Nebraska
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| Strategy Name | Strategy Type(s) | Year | Funding Amount | Funding Source | Features at a Glance | |
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Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska
Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska provides supplemental pay to early childhood educators based on their education level and commitment to their early education program. WAGE$ is designed to retain and support the professional development of early education professionals; in turn, this creates a more stable workforce with the skills needed to support young children's healthy learning and development. Bonuses range from $300 to $3,500 per educator per year, with an average annual payment of $2,134. Amounts increase as educators obtain more formal education, and educators must remain in their early education program for at least six months to qualify for an award. In FY22, Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska provided supplements to 35 family child care educators; turnover among recipients was only 3%, much lower than the estimated 26-40% turnover rate among educators in licensed child care programs nationwide.
This program is part of the national Child Care WAGE$ Program and is currently available in select counties across the state.
The Child Care WAGE$ Program supports educators and directors in center-based, family child care, and other licensed child care programs serving children from birth to 5 years old.
Learn More: Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska
Sources:
Nebraska AEYC. (n.d.). Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska.
Nebraska AEYC. (n.d.). Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska: FY22 Results
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$300 to $3,500 per educator per year, with an average supplement of $2,134
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Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska provides supplemental pay to early childhood educators based on their education level and commitment to their early education program. WAGE$ is designed to retain and support the professional development of early education professionals; in turn, this creates a more stable workforce with the skills needed to support young children's healthy learning and development. Bonuses range from $300 to $3,500 per educator per year, with an average annual payment of $2,134. Amounts increase as educators obtain more formal education, and educators must remain in their early education program for at least six months to qualify for an award. In FY22, Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska provided supplements to 35 family child care educators; turnover among recipients was only 3%, much lower than the estimated 26-40% turnover rate among educators in licensed child care programs nationwide.
This program is part of the national Child Care WAGE$ Program and is currently available in select counties across the state.
The Child Care WAGE$ Program supports educators and directors in center-based, family child care, and other licensed child care programs serving children from birth to 5 years old.
Learn More: Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska
Sources:
Nebraska AEYC. (n.d.). Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska.
Nebraska AEYC. (n.d.). Child Care WAGE$ Nebraska: FY22 Results
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Nebraska Education Innovation Fund
Since 1993, Nebraska has allocated a portion of lottery ticket sales to the Education Innovation Fund, which is used to support grants from early childhood through adult education. As of July 2016, this funding allocation for education was just over 44% of the state’s lottery ticket sales.
Learn More: Nebraska Early Childhood Education State Report
Source:
Nebraska Lottery. (2023). Proceeds Transferred Since 1993.
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1993 |
State Dedicated Funding Stream
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44% of revenue from lottery ticket sales are used to support education, including early childhood education
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Since 1993, Nebraska has allocated a portion of lottery ticket sales to the Education Innovation Fund, which is used to support grants from early childhood through adult education. As of July 2016, this funding allocation for education was just over 44% of the state’s lottery ticket sales.
Learn More: Nebraska Early Childhood Education State Report
Source:
Nebraska Lottery. (2023). Proceeds Transferred Since 1993.
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Demographics Link copied!
Demographics Data Scorecard
State population
1,967,923 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
27.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
73.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children 0–4
125,790 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels - children 0—8 below 200% poverty
34% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$91,000.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
2.6% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2024
Unemployment rate of parents
2% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
72% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
22% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Child Population by Race and Ethnicity Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Race and Ethnicity
- American Indian and Alaska Native (1%)
- Asian (3%)
- Black or African American (6%)
- Hispanic or Latino (19%)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (.49%)
- Two or more races (4%)
- White, not Hispanic or Latino (67%)
Note: The Nebraska Legislature is unicameral, meaning that it's not separated into two houses. The legislators are called senators. The Legislature is officially nonpartisan and doesn't recognize the senators' party affiliations. In practice, however, a large majority of senators are Republicans.
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| State Senate | - | - | - | - | - |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Early Childhood Education Programs
| Program Name | Program Length* | Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy | State Spending Per Child |
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| Nebraska Early Childhood Education Program Source: NIEER 2023 | - | Targeted Pre-K Policy (3- and 4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023 | - |
3-Year-Olds Enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs NIEER 2023
Programs
- Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Pre-K (%15)
- Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Head Start (%4)
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Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Special Education
0% (2021), 0% (2022), 0% (2023) - Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Other/None (%81)
4-Year-Olds Enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs NIEER 2023
Programs
- Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Pre-K (%31)
- Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Head Start (%4)
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Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Special Education
0% (2021), 0% (2022) - Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Other/None (%65)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
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Child Care Workers
$10.81 (2017, adjusted)
$11.12 (2019) -
Preschool Teachers
$18.17 (2017, adjusted)
$17.11 (2019) -
Preschool or Child Care Center Directors
$23.55 (2017, adjusted)
$22.29 (2019)
Funding Sources Link copied!
Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in Millions) Source First Five Years Fund, 2024
Funding Source
- Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($68.8)
- CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($72.6)
- CCDBG State Match ($9.9)
- State-Funded Pre-K ($30.8)
- MIECHV ($1.8)
- IDEA Part C ($3.3)
- IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($2.5)
- TANF Early Learning and Care ($6.5)
- Preschool Development Grant Birth ($4)