NSEA President Outlines 2025 Legislative Goals

The NSEA has laid out its 2025 state policy agenda in advance of the 2025 Legislative session. NSEA President Tim Royers talked with Steve Stein.

Challenges Facing Teachers, Students, and Public Education in 2025:
Nebraska's education system faces significant challenges, including a critical shortage of teachers in metro and rural areas as well as in specialized fields like special education and STEM. This shortage is worsened by teacher burnout, low salaries, and insufficient support. Teacher pay does not reflect the education, experience, and responsibilities required, creating a growing wage gap between educators and other professionals. Postsecondary educators also face low pay, job insecurity, and limited professional development. Teachers also deal with increasing pressure, administrative burdens, limited resources, and insufficient planning time. Special education programs are at capacity, and rural schools struggle with access to resources, transportation, and attracting qualified educators. These challenges highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to support educators and public education in Nebraska.

NSEA Legislative and Regulatory Priorities for 2025:
1. Improve Working Conditions: Ensure teachers have the resources, planning time, and administrative support necessary to create positive learning environments. Address burnout by reducing non-teaching duties and expanding support services.
2. Provide Paid Family Medical Leave: Establish a program that provides every Nebraska educator with six weeks of paid FMLA leave. 
3. Revise State Aid to Education Formula (TEEOSA): Convene experts and stakeholders to propose substantive changes to ensure equitable and sustainable funding for public education across Nebraska.
4. Increase Teacher Salaries and Retention Support: Advocate for retention grants for veteran educators. Simplify access to existing retention and recruitment grants for early-career educators by making them automatic, requiring no additional paperwork, to attract and retain top talent.
5. Strengthen Certification Pathways: Ensure all student teachers in Nebraska receive compensation for their time. Develop alternative pathways for gaining initial certification through district programs and training. 
6. Enhance Special Education Services: Secure additional special education funding, hire paraprofessionals, provide training, and acquire assistive technology to address growing student needs.
7. Strengthen Early Childhood Education: Expand access to early learning programs to ensure all children, regardless of background, are prepared for school.
8. Support Postsecondary Educators: Address issues of low pay, job insecurity, and limited professional development opportunities to maintain high-quality instruction in colleges and universities. 
9. Expand External Behavior Supports: Advocate for increased state funding for critical programs that operate outside of schools but are vital to supporting student needs.
10. Protect the Diversity of Educators and Students: Support equitable hiring, cultural competency, and inclusive policies to ensure all educators and students feel valued and empowered. In addition, build upon existing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.