First Five Nebraska is looking forward to working on interim studies with state senators over the next several months. Every legislative session, senators and committees may introduce resolutions proposing interim studies that take a closer look at topics of interest. Like bills, resolutions are referred to a committee and, if requested, can have a hearing. Oftentimes, senators will introduce bills the following session based on what they learned during interim studies. This session, 120 study resolutions were introduced. Below are resolutions focused on early childhood issues. LR349, introduc ..read more

Nebraska child care providers play a crucial role in nurturing and shaping the lives of young children in their care, and their unwavering support makes an immense contribution to the healthy development of the next generation. Providers approach their work with dedication and passion, striving to create a warm, responsive environment where every child can thrive. Here are five reasons we think Nebraska child care providers deserve our respect and support. Support families and communities. Child care providers are the backbone of support for working families. They allow parents to pursue care ..read more

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday, April 18, ending this year’s 60-day session. First Five Nebraska was fortunate to work with state senators and Governor Pillen to introduce and pass several pieces of early childhood legislation that will positively impact the lives of Nebraska families and children. Included in this list are the following bills: LB856, as amended, will allow a child care program to receive subsidy reimbursement for children under the direct care of their own parents who are employed by the program. This is particularly common in smaller programs with limit ..read more

More Nebraska families with young children will gain access to home visiting services thanks to $2.5 million allocated in the state budget bill, LB1412, which Governor Pillen signed into law on April 2. The budget was amended to include additional funding for evidence-based home visiting programs from two separate bills introduced earlier this session. LB1124, introduced by State Senator Tony Vargas (District 7), appropriates $900,000 in FY2023-24 and $900,000 in FY2024-25 for early-intervention home visiting programs. A second bill, LB1125, introduced by State Senator Anna Wishart (District 2 ..read more

The shortage of child care, particularly in Nebraska’s rural areas and under-resourced communities, is well documented. But what is less well known is that the problem is exacerbated by scale. Child care settings that enroll 12 or fewer children, licensed as Family Child Care homes, have experienced a steady decrease in Nebraska. Over the past five years, family child care homes have decreased by 13.2% in Greater Nebraska and 19.4% in metro areas. A dramatic drop has also been seen nationally in small, licensed child care centers. The number of child care centers that enrolled fewer than 25 ch ..read more

It’s the milestones that matter The saying is, it’s not how you start, but how you finish that counts. I respectfully disagree. In real life, we encounter far more milestones than finish lines. What really counts is whether you have the drive and momentum to pass that milestone—then keep moving. Last week, the fifth class of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) passed its first major milestone by completing its 2023-24 program at a day-long meeting in Grand Island. It’s been six months of focused effort for the 22 professionals from across the state who first came toget ..read more

State Senator John Fredrickson, representing District 20 in central west Omaha, introduced LB856, which excludes all earned and unearned income for child care subsidy applications if the applicant or household member is self-employed at a licensed child care program or is employed at a licensed child care program, Head Start or Early Head Start for a minimum of 20 hours a week. As a result, qualified child care providers will be income eligible for the child care subsidy program. My priority bill this session, LB856, provides categorical eligibility for child care workers to participate in the ..read more

The Second Session of the 108th Nebraska Legislature convened January 3 for a 60-day session. In his State of the State address to lawmakers, Governor Pillen prioritized property taxes, regulatory barriers and affordable housing, and also emphasized the importance of child care and early childhood education. First Five Nebraska commends the Governor for his interest in the issue, and we look forward to working with his administration on legislation this session. First Five Nebraska collaborated with several senators to introduce a record number of early childhood bills this year that will supp ..read more

Tracy Gordon is executive director of the Nebraska Association for the Education of Young Children (Nebraska AEYC). She testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee December 1, 2023, on LR251, an interim study introduced by State Senator Robert Dover (Dist. 19) to explore using apprenticeships to grow our state’s early childhood workforce.  Apprenticeship programs provide an opportunity to support skill development in the high-demand field of early childhood education. An apprenticeship program that includes mentoring support and a comprehensive education, compensation ..read more

Apprenticeship programs are emerging as a viable recruitment and retention tool for the early childhood workforce. First Five Nebraska thanks State Senator Robert Dover (District 19) for introducing LR251, an interim study looking at how apprenticeships could be used to grow Nebraska’s early care and education workforce. Testifiers at its hearing before the Education Committee was on December 1 included FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark, representatives from Northeast Community College, the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Association of the Education of Young Children. Highly ..read more