October 2026
Dyslexia Awareness Month
The State Board of Education adopted a resolution for Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dyslexia is most commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological processing, which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, spell, and, often, the ability to learn a second language and is the most common learning disability affecting 80 to 90 percent of all individuals with a learning disability. The NDE is committed to helping identify and help students with Dyslexia.
Approve Revisions to Agency Management Policies
Board members voted for a revision to Agency Management Policies that includes the Department must require Nebraska school superintendents and ESU administrators to sign an assurance statement before receiving discretionary funding from the Department for mental or behavioral health services grants.
Agency Management Policies Revisions
Distribute Rural Health Transformation Project Funds
The NDE is supporting Nebraska’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a statewide initiative led by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through a five-year federal grant. Through an interagency agreement with DHHS, the NDE is administering grants for kitchen modernization, equipment infrastructure, and related projects designed to improve student health, strengthen local food systems, expand access to nutritious meals, and support long-term health outcomes in Nebraska’s rural communities. Following federal award notification in March 2026 and State Board approval of NDE’s participation in May 2026, NDE executed an agreement with DHHS in June and began implementation activities, including staffing, outreach, technical assistance, and the development of grant opportunities for eligible schools and producers.
Grant applications closed on August 31, 2026, with NDE receiving approximately $9.5 million in requests against $11.5 million available for obligation during the current funding period. After identifying approximately $2 million in unobligated funds, NDE worked with DHHS to develop additional allowable funding strategies, which were approved on September 14, 2026, to ensure full utilization of available resources while remaining aligned with program goals and federal requirements. Board members approved the distribution of funds.
RHTP Approved Awards and Purposes 1.1
RHTP Approved Awards and Purposes 1.3
Additional $2 million in Rural Health Transformation Project Funds
Approve Strategic Initiatives Grant Opportunities
The NDE has applied for several grants aligned to the Good Life | Great Schools | Excellent Education strategic plan. As grant funding is awarded, the NDE will bring each opportunity back to the Board for action.
Federal Grant Opportunities:
School Safety Enhancement. This funding would allow the NDE to support more schools in addressing physical safety concerns through competitive subawards.
Traumatic Brain Injury Partnership Program. This funding would allow the NDE’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to continue TBI supportive programming.
Board members voted to approve both grant opportunities.
Federal IDEA Grant Activities
State Personnel Development Grant funds must be used by states to carry out activities identified within the federally approved State Personnel Development Grant. The Office of Special Education requested approval to use Part B discretionary grant funds to establish a special project with Educational Service Unit 6 to provide additional professional learning, technical assistance, coaching support, and resource development. Board members voted to approve the funds.
Federal IDEA Part D – SPDG Grant Activities
2026-27 Deficit Budget Request
The NDE is annually required to submit deficit budget items that are requests for changes to our
current year appropriated budget for items that are the most critical situations that cannot be
managed within existing appropriations and other requirements of the enacted appropriation laws or as may be required by statute. These changes are called budget issues and can be increases or
decreases to the funding that NDE is currently appropriated if they are included in the State’s deficit budget bill. Board members voted to approve sending the 2026-27 deficit budget request.
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