This bill seeks to improve funding for Nebraska school districts, particularly in response to the rising costs associated with students who have limited English proficiency. It introduces a new provision that allows districts with significant expenditures for these students to apply for payments from the Education Future Fund if their costs exceed $50,000 annually or 0.5% of their annual budget. Additionally, the bill modifies the calculation of the elementary site allowance, provides extra funding for districts with students under 504 plans, and updates the eligible uses of the Education Future Fund to include extraordinary expenditures related to limited English proficiency students.

Furthermore, the bill amends several sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to streamline the funding process and ensure timely distribution of state aid, including establishing new deadlines for state aid certification and repealing outdated certification processes. It also introduces a new subsection in Section 79-1142 that allows for reimbursement of additional costs for students receiving services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, effective in the 2025-26 school fiscal year. The bill emphasizes the need for adequate resources for all students, particularly those requiring special education services, and aims to enhance educational equity across the state while establishing a new operational timeline for its provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-1007.15, 79-1021, 79-1022, 79-1022.02, 79-1023, 79-1027, 79-1031.01, 79-1142