Board authorizes NDE to accept potential federal grants despite member concerns over speculative approvals
September 05, 2026 | Board of Education, Elected Officials, Organizations, Executive, Nebraska
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The Nebraska State Board of Education on Sept. 4 voted 5–3 to authorize the commissioner to accept a package of potential federal grants if and when federal award notifications are received.
Board members raised procedural and substantive concerns before the vote. Several members said they were uneasy approving a motion they characterized as speculative without sufficient information about likely award amounts, distribution to school districts or vendor contracts. One member highlighted the potential magnitude of the package — "potentially $50,000,000" — and asked how the board could exercise oversight before awards were finalized.
NDE staff (Ryan Forr) read agency management policy 2.02 (contracts, grants and purchases) and explained that the board must approve contracts and grants of $50,000 or more; bringing the package to the board now is intended to make staff more transparent about grants that have been applied for and to avoid a later situation in which awards arrive and the board has not had advance notice. "This does not give the agency approval to disperse any funds," Forr said, adding that any subawards or contracts exceeding the $50,000 threshold would come back to the board for approval.
Members also asked for more detail about a competitive-state-assessment grant that referenced possible use of AI for scoring; board members said they want full documentation about any AI use before approving related expenditures or vendor contracts. Deputy Commissioner Jane Stavem and other staff said detailed contract and application materials would be available to the committee and the board in the coming months and that the package approach is intended to preserve staff agility while preserving board oversight on expenditures.
The motion passed 5–3. The board directed staff that any expenditure plans or vendor awards tied to these grants that meet the $50,000 threshold must return to the board for review and vote.
Board members raised procedural and substantive concerns before the vote. Several members said they were uneasy approving a motion they characterized as speculative without sufficient information about likely award amounts, distribution to school districts or vendor contracts. One member highlighted the potential magnitude of the package — "potentially $50,000,000" — and asked how the board could exercise oversight before awards were finalized.
NDE staff (Ryan Forr) read agency management policy 2.02 (contracts, grants and purchases) and explained that the board must approve contracts and grants of $50,000 or more; bringing the package to the board now is intended to make staff more transparent about grants that have been applied for and to avoid a later situation in which awards arrive and the board has not had advance notice. "This does not give the agency approval to disperse any funds," Forr said, adding that any subawards or contracts exceeding the $50,000 threshold would come back to the board for approval.
Members also asked for more detail about a competitive-state-assessment grant that referenced possible use of AI for scoring; board members said they want full documentation about any AI use before approving related expenditures or vendor contracts. Deputy Commissioner Jane Stavem and other staff said detailed contract and application materials would be available to the committee and the board in the coming months and that the package approach is intended to preserve staff agility while preserving board oversight on expenditures.
The motion passed 5–3. The board directed staff that any expenditure plans or vendor awards tied to these grants that meet the $50,000 threshold must return to the board for review and vote.
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