ACT
The Nebraska State Statute 79-760 was updated by passage of LB 930 in spring 2016 to require that state accountability testing at the high school level be completed through the administration of a college entrance exam. ACT was selected as the exam to be administered beginning spring 2017 to all public school third-year cohort students, except those identified as needing alternate assessment.
Students will participate in ACT English, Math, Reading, and Science and Writing each spring. Although ACT writing is optional for Saturday administrations, the ACT writing test is required for state testing for all students.
All students, including special education students, English Learners, as well as foreign exchange students who are in their third-year cohort of high school must participate in the ACT. Homeschooled students enrolled less than 51% in a district, are not eligible to participate in the state test. An alternate exam is available for students who qualify as having significant cognitive disabilities. Please click on the link for the alternate assessment page.
ACT Quick Links
Spring 2026 Test Events
Test Event 1 – Initial
Standard Administration (Paper): March 24, 2026
Accommodations Administration (Paper): March 24-27; March 30-31 & April 1-3, 2026
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): March 24-27; March 30-31 & April 1-3, 2026
Test Event 2 – Initial & Make-up
Standard Administration (Paper): April 7, 2026
Accommodations Administration (Paper): April 7-10 & April 13-17, 2026
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): April 7-10 & April 13-17, 2026
Test Event 3 Make-up Only
Standard Administration (Paper): April 21, 2026
Accommodations Administration (Paper): April 21-24; April 27-30 & May 1, 2026
Standard & ACT-Authorized Accommodations (Online): April 21-24; April 27-30 & May 1, 2026
ACT Documents
Parental Consent Guidance
Parental Consent Form
Parental Consent Form – Spanish
Parental Consent Telephone Form – ACT Parental Consent TELEPHONE form is for district use only.
Determining Graduation Cohort when Enrolling High School Students
It is important that all districts use the established guidance for determining graduation cohorts when enrolling high school students. Guidance for Graduation Cohort V5.00 04.07.17 details the rules for determining the graduation cohort year. This guidance should be used whenever a district enrolls a new high school student, including foreign exchange students. The process needs to be updated for the ADVISER system. Questions should be directed to:
NDE Help Desk – Questions about the Portal or ADVISER/NSSRS
Phone: 888.285.0556
Email: ADVISERHelp@Nebraskacloud.org
This is also posted on the ACT Nebraska Website – Schedule of Events coming soon
ACT Training
ACT has released new ACT Enhancements.
Encourage your schools and districts to sign up for the latest ACT enhancement updates at: act.org/actenhancements.
PreACT is offered to districts as a test prep tool by the state. Each district has a choice to include this test at no cost to them.
- PreACT Test Dates-Fall: October 6-December 5, 2025
- PreACT Test Dates-Spring: March 3-April 24, 2026
ACT offers training webinars for the PreACT, taken in the fall or spring. The NDE encourages testing staff to watch both webinars.
- Fall PreACT Pretest Webinar: 9/11/2025 at 10 pm CT. Available on demand with registration. Click title to register.
- Fall PreACT Test Day Webinar: 9/30/2025 at 10 am CT. Click title to register.
- Spring PreACT Pretest Webinar: 2/17/2026 at 10 pm CT. Click to register
- Spring PreACT Test Day Webinar: 3/5/2026 at 10 pm CT. Click to registrater.
Contact
For information and questions on ACT, contact:
Iris Owens, Nebraska Onsite Program Liaison
Phone: 531.207.9019
E-mail: iris.a.owens@act.org