NDE News Releases
Contact
Betty VanDeventer
Public Information Officer
402-471-4537
betty.vandeventer@nebraska.gov
2012 - 2013 News Releases
May 24, 2013
NEBRASKA 8th, 11th STUDENT WRITING SCORES IMPROVE
Writing test scores for Nebraska 8th and 11th graders improved this year, according to two years of trend data.
Writing test results showed that 66 percent of Nebraska 8th graders met or exceeded state standards, a 2 percent increase. And, 68 percent of the 11th graders met or exceeded standards, a 6 percent increase. A report released today also showed that 68 percent of the 4th graders met or exceeded the standards. The state’s process for scoring tests was recently revised to better ensure high school graduates will succeed in college and their careers.
May 8, 2013
GOV. HEINEMAN, COMMISSIONER BREED RECOGNIZE
15 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FOR TOP ACT AND SAT SCORES
On May 8, Gov. Dave Heineman and Commissioner Roger Breed recognized fifteen Nebraska high school seniors for their academic achievement in earning top scores of 36 on the ACT or a 2400 on the SAT college admissions exam during two events. The ceremonies were held at Central High School in Omaha and Lincoln Southwest High School.
April 30, 2013
SkillsUSA NEBRASKA ANNOUNCES 2013 COMPETITON WINNERS
SkillsUSA Nebraska, a Nebraska Department of Education student organization, recently recognized award winners and elected new officers during its 2013 conference in Hastings.
About 1,500 people attended the conference, including 1,200 high school and college and technical students and advisors.
April 18, 2013
NEBRASKA FBLA RECOGNIZES STATE AWARD WINNERS
The Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recently named students who won state competitive events at the 51st annual State Leadership Conference in Omaha.
April 10, 2013
STATE ED BOARD ANNOUNCES GRANTS
FOR BEFORE - AND AFTER-SCHOOL CENTERS
After-school programs will soon open at six new sites in the Nebraska communities of Broken Bow, Fremont and Scottsbluff.
April 10, 2013
NEBRASKA ED BOARD SEEKS NATIONAL FIRMS
TO ASSIST WITH ED COMMISSIONER SEARCH
The Nebraska State Board of Education is seeking a national firm to assist with the search for a state education commissioner.
April 5, 2013
DECA ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
Nearly 250 awards recognizing Nebraska high school students who participated in DECA were announced today.
The 56th annual state DECA conference was held recently in Lincoln. The top 150 Nebraska students who finished first, second or third in their events will challenge more than 14,000 other students from the United States, the U.S. territories, Canada and Germany during the national competition in Anaheim, California, to determine the world’s best marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship students.
March 22nd, 2013
STUDENT HEALTH IS FOCUS OF MARCH 28 SUMMIT
Students, parents, educators and health professionals are invited to the Center for People in Need in Lincoln for the annual summit on children’s health.
March 5th, 2013
ED COMMISSIONER BREED ANNOUNCES JUNE 30 RETIREMENT
Nebraska Education Commissioner Roger Breed today announced his retirement from public service effective June 30.
In an emotional statement, Breed read his letter of resignation to the State Board of Education, saying it has been his “highest professional honor to serve as Commissioner.”
March 4th, 2013
BRAIN INJURY IS FOCUS OF CONFERENCE, WEBINAR
Nebraska’s annual brain injury conference will be held April 4-5 in Kearney, offering information to assist individuals with brain injuries and their families.
The Nebraska Brain Injury Advisory Council will cosponsor the conference as well as a free March 27 national webinar on technology that could benefit individuals with brain injuries.
February 26th, 2013
LINCOLN NORTHEAST TEACHER SNYDER TO RECEIVE
McAULIFFE AWARD FROM UNL
Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 28, 2013 – Inspired teaching has earned Lincoln Northeast High School reading teacher Kimberly Snyder the Christa McAuliffe Prize for Courage and Excellence in Education.
The College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln presents the annual award to a teacher who exemplifies the character of Christa McAuliffe, an educator who died in the 1986 Challenger disaster. Snyder will be recognized at a banquet March 3 in Lincoln.
January 25th, 2013
NEBRASKA STATE BOARD MEMBER CHOSEN TO SERVE ON NATIONAL PANEL TO
MAKE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON FEDERAL EDUCATION LEGISLATION
Arlington, VA – The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to announce that Molly O’Holleran, a resident of North Platte, Nebraska, was selected to the NASBE Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC), the entity responsible for developing federal policy recommendations and communicating with Congress and federal officials about the education reform priorities of state boards of education.
January 23rd, 2013
NEBRASKA REVISES CAREER ED STANDARDS
Nebraska career education standards have been revised to better prepare students for their careers and to help students better meet the needs of employers.
January 16th, 2013
KATT RECEIVES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
Nebraska’s career education director, Rich Katt, recently received a prestigious national award, the Leaders Leading Leaders Award.
Katt was one of 25 individuals who received the recognition.
January 11th, 2013
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE SPONSORS SOLICITED
The Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services is seeking potential sponsors to operate the Summer Food Service Program in Nebraska. Eligible sponsors include public or nonprofit private schools, residential camps, and local, municipal, county or state government sites as well as private, nonprofit sponsors and sites.
November 30th, 2012
NEBRASKA'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE
RANKS 4TH IN THE NATION
Nebraska’s high school graduation rate ranks fourth nationally with 86 percent of seniors graduating in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Education’ first-ever study focusing on a new method for determining graduation rates.
November 27th, 2012
NEBRASKA CAREER EDUCATION STUDENTS RECOGNIZED
Ninety-two Nebraska Career Education students, who received national awards earlier this year, were recently recognized in Lincoln.
November 20th, 2012
GRANT COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
FOR MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP
The Nebraska Department of Education is requesting proposals for the Nebraska Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) grant competition.
The purpose of this competition is to fund statewide project(s) for innovative teacher professional development that improves the academic achievement of Nebraska students in mathematics or science.
November 20th, 2012
MOST NEBRASKA SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENT,
GROWTH IN NEW STATE ACCOUNTABILITY RANKINGS
Nearly three of every four districts graduated 90 percent or more of their high school seniors.
A report on Nebraska public schools and student performance unveiled today showed most school districts demonstrating improvement and growth under a new accountability system. The results also showed that nearly three of every four public school districts or 72.3 percent graduated 90 percent or more of their high school seniors.
November 9th, 2012
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES PUBLIC COMMENT
MEETINGS IN FIVE CITIES FOR INPUT ON DRAFT SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS
Internet survey continues to be open for public comment as well.
The State Board of Education and the Nebraska Department of Education will hold meetings by videoconferencing from five Nebraska cities on Thurs., Nov. 15, to provide another opportunity for the public and educators to comment on revised state social studies standards.
November 1st, 2012
NEBRASKA SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
GRANTS AVAILABLE TO INITIATE, EXPAND SERVICES
The Nebraska Department of Education is accepting grant applications for initiating and expanding Summer Food Service Programs.
October 31st, 2012
TWO NEBRASKA STUDENTS NAMED AP SCHOLARS
Two students from Millard Public Schools were recently named AP Scholars for their outstanding performance on the 2012 College Board’s advanced placement exams.
Xiongfei Zhang, a Millard North High School student, and Yan Zhang, of Millard West High School, were among 108 students nationwide to receive this recognition.
October 31st, 2012
SkillsUSA STUDENT MILLER SEMIFINALIST
FOR WORLD SKILLS COMPETITION
Nebraska SkillsUSA student welder Michael Miller is headed to the semifinalist competition for WorldSkills.
Miller, a Metropolitan Community College student, placed seventh last June in the national College/Technical Welding competition, paving the way for him to compete in the American Welding Society’s FABTECH, the pre-trials for WorldSkills’ final competition, in Las Vegas, Nov. 12-14.
October 24th, 2012
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SEEKS
PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS
In an ongoing effort to involve the public in the development of learning standards for Nebraska public school students, the State Board of Education and the Nebraska Department of Education are seeking comments from the public and educators on the revised state social studies standards.
October 18th, 2012
NEBRASKA STAFF AT THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND
OR VISUALLY IMPARED RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARDS
Three staff members at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired in Nebraska City recently received national recognition for their work with children.
October 16th, 2012
NEBRASKA VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION RECOGNIZES
NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYEMENT AWARENESS MONTH
Nebraska’s Vocational Rehabilitation offices will hold events across the state to recognize October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and to promote the employment and advancement of workers with disabilities.
October 15th, 2012
OMAHA WESTSIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TEACHER
NAMED NEBRASKA TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Angela Mosier, an Omaha Westside Community Schools high school mathematics teacher, was named Nebraska 2013 Teacher of the Year today during a surprise award presentation.
Nebraska Commissioner of Education Roger Breed presented the award to Mosier.
October 3rd, 2012
21st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS
GRANT COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
Bloomfield Jr-Sr High School in Bloomfield, Elgin Elementary School in Elgin, Mount Michael Benedictine School in Elkhorn and Norwood Park Elementary School in Lincoln have been named 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
September 7th, 2012
SIX NEBRASKA SCHOOLS NAMED
2012 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
Bloomfield Jr-Sr High School in Bloomfield, Elgin Elementary School in Elgin, Mount Michael Benedictine School in Elkhorn and Norwood Park Elementary School in Lincoln have been named 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
August 29th, 2012
NEBRASKA CAREER EDUCATORS SHARPEN SKILLS
AT FIRST-EVER TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES
Nearly 50 Nebraska teachers and guidance counselors recently attended the state’s first-ever Career and Technical Education Leadership Academy and Beginning Teacher Institute conferences for new and veteran educators.
August 23st, 2012
ARLINGTON, FILLMORE CENTRAL, WAUSA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN FINANCIAL LITERACY
Three Nebraska high schools recognized as national 2012 Blue Star Schools
Nebraska students at three high schools have shown they have what it takes to manage their money.
Arlington, Fillmore Central and Wausa high school students’ performance on the national Working in Support of Education’s (W!SE) financial literacy test earned their schools national recognition as 2012 Blue Star Schools.
August 22st, 2012
NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
CONTINUE TO OUTSCORE PEERS ON ACT EXAM
Nebraska’s 2012 high school graduates scored higher than their peers nationally on the ACT college entrance exam and also outpaced other graduates in English, reading, mathematics and science scores that measure college readiness.
August 21st, 2012NEBRASKA STUDENTS IMPROVE
READING, MATHEMATICS SCORES
New test results show Nebraska public school students scored higher on their 2012 state reading and mathematics tests ― higher than in previous years.
Nearly three of every four students or 74.2 percent are meeting or exceeding state reading standards, compared to 68.6 percent in 2010.
August 10th, 2012INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES ANNOUNCED
FOR SCHOOL LUNCH, OTHER NUTRITION PROGRAMS
The Nebraska Department of Education’s Nutrition Services office has announced the Income Eligibility Guidelines for free and reduced price meals for persons unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch, Breakfast, Special Milk and Child and Adult Care Food Programs.
August 8th, 2012GOV. HEINEMAN ANNOUNCES NEBRASKA VIRTUAL LIBRARY LAUNCH
Gov. Dave Heineman today was joined by Dr. Roger Breed, Nebraska Commissioner of Education, and Rod Bates, General Manager of Nebraska Educational Telecommunications to announce the Nebraska Virtual Library system is now online and ready to use.
July 30th, 2012PARENTS, PROFESSIONALS USE NEW, ONLINE APP
TO TRACK DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS, TODDLERS
A new, online App allows parents and grandparents to track the development of children to determine if they are meeting the milestones for infants or toddlers.
July 18th, 2012FOUR NEBRASKA BUSINESS OWNERS RECEIVE
2012 ENTREPRENEUR OF DISTINCTION AWARDS
Four Nebraska business owners who received assistance from Vocational Rehabilitation were recognized today for their success.
July 17th, 2012
NEBRASKA NAMES 33 STUDENT AWARD WINNERS
IN NATIONAL SkillsUSA COMPETITION
Thirty-three Nebraska students received Top Ten Awards during national competition at a recent SkillsUSA conference.
About 185 Nebraska students and advisors attended the 48th National Leadership and Skills Conference sponsored by SkillsUSA in Kansas City, Missouri.
July 9th, 2012ED COMMISSIONER BREED NAMED NATIONAL ED ADMINISTRATOR
Nebraska Education Commissioner Roger Breed on July 12 will receive the National Educational Administrator of the Year award at the National Association of Educational Office Professional’s (NAEOP) annual conference in Costa Mesa, California.
July 6th, 2012
NEBRASKA FBLA STUDENTS RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARDS
Forty-two Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America students recently received 28 Top 10 Awards, including first-place awards in seven competitive events, at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
June 15th, 2012
COMPUTER-BASED GED TESTING LAUNCHED IN NEBRASKA
Adults taking the GED test in Lincoln, Hastings and Norfolk will have a new option beginning June 25 – GED testing on computers. The remaining 28 Nebraska testing centers will offer computerized GED testing no later than January.
June 15th, 2012
LINCOLN, BEATRICE TEACHERS RECEIVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION
President Obama Honors Outstanding Math and Science Teachers
Joan Christen of Beatrice and David Hartman of Lincoln are among 97 teachers named recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
June 12th, 2012
59 NEBRASKA BUSINESS TEACHERS RECOGNIZED
Fifty-nine Nebraska business teachers were recognized by the Nebraska Department of Education at the Nebraska Career Education Conference held recently in Kearney.