This bill amends the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to introduce the Nebraska Promise Program and the College Promise Act, which aim to provide financial assistance to eligible students attending the University of Nebraska and community colleges or state colleges in Nebraska. The Nebraska Promise Program will cover undergraduate tuition costs for Nebraska residents with a family income of less than $65,000 per year, after federal financial aid is considered. The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska will administer this program. The College Promise Act allows eligible students to receive a waiver for 100% of resident tuition charges at community colleges or state colleges, provided they maintain certain academic standards.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the Quality Education Accountability Act, which mandates the State Board of Education to implement a statewide assessment system for student learning, introducing new requirements for national and career-readiness assessments starting in the 2025-26 school year. It also establishes a system to aggregate student data based on educational input characteristics and requires school districts to report individual student achievement and discipline data. Each school must appoint a discipline data coordinator, and the Department of Education will analyze and report on disparities in achievement and discipline. The act will take effect immediately upon passage, with certain sections becoming operative three months after the legislative session adjourns.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-760.03, 79-760.05