Scholarship-granting organization formed under new law

Many families want a nonpublic-school education for their children, but lack the financial means.

Now more of those families have an option, thanks to Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska (OSN) – a scholarship-granting organization that was formed after the state approved legislation earlier this year that would provide scholarship opportunities to low-income and working-class families to attend private or parochial schools.

The measure – called the Opportunity Scholarships Act or LB753 – incentivizes, through tax credits, donations to nonprofit, scholarship-granting organizations such as OSN.

Parents have been urged to look into the nonprofit  – which has been approved by the state and supported by the state’s three Catholic bishops – to see if their children might qualify for scholarships.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference, which serves the bishops and Catholics across the state, is partnering with OSN.

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, scholarships will be available for students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are from low-income families or are in foster care, or who are experiencing bullying, have a parent or guardian in the military or who are denied option enrollment by public schools.

Anyone interested in financially supporting the work of OSN should see How to Give — Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska (nebraskaopportunity.org)

Beginning Jan. 1, individuals, corporations, estates and trusts can claim tax credits for scholarship contributions.

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