State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, left, and then-State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln led a tour to more than a dozen schools in 2017 to meet with educators and students about reading literacy. Oct. 17, 2017. (Photos courtesy of Sen. Lou Ann Linehan and former Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks)
LINCOLN — A first-of-its-kind statewide report related to reading and dyslexia for Nebraska K-12 students shows strides in addressing literacy as policymakers see room for improvement.
The Nebraska Department of Education submitted its first report to the Legislature on Sept. 3 as required under Legislative Bill 298 . State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn shepherded the legislation through in 2023 as a next step from 2018 legislation that began assessing K-3 students three times a year to get them on individualized reading improvement plans and supports earlier, if needed. In 2017, the Legislature defined “dyslexia” in state law.
LB 298 requires each public school in the state to report the number of students in the 2023-24 academic year who were: