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 Betty VanDeventer
 Public Information Officer
 402-471-4537
 betty.vandeventer@nebraska.gov

 

2012 - 2013 News Releases

June 7, 2013

NEBRASKA BUSINESS TEACHERS RECOGNIZED

Forty-eight Nebraska business teachers were recognized by the Nebraska Department of Education at the Nebraska Career Education Conference held June 5 in Kearney.

June 5, 2013

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM OPEN TO ALL CHILDREN

Nebraska children enrolled in programs and camps that meet the Summer Food Service Program guidelines will receive free meals this summer.

To qualify under the Summer Food Service Program at least 50 percent of the children attending the camps or program must meet eligibility income standards.

May 30, 2013

WAUSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS RANK 7TH NATIONALLY
IN TEACHING OF PERSONAL FINANCE

Wausa Public Schools took home a 7th place national award for their student test scores on a financial literacy certification test during an event hosted by the New York Stock Exchange.

Administrators, teachers and students from the top ranked schools across the country attended a Working In Support of Education, also called w!se, awards ceremony in New York City on May 20. The event recognized high schools that teach personal finance.

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, 2012

NEBRASKA 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, 2012

INCOME 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, 2012

GOV. 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, 2012

PARENTS, 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, 2012

FOUR 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, 2012

ED 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.