Learn how civic involvement makes a difference as state officials address Nebraska homeschoolers!
February 21, 2018 — SAVE THE DATE, 8:30AM – 12:00PM
See the full Legislative Day Agenda below.
This is the day to bring your children to the state capitol and have them learn about the legislative process. Features of the day include:
- Take a tour of the Capitol
- How to Interact with your senator – Dave Lostroh
- Visit your senator
- Observe the Legislature in session in the Norris Chamber
- Hear Governor Pete Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson discuss issues
- Learn about the Judicial Branch from Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Funke
- Listen to Senators talk to you about important bills and issues
- Hear and meet HSLDA attorney for Nebraska, Dan Beasley
- Meet other government officials
- Panel Discussion: Homeschool graduates in government service discuss their jobs — with Q & A session
- Hear NCHEA discussion of legislative issues
- Attend Legislative hearings
This event is free and open to all homeschool families in Nebraska.
PLAN AHEAD
We encourage families to contact their Senator’s office before Legislative Day to set up their own appointments. In order to find your Senator:
- Enter your street address, city, state, and zip code at: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php. Your District Number and Senator (with photo) will be shown, then press “Web Page” under the photo to go to your Senator’s web page. There you will find contact information along with much more.
- Appointments with your Senator may be scheduled for any time of day, however, the Senator will probably not accept an appointment while the Legislature is in session. Sessions usually run from 9:30 or 10:00 until 11:30 or 12:00. Senators may be called out of the Legislature for a few minutes in order to talk with constituents; doing so requires filling out a short form at the Sergeants-of-Arms desk by the Norris Legislative Chamber door.
- Consider requesting an appointment with your senator early, between 8:00AM and 9:00AM; prior to the 2018 NCHEA Legislative Day activities in the Warner Chamber.
- Click HERE for a map of the Nebraska Capitol building.
LEGISLATIVE DAY AGENDA
8:30AM – 12:00PM Registration
When you arrive, please register at the NCHEA table by the Warner Chamber (just east of the Rotunda) on the main floor. Families may bring their own home baked cookies or other treats for their Senator and his/her staff. Thank you notes by you and/or your children would also be appreciated by your Senator.
During the 2017 NCHEA Legislative Day, we provided each senator with a homeschool information packet. We will not be distributing packets to senators this year since they already have the information. The contents included in each senator’s packet is linked immediately below so that all families can review and articulate what is in the packet by studying the information ahead of time.
- Letter from the NCHEA President
- A Historical Perspective on Home Education and Parental Rights in Nebraska, NCHEA
- Home Schooling Achievement, HSLDA by Brian D. Ray, PhD., National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), © 2001 by HSLDA https://nche.hslda.org/docs/study/comp2001/HomeSchoolAchievement.pdf
- Homeschooling Grows Up, HSLDA by Brian D. Ray, PhD., National Home Education Research Institute, © 2003 by Brian D. Ray, https://www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/HomeschoolingGrowsUp.pdf
- Homeschool Progress Report 2009, HSLDA by Brian D. Ray, PhD., National Home Education Research Institute, © 2009 by HSLDA and Brian D. Ray, https://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray2009/2009_Ray_StudyFINAL.pdf
- Research Facts on Homeschooling, 2013, by Brian D. Ray, PhD., NHERI
Warner Chamber Presentations:
9:00 – 10:15AM Warner Chamber
9:00 – 9:15AM “How to Interact With Your Senator” Dave Lostroh, NCHEA
9:15 – 9:30AM Dan Beasley, HSLDA Staff Attorney for Nebraska
9:30 – 9:40AM Legislative Issues Discussion and Q&A
9:40 – 9:45AM Senator Jim Scheer, Speaker of the Legislature, Dist. 19, Norfolk
9:45 – 10:15AM Panel Discussion: Homeschool graduates in government service panel
Taylor Gage (Director of Strategic Communications, Office of the Governor)
Katie Wattermann Bartels (Lincoln Office Mgr. for U.S. Senator Ben Sasse)
Dan Beasley – HSLDA Staff Attorney for Nebraska
Katie Quintero (Admin. Assist., Senator Mark Kolterman’s Office, Dist. 24)
Sam Pynes – (Admin. Assist., Senator John Lowe’s Office, Dist. 37)
Alex Gage (Admin. Assist., Senator Steve Halloran’s Office, Dist. 33)
10:15 – 11:00AM Break from Warner Chamber Programs, suggested actions on your own.
- Watch Senate Floor Debate in the Norris Chamber balcony.
- Visit Senator’s office or call Senator out of Legislative session.
- Tour Capitol on your own (the outdoor Observation Deck and Memorial Chamber are located on the top floor and are not a part of the guided, hourly tour.)
11:00AM – 12:00PM Warner Chamber: Three Branches of Government
Executive Branch
11:00 – 11:15AM Governor of Nebraska Pete Ricketts
11:15 – 11:25AM Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson
Judicial Branch
11:25 – 11:40 Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Funke
Legislative Branch
11:40 – 11:45 Senator Lydia Brasch, Dist. 16, Bancroft
11:45 – 11:50 Senator Laura Ebke, Dist. 32, Crete
11:50 – 11:55 Senator Mike Hilgers, Dist. 21, Lincoln
11:55 – 12:00 Senator Paul Schumacher, Dist. 22, Columbus
12:00PM – End of NCHEA Legislative Day Program
12:00 – 5:00PM Available Capitol/Lincoln Activities
- Attend a Capitol building guided tour on the hour: 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM, 4:00PM (starts by the North door, Main floor).
- Attend a Senate Committee Hearing:
Check the Legislative Day hearing schedule at https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/calendar/hearings.php?day=2018-02-21. The various hearings are displayed by committee with start time, hearing room, and bills to be heard. Be sure to re-check a few days prior to the NCHEA Legislative Day.
- Visit your Senator or speak to Senator’s office staff if Senator is not available.
- Visit the University of Nebraska State Museum (Morrill Hall), 645 N 14th St, Lincoln, NE
Museum Hours: 9:30 AM-4:30 PM
Museum Information: (402) 472-2642;
There is an admission charge, see https://www.museum.unl.edu/museum_info/index.html
- Visit the Nebraska History Museum,131 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Admission is free, but a $2 donation is appreciated.
Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
https://www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/