KEARNEY, Neb. — A prominent member of the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee is weighing in on calls for an investigation into the state’s department of education.

NCN talked to Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn at an event in Kearney one day after five conservative state senators held a news conference urging an investigation. 

Linehan says she doesn’t know if an investigation is necessary, but says the senators’ concerns are valid.

“There’s been a disconnect between parents in our communities and what a handful - I don’t think it’s a huge number - but some in education think they need to be teaching,” Linehan said.

The concerns relate to a link on the Department of Education’s website that  took users to a page promoting “culturally responsive education.” The senators at Monday’s news conference said a staffer discovered the link in June. Education officials say it was removed over the summer.

Linehan hopes the concerns can be addressed by education workers being more careful.

“I wouldn’t say investigation, we just need some parameters about what gets on there, how does it get on there, and who is ultimately responsible for what is on the website,” Linehan said.

As far as the recent sparring about how to interpret the state’s drop in average ACT score, Linehan says it’s a sign of a big problem.

“That’s not going to work. It’s a crisis," Linehan said. "We need to get everybody on the same page that what we need in education is a good, basic foundation so young people can go be successful.”

State education officials say Nebraska is second among the 14 states with more than 90% of students taking the ACT. Some are pointing to that as reason not to be alarmed by the drop.

The 2023 legislative session is tentatively scheduled to start on January 4.