Nebraska voters have rejected the use of public funds to pay for private schools. The new school voucher or scholarship program was voted down, with public dollars being directed towards public schools instead. Supporters of using state tax dollars to help cover the costs of a private K-12 education argued that families dissatisfied with public schools needed more options. However, supporters of public schools, including rural and urban areas, the Nebraska State Education Association, and private foundations supporting public schools, emerged victorious.
Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, expressed pride in the outcome, noting that both right- and left-leaning counties agreed that vouchers were not the right choice. He emphasized the consistency in the majority of Nebraskans opposing the use of public funds for private schools. Royers is hopeful that state senators will respect the voters’ decision and focus on other important education issues that teachers and parents can address together.
Opponents of the voucher program, such as Support Our Schools, warned that diverting public money towards private K-12 schools could jeopardize long-term support for public education. They cited examples from other states with voucher programs, like neighboring Iowa, where the national rankings of public schools have declined since the program was implemented. Critics argued that school choice programs often primarily benefit families who already choose private schools and could contribute to increased poverty concentrations in certain schools by drawing students away, who often serve as a stabilizing influence.