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Nebraska State Accountability:
NeSA-Writing – 2013

Welcome to the 2013 NeSA report on student results for writing in grades 4, 8, and 11.

A comparison of 2012 and 2013 results showed more students in grades 8 and 11 are meeting or exceeding the state’s writing standards. Nebraska recently revised its scoring process so comparable test results are available for two years at grades 8 and 11 and one year at grade 4.

Nebraska Writing Comparison 2012 and 2013
GRADE 2012 2013 % CHANGE
%
BELOW		 % MEETS/EXCEEDS %
BELOW		 % MEETS/EXCEEDS
4TH ** ** 32% 68% **
8TH 36% 64% 34% 66% 2%
11TH 38% 62% 32% 68% 6%
**Please note: Trend data not available


NeSA writing tests were administered this winter in grades 4, 8, and 11. The tests measured the revised Nebraska state writing standards and determined Nebraska’s student writing proficiency in the designated three grades. The revised writing standards and the writing process have been strengthened and have become more college and career ready. The following chart shows the results of all three grade levels.

 
Statewide NeSA-Writing Student Results 2012-2013
GRADE LEVELAVERAGE SCALE SCORE+TOTAL # OF STUDENTS% BELOW THE STANDARDS% MEETING THE STANDARDS% EXCEEDING THE STANDARDS
4TH43.5822,23832.13%52.32%15.54%
8TH^44.85^21,097^33.93%^42.54%^23.52%^
11TH^44.60^21,069^31.82%^41.74%^26.44%^
+ The scale score range for 4th grade, 8th grade and 11th grade is 0 - 70.


^Students at grades 8 and 11 experienced formatting issues with the NeSA-Writing online test administration. While research into the score results does not indicate an effect on student results, it also does not assure there was no effect. Scores should be interpreted with caution.


In 2012 the State Board of Education raised the bar for grades 8 and 11. A new, more rigorous writing process was introduced. Students were asked to complete their compositions on the computer in an on demand writing session, and a more rigorous scoring process was applied. The new scoring rubric included higher expectations in four areas of writing: content/ideas, organization, voice/word choice, and sentence fluency/writing conventions.


In 2013, students in grade 4 were given paper/pencil tests over two days. The tests were timed, and students were scored with the newly revised writing standards and a more rigorous scoring process applied. The new scoring rubric included higher expectations in four areas of writing: content/ideas, organization, voice/word choice, and sentence fluency/writing conventions. Districts for the first time will receive specific feedback at grade 4 in the areas where writing instruction and student performance need improvement.

Grade Ideas / Content Organization Word Choice /
Voice		 Sentence
Fluency /
Conventions
2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2103
4TH *** 5.4 *** 5.3 *** 5.4 *** 5.5
8TH 5.7 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.5 5.6
11TH 5.7 5.9 5.7 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.8 5.8
***No Data Available in 2012


In April of 2012 the State Board of Education approved new, higher cut scores for both 8th and 11th grades. In April of 2013 the State Board of Education approved new, higher cut scores for 4th grade. Cut Scores are as follows:


NeSA-Writing Cut Scores for 2012-2013
 Grade 4Grade 8Grade 11
Exceeds the standards57-7055-7053-70
Meets the standards40-5640-5440-52
Below the standards0-390-390-39


Some students who participated in NeSA-Writing at grade 8 or 11 online experienced formatting issues in the test engine. The issues caused lines to wrap around incorrectly, words to break at the end of a line oddly, or at times, caused an entire essay to center. The students who experienced the formatting issues could not correct them in most cases and some students and their teachers experienced a high degree of frustration, which may have had an effect on student scores. Scores are being released, but will not be included on Nebraska Performance Accountability System [NePAS] or Adequate Yearly Progress [AYP].


School District, School Building Results

Statewide writing results have been collected in Nebraska since 2001. Writing performance has steadily improved through the years. In 2012 the Nebraska Department of Education raised the bar and began the transition toward more in-depth scoring and online testing. In 2013 scores with the in-depth scoring are provided for all three grades: 4, 8, and 11.

SCHOOL DISTRICT, SCHOOL BUILDING RESULTS

You may access the results for individual school districts and school buildings by clicking on this link: School District, School Building Results

STUDENT GROUPS
This report focuses on state, school district and school building proficiency percentages and scale scores. The results for groups of students by race/ethnicity, poverty, English Language Learners and other groups will be released in the Fall as part of the annual State of the Schools Report, a comprehensive report on Nebraska public schools.

It is important to note that the results of the State of the Schools Report released in the Fall are the final results. The results posted on this site are the preliminary results. Because of district data corrections and verifications, preliminary results are subject to change.

Final results including disaggregated data, AYP and accountability decisions will be released in the State of the Schools Report in the Fall. When the State of the Schools Report is released, this website will be closed.