This bill amends the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to enhance educational opportunities for students under juvenile court jurisdiction by establishing a centralized education records system. The State Department of Education is mandated to create this system to ensure uninterrupted education services and timely sharing of academic records. It also requires the employment of registrars to maintain and analyze these records for potential credit awards. The Commissioner of Education is tasked with issuing high school diplomas to eligible students, and the costs associated with the records system and registrars will be funded through the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund.

Additionally, the bill modifies graduation requirements for public high school students by introducing mandatory courses in personal finance and computer science. It allows students under juvenile court jurisdiction to graduate without additional requirements if they were enrolled in a public high school or to receive a state high school diploma if they do not graduate from an accredited institution. The legislation also establishes a grant program funded by lottery funds to support educational initiatives, including the development of learning platforms in STEM subjects. The bill creates the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund, which will be used for both the grant program and the centralized education records system, while modifying the allocation of funds and repealing certain sections of existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-303.01, 79-729, 79-1054
Final Reading: 79-303.01, 79-729, 79-1054
Slip Law: 79-303.01, 79-729, 79-1054