Overview

• Gov. Jim Pillen signed the executive order at St. Teresa Catholic School in Lincoln with U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith and Mike Flood in attendance.
• Pillen cast the move as returning federal dollars to Nebraska and cited an estimated $170 million impact he wants to capture over the next year and a half.
• The federal credit is scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027, covering eligible expenses such as tuition, tutoring, books, technology and transportation.
• The Nebraska State Education Association criticized the decision as defying voters who repealed a state-level plan last year and noted eligibility reaches up to 300% of area median income, including some families earning over $200,000.
• School-choice advocates, including the American Federation for Children, applauded the opt-in, while Pillen argued it comes at no cost to the state and can benefit both public and private schools.