Education Future Fund Currently Unfunded
By Gordon Hopkins
Fairbury Public School’s outgoing Superintendent, Dr. Devin Embray, recently expressed deep concerns about the Nebraska Education Future Fund, which is currently unfunded, and how it may hurt FPS and other local schools if it remains unfunded.
The Nebraska Education Future Fund is a $1 billion initiative established by the Legislature to support public school funding, intended to provide at least $1,500 in foundation aid per student, boost special education reimbursements to 80 percent of costs, and aid teacher recruitment. The fund was created by LB 583.
T
he fund had been championed by Governor Jim Pillen. Meant to reduce public school’s reliance on property taxes, it was part of the Governor’s overall agenda to provide property tax relief to Nebraskans. When the bill was first announced in January of 2023, Governor Pillen said in a statement, “These bills are the culmination of great teamwork from groups representing stakeholders from across Nebraska. Through this legislation, we will ensure future generations of students are on solid footing, make funding more uniform across all school districts, and provide Nebraskans with property tax relief that is long overdue.”
However, at a meeting of the Board of Education Monday evening, April 13, 2026, Embray said, “This fund is depleted in two years, and they’re not putting money into it. This past year, I think it was $60 million they put into it. They were supposed to put $250 million into it.”
Embray and other superintendents have a telephone conference with Senator Tom Brandt (District 32).
“Senator Brandt let us know that the way the state legislature is that they’re not going to commit. They’re not obligated to commit, but if they don’t commit, the fund will be depleted in two years,” said Embray. “If it’s depleted, it’s about a $3 million decrease in funding. We would not be able to survive that without making massive program and staff cuts.”
Embray said the focus for schools now will have to be at the legislature, “That will be the number one priority moving forward is to make sure that they’re addressing the Education Future Fund.”
Senator Brandt is leaving office, having been term-limited. Embray said, “We want to make sure whoever gets voted in Senator Brandt’s spot that they’re very much working on the Education Future Fund.”
