State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Nebraska > Chapter79 > 79-1204

79-1204. Role and mission.(1) The role and mission of the educational service unitsis to serve as educational service providers in the state's system of elementaryand secondary education.(2) Educational service units shall:(a) Act primarily as service agencies in providing core servicesand services identified and requested by member school districts;(b) Provide for economy, efficiency, and cost-effectivenessin the cooperative delivery of educational services;(c) Provide educational services through leadership, research,and development in elementary and secondary education;(d) Act in a cooperative and supportive role with the StateDepartment of Education and school districts in development and implementationof long-range plans, strategies, and goals for the enhancement of educationalopportunities in elementary and secondary education; and(e) Serve, when appropriate and as funds become available,as a repository, clearinghouse, and administrator of federal, state, and privatefunds on behalf of school districts which choose to participate in specialprograms, projects, or grants in order to enhance the quality of educationin Nebraska schools.(3) Core services shall be provided by educationalservice units to all member school districts. Core services shall be definedby each educational service unit as follows:(a) Core services shall be within the following service areasin order of priority: (i) Staff development which shall include access tostaff development related to improving the achievement of students in povertyand students with diverse backgrounds; (ii) technology, including distanceeducation services; and (iii) instructional materials services;(b) Core services shall improve teaching and student learningby focusing on enhancing school improvement efforts, meeting statewide requirements,and achieving statewide goals in the state's system of elementary and secondaryeducation;(c) Core services shall provide schools with access to servicesthat:(i) The educational service unit and its member school districtshave identified as necessary services;(ii) Are difficult, if not impossible, for most individualschool districts to effectively and efficiently provide with their own personneland financial resources;(iii) Can be efficiently provided by each educational serviceunit to its member school districts; and(iv) Can be adequately funded to ensure that the serviceis provided equitably to the state's public school districts;(d) Core services shall be designed so that the effectivenessand efficiency of the service can be evaluated on a statewide basis; and(e) Core services shall be provided by the educational serviceunit in a manner that minimizes the costs of administration or service deliveryto member school districts.(4) Educational service units shall meet minimum accreditationstandards set by the State Board of Education that will:(a) Provide for accountability to taxpayers;(b) Assure that educational service units are assisting andcooperating with school districts to provide for equitable and adequate educationalopportunities statewide; and(c) Assure a level of quality in educational programs andservices provided to school districts by the educational service units.(5) Educational service units may contract to provide servicesto:(a) Nonmember public school districts;(b) Nonpublic school systems;(c) Other educational service units; and(d) Other political subdivisions, under the Interlocal CooperationAct and the Joint Public Agency Act.(6) Educational service units shall not regulate school districtsunless specifically provided pursuant to another section of law. SourceLaws 1987, LB 688, § 1; R.S.1943, (1994), § 79-2201.02; Laws 1996, LB 900, § 921; Laws 1997, LB 806, § 57; Laws 1999, LB 87, § 89; Laws 2006, LB 1208, § 8; Laws 2007, LB641, § 34; Laws 2009, LB549, § 45. Cross ReferencesInterlocal Cooperation Act, see section 13-801.Joint Public Agency Act, see section 13-2501.