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(Lincoln, NE) Stressing the important link between education and economic vitality, Gov. Dave Heineman today announced the development of a new coalition of statewide education policymakers. The Nebraska Educational Leadership Council will address the challenges and opportunities of international competition and work together in the best interests of students.
“Nebraska has a reputation of providing an excellent education, but the reality is that our young people are growing up in the most technologically advanced society this country and the world have ever seen,” Gov. Heineman said. “Our state has a tradition of using communication and collaboration to achieve Nebraska’s goals, and this council will encourage educational policies to help prepare our students to meet those challenges.”
Three of Nebraska’s top educational leaders joined the Governor at the announcement, Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln, chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, Doug Christensen, Nebraska’s Education Commissioner, and James B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska. All three will join the Governor on the new council.
The 13-member Nebraska Educational Leadership Council will examine ways to improve education from preschool through the workforce, incorporating leaders of the education community, the business community and the agricultural sector.
The Governor and Sen. Raikes will chair the council. Other members include: Christensen, Milliken, Stan Carpenter, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System; Dennis Baack, president of the Nebraska Community College Association; Tip O’Neill, executive director of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Nebraska; Sister Michelle Faltus, Superintendent of the Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools; Keith Olsen, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau; and Barry Kennedy, president of the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Three additional members will represent parents and private interests as at-large members of the council, Beth Smith of Lincoln, Macaela Smith of Omaha and Cindy Johnson, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.
Sen. Raikes said, “We must continually strive to provide excellent educational opportunities in Nebraska in a cost-effective manner. We can achieve this only if we work together. K-12 systems must cooperate with one another, and there must be cooperation and coordination between the K-12 and higher education sectors. The council provides a forum to enhance cooperative efforts and to explore new policy initiatives.”
The Nebraska Education Leadership Council will engage in broader policy discussions, referring specific proposals and ideas to the reinvigorated P-16 Initiative work group co-chaired by Commissioner Christensen and President Milliken.
The P-16 Initiative work group will encourage and support programs and activities that improve student success at every level of public and private education throughout Nebraska, with special attention given to assisting students that face significant linguistic or socioeconomic barriers to educational success.
Commissioner Christensen said, “I look forward to working with Governor Heineman, Senator Raikes and the members of the Leadership Council to continue the great work begun under our P-16 Initiative. Preparing our students for the 21st Century is our most important job that will take the effort and leadership of all Nebraskans.”
The University of Nebraska, along with state colleges and community colleges continue to play a vital role in preparing Nebraska’s young people for future success. President Milliken has joined the Governor in touting the importance of partnerships.
President Milliken said, “We need to do all we can to help prepare Nebraskans to be full participants in a global knowledge economy. There can be no doubt that level of education determines, to a great extent, income potential and opportunity for a high quality of life. It is my hope and expectation that the new council will play an important role in developing policy initiatives and advocating for educational opportunities for all Nebraskans. This is one of the best investments in Nebraska’s future we can make.”
Gov. Heineman said his focus as a council member would echo the educational aims he expressed earlier this year: increasing academic rigor, particularly in the areas of math and science, encouraging increased parental involvement and fostering stronger partnerships between K-12 education and institutions of higher learning.
The Nebraska Education Leadership Council will meet four times each year. The P-16 initiative working group is in the process of updating its meeting calendar.
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