LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials say they are working on a plan to improve the education of children in state custody.

The state Department of Health and Human Services is working with the state Education Department on the plan.

Thomas Pristow, who leads the children and family services programs, says state wards are already experiencing a trauma in their families that disrupts their lives.

Pristow says it’s important for officials to try to minimize the amount of disruption in the education of state wards.

Across Nebraska, statistics show that 84 percent of all students graduate from high school while only 43.5 percent of state wards graduate.