Blog | First Five Nebraska

Why You Should Read that Book to a Child One More Time

Do you feel dread when asked to read the same book to a young child over and over? Take heart, researchers say you're helping the child in important ways when you do. Read More

April 12, 2018 | Posted in Research

Cuts to Quality Early Childhood Funding Pose a Risk-vs.-Gain Problem for Taxpayers

Nebraska’s Corrections system has been the subject of urgent discussion in the Legislature given its insufficient facilities, prison rioting and workforce instability. Reducing state funding for Sixpence and other quality early childhood programs represents a very small savings to taxpayers in the larger scheme of things. If even a few young children at risk eventually drift into the Corrections system, it will be too late to ask ourselves if those savings were worth it. Read More

March 29, 2018 | Posted in Legislation

Adam Feser Joins Policy Staff

We’re happy to introduce our new Policy Associate, Adam Feser. Adam most recently served as Executive Director of Advocacy Partnership for People with Special Needs, Read More

March 22, 2018 | Posted in General

Legislature Advances Budget Bill with Cuts to Early Childhood Programs

Bill contains cuts to the Sixpence Early Learning Fund, the Early Childhood Grant Program and Step Up to Quality. The small gains obtained from reductions to early care and education are likely to be lost by resulting future increased costs of special education services, grade retention and youth detention/rehabilitation services. Read More

March 15, 2018 | Posted in Legislation

Urge Senators to Retain Funding for Early Care and Education

We make it easy to contact Senators and ask them to retain funding for early care and education programs in Nebraska. Read More

March 01, 2018 | Posted in Legislation

Senators, Committees Select Their Priority Bills

Earlier this week, Nebraska Senators and Committees named priority bills; priority designation makes it more likely that a bill will be considered by the full Legislature this session. Thank you to Senator Harr for designating LB1108, which would adjust the School Readiness Tax Credit Act, as his priority bill. Read More

February 22, 2018 | Posted in Legislation

New Harvard Center on the Developing Child Video: Building Core Capabilities for Life

This new 5-minute video explores development and use of core capabilities, known as executive function skills, beginning in early childhood. Read More

February 15, 2018 | Posted in Research

LB1135 Offers Alternatives to Offset the Shortage of Early Childhood Workers

We testified in support of LB1135, which would adopt the Alternate Teacher Certification Act, to offset shortages of early childhood professionals in Nebraska. We think LB1135 offers appropriate, yet flexible, solutions, and urge sentors to advance the bill. Read More

February 08, 2018 | Posted in Legislation

With An Amendment, We Strongly Support the School Readiness Tax Credit Portion of LB1108

We support removing the sunset provision in the School Readiness Tax Credit Act in LB1108, as well as increasing the tax credit rates for one main reason: the tax credits are specifically tied to levels of quality that close the achievement gap. The single most important factor in early childhood programs that successfully close that gap is the quality of the staff in those programs—and that’s exactly what the increased rates in the School Readiness Tax Credits Act will purchase. Read More

February 01, 2018 | Posted in Legislation

Nebraska Legislature: Early Childhood Bills to Watch

Senators introduced 470 new bills and eight Constitutional amendments this legislative session. Of these, we've identified bills with potential to affect early childhood across 10 categories, and a more narrow list that we've designated as Legislation to Watch. We update bill status on our Nebraska Legislation website page, and produce a printable report daily during the session. Read More

January 25, 2018 | Posted in Legislation