This bill seeks to improve educational opportunities for students under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court in Nebraska by establishing a centralized education records system and modifying graduation requirements. The State Department of Education is required to create this system by October 1, 2023, ensuring that education services remain uninterrupted, records are shared efficiently, and credit hours for completed academic work are awarded. Registrars will be employed to maintain and analyze these records, while the Commissioner of Education will be responsible for issuing high school diplomas to eligible students. The costs associated with the centralized records system and registrars will be funded through the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund.

Additionally, the bill modifies graduation requirements for students under juvenile court jurisdiction, allowing them to graduate without additional requirements if they have been enrolled in a public high school. It also introduces new requirements for public high school students, including personal finance and computer science courses, and mandates the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to graduation. The bill establishes a grant program funded by lottery funds to support the development of learning platforms in chemistry, physical science, and mathematics, with the State Board of Education responsible for setting standards and prioritizing grant applications. Furthermore, the bill creates the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund, which will streamline funding processes by deleting specific percentages of fund allocations previously outlined.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-303.01, 79-729, 79-1054