District Assessment Contact (DAC)

District superintendents and ESU administrators designate ONE District Assessment Contact (DAC.) In some districts the official assessment contact is the superintendent, and in other districts the superintendent has designated a different person. The DAC will be the contact for ALL subject areas and ALL assessment-related communication within NSCAS. All official assessment notification, passwords, and required assessment decisions will be sent to that one district contact. The official district contact will receive materials for English language arts, mathematics, science, and all other assessment-related materials.

* The DAC retains the role each year unless the superintendent sends NDE an update. Superintendents are responsible for updating DAC contact information.

DAC FACTS

DAC updates are sent via email by the statewide assessment team.  Please make sure you are checking the updates and your email accepts emails coming from @Nebraska.gov.  Also please keep your DAC contact current as emails are sent frequently throughout the year.

DAC Task Management Checklist

The DAC Task Management Checklist is a tool for DAC use that includes monthly tasks to complete for all NSCAS and ELPA21 Assessments.

We also have the checklist in an excel version.

Updated 8/8/23

NSCAS KEY MESSAGES

The NSCAS Summative assessment:

  • Is built from Nebraska’s College and Career Ready standards with help from Nebraska educators.
  • Yields deeper and more precise insights into students’ grade-level performance.
  • Maximizes classroom time and enables timely intervention to support student learning.
  • Provides a stable and secure testing experience, reducing stress for students and educators.
  • Creates opportunity for students of all abilities to participate via accommodations and alternate assessments.

 The NSCAS Alternate assessment:

  • Aligns to Nebraska’s College and Career Ready Standards with Extended Indicators.
  • Provides meaningful access to grade-level content for students characterized by significant cognitive disabilities.
  • Maximizes potential for direct student interaction with the alternate assessment via the new online administration procedure, which also reduces administration effort and leads to faster delivery of results.
    * An alternate exam is available for the one percent of students who qualify for having significant cognitive disabilities
  •  The ACT College entrance exam:
  • Is the summative assessment in English language arts, math, and science at the high school level and is administered in the spring to all high school juniors.*
  • Provides more postsecondary opportunities for students in Nebraska.
  • Brings increased rigor, relevance, and expectations for students.* Students in their third-year cohort of high school
    * Students in their third-year cohort of high school

Resources For New DACS

A list of our commonly used Statewide Assessment Acronyms for new DACs and the new NSCAS Growth Assessment

NEW! DAC 101 for new DACs

We are excited to offer a new online, self-paced training for new DACs. The course is divided into five 10-15 minute modules and housed on NDE’s Canvas System.  You may register and take the course at canvas.education.ne.gov (directions for registering and logging into Canvas are also found on this page).

DAC 101: Overview & Alternate (1 hr, 17 min)

DAC 101: ACT (23:22 min)

DAC 101: Science (13:20 min)

DAC 101: ELPA21 (5:10 Min)

DAC 101: Formative Assessment (8:48 min)

DAC 101: NAEP (6:22 min)

NEW DAC CHECKLIST

√ Make sure you have filled out the DAC Change Form and have your Superintendent sign it. Return to Statewide Assessment.

√ Are you also the Technology Contract (N-TAC), please let NDE know if so.

√ Have you received notifications to sign in to all the NSCAS test management systems?

√ Have you designated as many users at your district as needed with access for test management?

√ Do you know the NSCAS testing windows and have begun planning your assessment calendar?

√ Have you looked through our website?

√ The DAC has the responsibility for maintaining assessment communication within the district. If you have any questions please contact us.

Updated November 22, 2024 4:07pm