In May, Nebraska became the 49th state to enact a school choice bill. I spoke at the bill signing and could hardly believe it was reality, even as Gov. Jim Pillen announced Legislative Bill 753 was now law. For many advocates across the state, this victory was a long time coming and was the key to new opportunities for thousands of Nebraska’s neediest students.

But already, tireless supporters of the status quo are mobilizing to take those opportunities away. The Nebraska State Education Association has launched a petition drive to kill the program before it starts. One thing is certain, I will be on the frontlines to stop them and to keep kids first.

My whole life, I have known the power of a good education. As a single mother, I never would have been able to afford a private school education for my children, even though that’s what they needed. Thanks to scholarships and financial aid that I was given at Sacred Heart Catholic School, we had that opportunity – but many others aren’t so lucky.

In my role as principal at Holy Name Catholic School in North Omaha, I see this struggle every day. Families make incredible sacrifices to afford a quality education for their children, while donors and educators stretch every penny to make sure we can serve every student who wants to attend.

The passage of LB 753 felt like a reprieve and offered hope that we could continue serving students for years to come. Now, to see so many in the education establishment, which enjoys historically high funding and increases even in this last legislative session, telling us we don’t need this program and trying to take it away feels like a slap in the face. Nebraska’s families and educators deserve, and we are committed to fighting back because the kids we serve can’t wait.

For a child struggling and falling through the cracks, even a few months or years can be life-or-death. One legislator – and LB 753 opponent – famously suggested it would take 50 years to fix schools in North Omaha. But families don’t have 50 years to wait, and that’s what too many Nebraska students will have to do if opponents are successful at repealing the program.

Some claim that this program takes money from public schools and only benefits the wealthy – not true. The money for Opportunity Scholarships comes from private donations, not public-school budgets, and students are only eligible for the program if their family income is below 300% of free and reduced lunch eligibility, with first priority going to the families most in need.

Legislative Bill 753 is straightforward and similar to programs that already exist in dozens of other states. It offers $25 million in income tax credits to donors who designate funds to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that grants scholarships to parochial or private schools. These funds are not government money and do not impact public school budgets. The evidence is clear and overwhelming from every other state that has them.

Despite what those critics say, school choice is not meant to pit private schools against public schools, it’s meant to create opportunities for students. For many families, public school is a great option, and there is nothing in LB 753 that would change or take away that opportunity. If anything, there is evidence that public schools may improve in response to competition. It is a win/win for Nebraska families, parents and educators. For the sake of our future and the children we serve, Nebraskans should Decline to Sign the petition to strip opportunity from Nebraska families.

This editorial was republished from the Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. It is part of the national nonprofit States Newsroom. Find more at nebraskaexaminer.com.