can opt out of that as a parent. There is no omnibus law at the federal or state level that allows you to say for administrative data that a school collects, hey, you can release A, B, and C, but not D, E, and F. I get your concern. I think the law has not caught up with
060that. Um, I think the same it it probably is not going to make you feel any better. I think the same thing happens with regard to grown-ups all the time. The law has not caught up to how entities share your data. If you sign up for a newsletter or a website, they're sharing your data, right? And law is not caught up to being able to pull that back. Wow. >> Right. So, yeah, I just Yeah. Kirk, >> can they opt in instead of opting out? Can we change that language? >> Um, can they opt into sharing of >> you? The parent instead of opting out, which opting out is pretty soft. I mean, if you're going to talk to the parent, say, "Hey, please share my information with everybody in the world." They need to
061be able to opt in, not opt out. Opt out is soft. >> Yeah. So, um, purpose literal language allows you to opt out of the sharing of directory information, and that's a federal statute that covers data privacy. Um, as far as administrative data, there there is no federal law or state law um that allows you to say you can collect this data on my student or you can not collect this data on my student. One thing that's one federal law that does sort of touch on that, but it's it's mostly related to surveys is the PP, and I don't know if you did any research on that. um that that has to do with schools doing surveys and there are there's a list of topics that if you're going to survey on that topic, you
062have to have parental consent in order to do that survey. >> Very aware of the surveys in the state of Nebraska. So yes, >> so that's um one of the things that you can opt out of, but you have to know to opt out of it as a parent. Um, and when when we're talking about FURPA, um, to go back to your question too, there I don't think the general public really understands that there are nine permitted disclosures that they can they can share your child's information. And so when you're saying the law hasn't caught up with the technology, I think you're spot on. And I think that as um the Nebraska Department of Education, it's our duty to our constituents to make sure that we have the policies in place. And that's why I
063think this document is going to be extremely important because we have administrators telling parents now that we can't opt our kids out of programs like securely. And I think that's going to that could be detrimental. I mean, I I don't know all the details on it, but I do think that as you're saying, Elizabeth, parents are parents need to have the right to make sure that they know what what information is being shared and how because when you contract with third parties, it's it's a free-for-all. So, this is not a partisan issue. This is for every single constituent in our state to be aware of. So, one more follow-up question. How long do we at the Department of Education keep the personally identifiable data? >> So, because we are the state educational authority, we have
064personally identifiable data on students going back to 2008. Um, because we frequently have a need to have longitudinal data analyses of what has happened over time. and and just just because that's a lot of information on a lot of students and now you know they're adults. >> Um what systems do we have in place to prevent hackers? Like what what is our security on that? Because obviously it's all stored digital digitally. Yeah, it is fully fully secured just like every other digital asset that we have in the department. There's limited access to that data. Like if the commissioner tomorrow says, "Hey, you know, I want to dig around in the student data system because I think it'd be super interesting." I'm I probably much to his dismay, I'm going to look at him very seriously
065and say, "Well, you know, tell me your business need for this. Why what what's your educational need to know about this data? So we enforce that even in our own department. >> So the servers that these are kept on >> Yep. >> are they are they connected are to the internet they can be accessed or are they only able to access from a system here in in this within the government. >> I would have to get to board to explain the the really detailed in intricacies of this. We do house uh some servers here, but we house the majority of our servers at the OCIO's uh closed and locked facilities. >> Well, I'm I'm less concerned about like the actual physical um Yeah. >> locked on the door. >> Yes. >> Because we know that
066that information is um I mean it's valuable and and it's accessed through the internet. So that was my question is are these servers connected to the internet or is this a closed system that's only >> um accessed through >> they are connected to the internet because some of them are not on premises so they have to be but but that data is secured both when it's in the server and when it's traveling through the internet. Well, I just wanted to know because you know we just this last year had a very big issue. Yes. With our schools um having their I which system is >> power school. I knew I knew it wasn't the one that was at my local school. Yeah. The power school was hacked and all that >> information of students was
067stolen. Yep. >> So, okay. Well, I I look forward to the revisions of ours and finding more ways because >> Yeah. >> It's a brave new world we're living in. It it is. >> I I just have a simple procedural question. >> Sure. >> So, how often is the manual that you're updating reviewed? If it's been 12 years, is there a regular cycle for review? >> There has not been a regular cycle for review. There's a regular cycle of review for rules. Um we are in the in the process of updating all of our internal policies and that is part of those internal policies. They need everything needs to be updated more frequently. >> So so one more question. >> Sure. >> Um so it it's actually twofold. So would are schools required to notify
068students or parents if that students data has been hacked? the systems been. >> That's an it depends question. Um Nebraska does have a data notification statute um that requires notification if certain combinations of data um are released in a breach. Um it is not specific to student data. So a lot of it's it's actually more specific to financial data. Um so like if your name and your social security number are released together um that that triggers that statute if your bank account number and your PIN number are released together. Um so one thing I'll note sort of to that first point about your name and social security number. Uh we don't collect student social security numbers here. Um, >> yeah, >> it's just it's you don't need them and it's not worth the risk to
069my mind. >> So then, do we currently have a policy that if if our system data was breached and and people's information back to 2008 was accessed, will we be notifying people? I mean, do we currently have that? And is that something if we don't have it that you would be including in the new manual? Uh that's also an it depends question. Um because like what you notify people about is based generally speaking on federal or state law. Um and it would depend on what had been breached. >> Okay. Kirk, >> so are how do we know our schools are compliant with FERPA? is that >> um they give an assurance to the US Department of Ed every year when they publish their um furpa notice that they are complying with FURPA. >> Any more
070questions? >> Great discussion. Thank you Kristen for answering them. Yeah, I think these are really important topics as >> I agree. >> Yeah. So, the motion is to authorize the commissioner to approve contracts for the SLDS grant activities. Would the recording secretary please call the role? >> Jones, >> yes. >> Ner Rener, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Penner, >> yes. >> Christensen, >> yes. >> Shonhoff, >> yes. >> Tagmire, >> yes. Seven yes, one absent. >> The affirmative has it and the motion to authorize the commissioner to approve contracts for the SLDS grant activities is adopted. Agenda item 7.2 is the 2025 2026 deficit budget request. Board members, are there any questions or discussion on this item? Item 7.3. Chair Lisa Schwanhoff will report on behalf of the planning and evaluation committee meeting.
071The date was September 4th, 2025. The planning and evaluation committee reports on their committee meeting. I don't know why I always do that. Repeat that. Stop putting that part on the top, please. Uh meeting on September 4th, 2025. The members present were Lisa Shonhoff, Sherry Jones, Deborah Neri, and Kristen Christensen. The committee discussed two action items related to the approval of rule 11, teacher waiver requests, and the pilot process for clinical practice. The committee recommends board approval on these items. The committee reviewed a discussion item with NDE staff providing summaries and answering questions related to subject area exams and passing scores for temporary certificates. The committee reviewed a consent agenda item related to the appointment of individuals to fill vacancies on the special education advisory council. The committee also reviewedformational items related to the accountability
072system process update, the community achievement plan process and timeline, the assessment and reporting plan and assessment technical report. the statewide assessment contract for high school and the social studies standards review. NDE staff will bring these items to a future meeting for discussion and subsequent approval where appropriate. This concludes the planning and evaluation report. I'm Lisa Shonhoff, the chair. Are there any questions on the planning and evaluation committee report? Is there a motion on item 7.3. A >> I move to approve the rule 11 teacher waiver request from Bloomfield Stapleton and um H home nation public schools. Second. It is moved and seconded to approve the rule 11 teacher waiver request from Bloomfield Stapleton and um Han Nation public schools. Is there any discussion on the motion? The motion is to approve the rule 11 teacher
073waiver request from Bloomfield Stapleton and um Han Nation Public Schools. Would the recording secretary please call the role? >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Penner, >> yes. >> Teagmier, >> yes. >> Ner Christensen, >> yes. >> Rener, >> yes. Jones, >> yes. >> Shonhoff, >> yes. >> Seven, yes. One absent. >> The affirmative has it. And the motion to approve the rule 11 teacher waiver request from Bloomfield, Stapleton, and Umean Han Nation Public Schools is adopted. Is there a motion on item 7.3B? >> Yes. I move to approve the pilot process for clinical practice at the University of Nebraska, Carney. Second. It is moved and seconded to approve the pilot process for clinical practice at the University of Nebraska Carney. Is there any discussion on the motion? >> Sherry? >> Yes, President Taggmar, I'd like to
074just offer some information and some questions that I had as I worked through this certain proposal. And just for the benefit of the public and board members, in June of 2024, a revision to rule 20 went into effect which allows for educator preparation programs to submit requests to the board for pilot programs or processes that would allow flexibility to one or more regulations found in rule 20. Within the last year, we've had several such requests which we have granted dealing with school counseling program, maybe school psych. I think I'm leaving one out. Um but we have we have granted those. This particular request would allow early childhood inclusive teaching candidates to student teach in Head Start classrooms that are not in a formal partnership with an approved or accredited school, which is the current requirement.
075And so I learned that there are some Head Start programs that are in formal partnerships and some that are not. So that was a new a new learning for me. So my question my questions were is there currently a shortage of placement sites for early childhood student teachers. That was my question because there's 232 public schools that now have prek programs. So I was kind of surprised that we'd have a shortage. But I was this morning I received some information, some clarification which was helpful and that early childhood inclusive would include students with special needs. And so I realize now that not every preschool in our public schools would maybe be serving students with special needs. So that made sense to me. So Jim, thank you for that information you gave me this morning because
076initially um these rule these um requests pilot programs have been to benefit colleges and students in these colleges and I viewed this as I read the proposal. I feel one of the main purposes in this is to provide assistance to head start in addressing this workforce shortage and so that hasn't been a common thread in our other ones. It's usually to help the colleges and students directly but in this case we are assisting Head Start in addressing this workforce shortage. So I wasn't sure even though that is a beneficial result. I didn't know that that if that was an intent of the rule 20 revision. So that was my hesitancy um in that will this set a precedent resulting in other such early childhood programs requesting the same pilot program that are not in formal
077partnerships. That's just a question I had. So I do not plan to vote in opposition. um knowing that this is a three-year pilot program, so we can kind of see what comes about in these three years and there's no price tag attached. So that makes it more, you know, as a watching out for my constituency, but I did want to publicly state my wonderments and give more information about this. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments, Lisa? My request is that after the three years is up, when it comes back through, we have um a presentation on the metrics of success or lack thereof and um that it does not go right to the consent agenda. >> Um that's that raises an interesting question and I don't know if the commissioner knows or Dr.
078for um do would a pilot program that was conditionally approved would that go to the consent agenda in the future? >> That's a that I don't think so. >> Okay. Getting that >> we have a precedent for >> we have no precedent. Okay. So just just checking. I didn't know. All right. Any further questions or comments on this item? [Applause] The motion is to approve the pilot process for clinical practice at the University of Nebraska Carney. With the recording secretary, please call the role. >> Rener, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Christensen, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Teagmire, >> yes. >> Penner, >> yes. Ner Shonhoff. >> Yes. >> Seven yes, one absent. >> The affirmative has it in the motion to approve the pilot process for clinical practice at the University
079of Nebraska Carney is adopted. Item 7.3 C, subject area examination and passing scores for temporary certificates. Board members, are there any questions or discussion on this item? Item 7.4. Chair Maggie Douglas will report on behalf of the rules and regulations committee meeting. >> Sorry, I need to zoom in quick. Okay. The rules and regulations committee reports on the September 4th, 2025 meeting of the committee. Members present were chair Maggie Douglas, vice chair Liz Rener, Elizabeth Tgmier, and Kirk Penner. Committee members reviewed the report on rules and committee report. The committee reviewed revisions on rule 8, regulations for school finance and budgeting, state funding of educational service units and learning communities. The public hearing was held on August 18th, 2025. The committee, having no concerns, recommends approval. The committee reviewed revisions on rule 86, regulations and
080procedures for public school breakfast program reimbursement. The public hearing was held on August 18th, 2025. The committee, having no concerns, recommends approval. NDE staff provided information on revisions to rule 89 regulations and procedures to incentivize distance education. The committee recommends proceeding with a public hearing draft. NDE staff provided information on revisions to rule 51 special education program standards due to findings received from the federal office of special education programs. The committee reviewed the process and procedures to add an endorsement by passing a content test to a C teaching certificate. This concludes the rules and regulations committee report. Maggie Douglas, chair. >> Thank you, Maggie. Are there any questions on the rules and regulations committee report? Is there a motion on item 7.4B? I move to adopt proposed revision of rule eight. >> Second. It is
081moved and seconded to adopt the proposed revision of rule 8. Is there any discussion on the motion? The motion is to adopt the proposed revision of rule 8. Would the recording secretary please call the role? >> Shonhoff. Yes, >> Douglas. >> Yes, >> Tagmire. >> Yes, >> Jones. >> Yes, >> Christensen. >> Yes, >> Penner. >> Yes, >> Ner Rener. >> Yes. >> Seven. Yes. One absent. The affirmative has it. And the motion to adopt proposed revision of rule 8 is adopted. Is there a motion on item 7.4? 4. C. >> I move to approve and adopt proposed revision of rule 86. Second >> is moved and seconded to approve and adopt the proposed revision of rule 86. Is there any discussion on the motion? Motion is to approve and adopt the proposed revision of
082rule 86. Would the recording secretary please call the role? Teagmire, >> yes. >> Ner, >> yes. >> Christensen, >> yes. >> Rener, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Shonhoff, >> yes. >> Douglas, >> yes. >> Seven, yes. One absent. >> The affirmative has it and the motion to approve and adopt proposed revisions of rule 86 is adopted. The next items on the agenda, items 9.1 through 9.3 are information items and written reports for the board. Agenda item 10. This section of the agenda is intended for board members to offer informal observations of the work of the state board. Board members may make brief announcements about attendance at future events for the purpose of informing other board members. No business or motions or suggested actions of the board may be offered at this point in
083the agenda. Nor should board members engage in substantive discussion about other agenda items or introduce new agenda items. Kirk um you know when I was a teacher we used to call that packing panic. We're not quite done yet. You'll be out of here before the bell rings. Um just just um I do want to share with my fellow board members that I will be attending our MTSS summit in Carney next month which I guess won't me after I could have told you in October but I'm actually quite excited for it. So >> hope >> I am also going and I'm also very excited. So I'm glad you brought that up. >> Anybody else is anyone I'm just curious. I know I know it's a time commitment and it's the week right after our October board
084meeting. Um, but it's kind of fun to see what our what our teachers, administrators are learning about and so we get to go. All right. Anybody else or anybody other comments too? No pressure on the conference. Okay. Thank you to those who attended in person and who tuned into the broadcast. The next meetings of the state board of education are scheduled for October 2nd and 3rd, 2025. Note this in Fremont, Nebraska. The September 5th, 2025 state board meeting is adjourned.