March 9, 2025
Sen. Dave Murman, Chairperson
Sen. Margo Juarez
Sen. Jana Hughes, Vice Chairperson
Sen. Dan Lonowski
Sen. Danielle Conrad
Sen. Glen Meyer
Sen. Megan Hunt
Sen. Rita Sanders
Chair Murman and members of the Education Committee:
The Lincoln Public Schools submits this proponent statement in support of LB411, which would provide retention grants to eligible teachers through the Nebraska Department of Education. Employment and retention grants are stipulated in the bill, and the proposal also includes an additional differentiating factor for high needs areas (special education, math, science, technology, and dual credit endorsements). These high needs areas are indicative of the most hard to fill vacancies, and the additional grant funding could help reduce educator workforce shortages in these key areas.
Senator Dungan’s LB411 is a key strategy not only for reducing workforce shortages, but also positively and beneficially impacting student achievement. Teacher retention is a key means of fostering enhanced student outcomes. As teachers grow in their instructional capacity and connect and collaborate with peers, collective efficacy improves. High rates of teacher turnover within schools can make it more difficult for a school to support a comprehensive, systematic approach to continuous improvement and to foster productive trust and teamwork. LB411 would reduce turnover and enhance the retention of teachers across areas, with a particular focus on high needs endorsements and longevity.
Studies such as that recently reported by the Learning Policy Institute have found that for teachers leaving the profession, a top reported reason is that pay is deemed insufficient in relation to the stress of the job (“Teacher Salaries: A Key Factor in Recruitment and Retention,” 2022). LB411 would take a substantial step forward in ensuring pay is commensurate with the demands of the inherently important vocation of our classroom educators.
We commend Senator Dungan for proposing LB411, and we express our strong support of this key bill to offer retention grants to our Nebraska teachers.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Skretta
Interim Superintendent
Lincoln Public Schools
402-440-9092
