Nebraskans this November will be able to vote on whether to keep the Opportunity Scholarships Act, which gives a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to people who contribute to private-school scholarship-granting organizations. However, pending legislation could render this vote meaningless when it comes to state-funded support of private schools.

LB 1402 would give private-school scholarship money directly to the SGOs, starting from $25 million and up to as much as $100 million annually over time.

Supporters of the referendum have said voters should have their say. This includes Dunixi Guereca, executive director of the group Stand for Schools, who said state support of private-school scholarships would especially harm rural communities.

"They love their schools, especially in greater Nebraska," he said. "And what these large-scale privatization measures will do is siphon money away from that. Because it's not profitable to open up a for-profit school in greater Nebraska; it's going to siphon money to Lincoln, to Omaha, to the detriment of our communities outstate."

He noted that 117,000 Nebraskans signed the referendum petition -- over 50,000 more than needed -- from all areas of the state and all political persuasions. Supporters of the Opportunity Scholarships Act have said it equalizes educational opportunities by allowing more families to pick the school they feel is best for their child.

Guereca said plenty can be learned from other states' experiences with state-funded private-school scholarship programs, including the growth of what he called "predatory schools."

"They're not going to prop up beautiful academies. They're going to go to a strip mall, they're going to put computers in, it's going to be Khan Academy with an administrator and teacher in the corner," he said. "Those schools aren't going to go up in Broken Bow, they're not going to go up in Chadron, they're not going to go up in Albion. It's going to be in Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island. And who's going to get hurt the most? Our rural communities."

Carol Burris, executive director of the nonprofit Network for Public Education, which has tracked the impact of publicly funded private-school scholarship and voucher programs for years, said it's likely state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, R-Elkhorn, introduced LB 1402 because she knows the history of this type of referendum.

"When they've actually gone to the point where there has been a referendum, every single time, vouchers have gone down," she said. "Every time they've gone up to a ballot, they've been rejected."

Burris said her group gave Nebraska "a bit of a pass" this year - ranking it fifth-best in its latest "Public Schooling in America" report - because the scholarship program is new and is facing repeal.

A Connecticut group is hosting an information clinic tomorrow about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program, known as FAFSA.

The Center for Latino Progress is hosting the session to help students access financial resources to attend college. Technical issues delayed FAFSA submission for many students this year and the application process can be overwhelming.

Naomi Arroyo, youth development specialist at the center, said one of the most important parts of the process is establishing a FAFSA ID.

"It takes three to five days for the FAFSA ID to be completed and that is practically the first step of the FAFSA process," Arroyo explained. "But it is not the FAFSA application. It is an identification code saying this is who I am, it has been verified by FAFSA, so that when you click in the actual application, you don't have to fill out all of the necessary personal information."

She noted those participating in the clinics should have their FAFSA ID prepared before attending. The clinic will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Center for Latino Progress' main offices on the second floor of 95-97 Park Street in Hartford.

While it is the first time the Center for Latino Progress has done such an event, Arroyo pointed out they have enough funding to do it again. She noted community feedback has been positive since having a guide for the FAFSA speeds up the process. Arroyo added aside from technical issues, tax questions on the FAFSA can create barriers for families.

"All those little tricky tax form questions can be a challenge if you're a student," Arroyo acknowledged. "Or, if you're a parent and you're not sure where to put that information, it can be a lot."

The clinic is also designed to help people fill out a physical FAFSA form if the online version gets too unruly. Arroyo said some parents might not be familiar with the FAFSA and are unaware of how much support for which their children can qualify. The hope is the clinic bolsters education access for students and the community.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

Grants to help students overcome financial hurdles to complete degrees and certificates in science, technology, engineering, and math fields are now available through the Last Mile Education Fund.

Ruthe Farmer, founder and CEO of the fund, said society has invested roughly $477,000 by the time an average STEM student reaches his or her junior year.

She said helping them make it to the finish line is a win-win.

"Because the best outcome for society is that person graduating, using that college degree and all their investment in time, to contribute," said Farmer. "If they don't graduate, and they're stuck with a bunch of debt and they'll never earn the amount of money they could have, we all lose."

Eight in ten students from low-income families don't complete their degrees - largely because of a lack of financial resources to weather life events, such as a broken-down car or unexpected medical expense.

Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than 8,000 cash grants, totaling nearly $9 million. Forty-two percent of grantees were Black, 20% Hispanic, and 53% women.

Farmer encourages students to fill out an application online at 'lastmile-ed.org.'

"We have a listing there of all of the types of grants that we offer," said Farmer. "But it's not up to the student to have to figure all of that out. Just tell us who you are, complete the application, and we're going to find every dollar that we have available that matches with you."

STEM graduates earn on average $43,000 more per year than non-graduates, and more than twice as much as non-graduates over their lifetime.

Farmer said investing in students also boosts Colorado's economy.

"Because what we need is qualified workers in technology that are contributing to the innovation economy," said Farmer. "Especially in Colorado, that's a big part of our economy."

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




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It is back-to-school time, and health experts are offering tips about improving children's physical and mental well-being.

The advice comes amid a recent global increase in anxiety and other behavioral health issues among kids. In Virginia, about one in five children have had a major depressive episode, according to a 2023 report.

Dr. Tierra Oseji, a pediatrician for Permanente Medicine, said social media use is a major factor in these trends and suggests finding ways to limit the time kids spend using it.

"The use of screen is a privilege and it's not a default," Oseji asserted. "It should be considered after chores are done. After family time has occurred over dinner. After we've done outdoor play."

For children aged 13-17, 95% report using some form of social media. Oseji also suggested deactivating apps while learning and using parental control locks to limit screen time. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has asked Virginia school districts to look for ways to restrict cellphones in classrooms.

Beyond screen time, experts said it is important to keep up with nutrition, dental hygiene and physical checkups.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said having a routine like a good night's sleep and a sit-down meal can be beneficial.

"All of those things around consistency help your child feel more confident and secure and stable and also promote their health," Randall explained.

She suggested booking health checkups soon, as physicians are often busy this time of year. Virginia faces a shortage of doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and other health care workers.