Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB351 into law today, allowing child care providers transitioning to a new license type to serve more children to retain their rating in Nebraska Step Up to Quality. Read More
Funding for infant and toddler services through Sixpence would increase by an additional $2.5 million per year for the next two years if the biennial budget bill is approved. Read More
Join us online September 27 for the Thriving Children, Families and Communities Conference, an exciting day of learning, sharing and inspiration as community leaders from across Nebraska come together to focus on high-quality early childhood education and its impact on local economic development and community vitality. Read More
LB351 seeks to remove barriers for early childhood providers by allowing them to retain their quality rating in Step Up to Quality if they change license type. The bill recently advanced to Select File. Read More
This guide was compiled for early childhood educators and business owners to provide additional information regarding the taxable status of state and federal COVID-19 relief funds. Read More
Our investments in young children in rural communities are directly related to economic growth, public safety and quality of life in Greater Nebraska. First Five Nebraska hosted a webinar for release of Council for a Strong America's report on the scarcity of child care in rural communities that included a discussion with Nebraska business, law enforcement, military and early care and education leaders. Read More
First Five Nebraska (FFN) recently collaborated with early childhood partners and policymakers on the release of the Appropriations Committee of the Nebraska Legislature LR390 Interim Study Report, which examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our state's early childhood workforce and infrastructure. Read More
We're happy to announce that Sara Howard has joined our staff as Policy Advisor. Sara served eight years in the Nebraska Legislature and was chair of the Health and Human Services Committee her final two years in the Unicameral. Sara brings extensive policy knowledge and a bipartisan approach to working on issues that positively impact children and families. Read More
FFN recently partnered with the Committee for Economic Development of the Conference Board (CED), a national nonpartisan public policy center, to publish “Using Tax Credits to Help Address Child Care Challenges: Availability, Quality and Affordability.” The report explores how Nebraska and other states are using tax credits to boost private investment and expand the funding landscape for early childhood infrastructure. Read More
The Legislature’s Revenue Committee heard testimony this week on LB531: Adopt the Nebraska Child Care Tax Credit Act. Introduced by Senator Tom Briese, District 41, the legislation would offer financial incentives to taxpayers—including businesses and individuals—to bolster early childhood infrastructure through targeted contributions.
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