Lincoln, Neb. — Addressing Nebraska's critical shortage of highly qualified early childhood professionals is the focus of a bill that was heard recently by the Legislature's Education Committee. 
 
LB 773, introduced by Sen. John Stinner of Gering, would authorize creation of a statewide task force to assess the current early childhood workforce and make recommendations for growing it. The task force, to be convened by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, would bring together state agencies, higher education, child care providers, business leaders, and others who serve young children. Dr. Samuel J. Meisels, the Institute's founding executive director, testified on behalf of the bill before the Education Committee on Jan. 19. Read his testimony here.