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LB 296, Finish Strong, establishes a framework to strengthen educational continuity and improve school reengagement for students involved in Nebraska’s juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The legislation is designed to address longstanding barriers that systems-involved youth face in maintaining academic progress. Successful implementation will require strong interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration among schools, juvenile justice professionals, child welfare partners, and the judiciary.
The presentation will provide participants with a practical overview of the legislation, including:
- Purpose and intent of LB 296, including NDE’s statutory responsibilities and intended outcomes for systems-involved youth;
- Key provisions of the law, including district responsibilities, educational planning requirements, and mechanisms for supporting school stability and credit attainment;
- Relevance and implications, including how courts and legal parties may support educational continuity through informed decision-making and cross-system coordination;
- Implementation considerations and timelines, including current planning efforts and anticipated operational processes
Presenter: Wendy Schardt, Director of Systems Involved Youth, Nebraska Department of Education
Wendy Schardt arrived in Nebraska in 2014, trading the DC beltway for the Nebraska’s “good life.” Originally from Pennsylvania, she began her career working with victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence in Baltimore City before transitioning to school-based mental health through a Johns Hopkins–managed program. Her work has consistently focused on the intersection of school mental health, juvenile justice, and healthcare systems.
She holds a Master of Science in Art Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School and is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner in Nebraska, with certifications in Professional Counseling and Telemental Health. She is a National Certified Counselor and a Registered Art Therapist, Board Certified, and has additional training in Family Group Conferencing in New Zealand. She is also a Certified Public Manager and holds a Six Sigma Greenbelt from George Washington University.
Wendy previously served as Director of Behavioral Health Programs in Washington, DC, and later as Director of Student Health and Counseling at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she also taught as an adjunct instructor. She now serves as Director of Systems-Involved Youth at the Nebraska Department of Education, leading efforts to improve outcomes for youth across systems.