New Nebraska Department of Education survey shows more teachers in Nebraska schools

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The results of a new education survey show several improvements in Nebraska schools compared to last year.

The Nebraska Department of Education released the results of the Teacher Vacancy Survey for the 2025-2026 school year.

The survey saw a significant uptick in qualified applicants and participation, reaching a record-breaking number of participants across the state.

The Nebraska Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brian Maher, said, “The increase in survey participation gives us the most accurate picture to date of the workforce landscape in Nebraska.”

During the previous school year, the annual survey reported a total of 669.35 unfilled positions in the state, but that number decreased to 489.70 for the current school year.

Total vacancies have also decreased, from a 30% deficit in 2024-2025 to 23% in 2025-2026.

Dr. Maher called the seven percent improvement “encouraging.”

These results can be attributed to several actions taken by the Nebraska Board of Education and the Nebraska Legislature to address teacher shortages.

In December, the state’s Board of Education approved a five-year strategic plan that includes the ‘Excellence in Teaching Act.’

This provides loan forgiveness to students and current teachers in high-need areas. It also eliminates what some feel is a barrier to the field, such as the Praxis Core test.

Lastly, the act implements new programming to help paraprofessionals become teachers.

The Nebraska Legislature is also creating incentives for aspiring teachers by enacting two teacher grant programs.

One is the “Teach in Nebraska” program, which offers a $5,000 grant to support teachers within the state.

Additional benefits of these efforts include teacher feedback.

Thanks to the grants, 84% of teachers participating in the survey report feeling more financially stable, and 82% say the grants have influenced their decision to stay in the field.