NSCAS Alternate Summative Assessment
Alternate assessment tests have been designed for students with severe cognitive disabilities or multi-handicapping conditions, generally less than 1% of the overall student population.
Students grades 3-8 & 11 qualifying for and alternate assessment will participate in NSCAS Alternate ELA and Math assessments. Science Assessments will only be administered in grades 5, 8 & 11. When determining whether a student is eligible, refer to guidelines provided by NDE.
Alternate Summative Assessments are administered by Data Recognition Corporation(DRC.)
Alternate Summative Assessment Quick Links
2026 TEST DATES
NSCAS Alternate Window
March 23, 2026 – May 1, 2026
DRC INSIGHT: This site is password protected and is used to manage students and print materials.
NSCAS Alternate Training
2025 NSCAS Alternate Administration Training
2025 Alternate Admin Training PowerPoint – Posted 2.25.25
2025 Alternate Admin Training PDF Version – Posted 2.25.25
NSCAS Alternate Proctor Training Slides
NSCAS Alternate Proctor Training Recording
NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Administration Manuals
- NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Administration Manual Grades 3-5
- NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Administration Manual Grades 6-8
- NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Administration Manual High School
NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Student Booklets
- NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Student Booklet Grades 3-5
- NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Student Booklet Grades 6-8
- NSCAS Alternate Online Tools Training Student Booklet High School
Access to NSCAS online Tools Training via Google Chrome
Publicly accessible versions of the DRC INSIGHT test engine and the NSCAS Online Tools Training are available. Please copy the link below into Google Chrome to access these practice opportunities.
Note: Google Chrome is the only supported browser for the public version of the DRC INSIGHT Test engine.
NSCAS Alternate Documents
1% Exception Background Info – Posted 8.20.2024
1% Threshold Guidance – Posted 8.20.2024
1% Threshold Justification Document – Posted 10.10.24
Completing Justification Document for 1% – Posted 10.10.24
Justification Support Worksheet – Posted 10.10.24
Completing Justification Support Worksheet – Posted 10.10.24
“NEW” Alternate Assessment Eligibility Process and Documents
Alternate Assessment Implementation Procedures for New Eligibility Guidelines – Posted 8.20.2024
Alternate Assessment Guiding Questions – Posted 8.20.2024
Alternate Assessment Eligibility Worksheet – Posted 8.20.2024
Companion to Alternate Assessment Eligibility
IEP Team Decision Making Flow Chart
(Please use flow chart to determine if Alternate Assessment is necessary)
IEP Team Decision Making Guidelines for Nebraska Statewide Assessments
Most Significant Cognitive Disability Definition
Characteristics of Student Who Take the Alternate Assessment
NSCAS Summative & Alternate Accessibility Manual – Updated 7.30.24
–Accessibility Tools 1-3 short form – Updated 7.24.24
NOR Guidance Updated 7.25.24
English Language Arts
English Language Arts Extended Indicators
Grade 3 ELA Instructional Supports
Grade 4 ELA Instructional Supports
Grade 5 ELA Instructional Supports
Grade 6 ELA Instructional Supports
Grade 7 ELA Instructional Supports
Grade 8 ELA Instructional Supports
Math
NEW! 2024 Math Professional Development Resources– a website that includes a PowerPoint and activities created by Nebraska educators.
Grade 3 Math Instructional Supports
Grade 4 Math Instructional Supports
Grade 5 Math Instructional Supports
Grade 6 Math Instructional Supports
Grade 7 Math Instructional Supports
Grade 8 Math Instructional Supports
High School Math Instructional Supports
Science
Grade 3 Science Instructional Supports
Grade 4 Science Instructional Supports
Grade 5 Science Instructional Supports
Grade 6 Science Instructional Supports
Grade 7 Science Instructional Supports
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to ensure that the total number of students assessed in each subject using the Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (NSCAS-AA), does not exceed 1 percent of the total number of all students who take Nebraska’s State Assessments. States that anticipate they will exceed the 1 percent threshold in alternate assessment participation must submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education 90 days prior to the beginning of the alternate assessment testing window.
2024-2025
1% Cap Waiver Request 2024-2025 (Attachments Available Upon Request)
1% CAP Waiver Timeline of Activities 2024-2025
1% CAP Waiver SEA Plan for Monitoring Districts 1% Participation 2024-2025
1% Cap Waiver Public Notice Request for Comment 2024-2025
2023-2024
1% Cap Waiver Renewal Approval Letter 2023-2024
1% Cap Waiver Request 2023-2024
1% Cap Waiver Public Notice Request for Comment 2023-2024
2021-2022
1% Cap Waiver Renewal Approval Letter 2021-2022
1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Waiver Public Notice Request for Comment 2021-22
1% Cap Waiver Request for 2021-22
2020-2021
1% Cap Waiver Renewal Approval Letter 2020-2021
1% Cap Waiver Request for 2020-2021
1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Waiver Public Notice Request for Comment 2020-2021
2019-2020
Due to COVID-19, testing was cancelled so no waiver was needed
2018-2019 Waiver
1% Cap Waiver Renewal Approval Letter 2018-2019
1% Cap Waiver Renewal Request 2018-2019
1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Waiver Public Notice Request for Comment 2018-2019
2017-2018 Waiver
1% Cap Waiver Approval 2017-2018
1% Cap Waiver Request 2017-2018
1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Waiver Public Notice Request for Comment 2017-2018
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) annually requires each district to submit a justification when it anticipates testing more than 1 percent of students on the NSCAS-Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities.
Districts are required to complete the 1% Threshold document and submit to NDE.
- 1% Threshold Justification Document– Posted 8.20.2024
- Completing Justification Document for 1% – Posted 8.20.2024
ESSA requires states to make the district justification information available to the public annually.
The following Nebraska’s NCSAS Alternate Assessment justifications for exceeding the 1% Threshold are available upon request. The public may request copies of the District Justifications by year or by district. Please send requests to NDE State Assessment, NDE.stateassessment@nebraska.gov.
- 2025 District Justifications
- 2024 District Justifications
- 2023 District Justifications
- 2022 District Justifications
- 2021 District Justifications
- 2020 District Justifications
- 2019 District Justifications
- 2018 District Justifications
Table of Specifications
NSCAS Achievement Level Descriptors
Alternate Assessment Practice Test
Please Note: The practice tests are still applicable for exposing students to the test format.
NSCAS Alternate Technology
DRC INSIGHT Portal System Guide
- DRC Insight Portal User Guide 2024-2025 – Updated 2.13.25
DRC INSIGHT System Requirements
- DRC INSIGHT System Requirements
– October 2025 – February 2025
DRC INSIGHT Technology User Guide
Volume I: Introduction to Online Testing – Updated 2.13.25
Volume II: Central Office Services (COS) – Updated 2.13.25
Volume III: DRC INSIGHT – Updated 2.13.25
Volume IV: Troubleshooting– Updated 2.13.25
Contacts
For general assessment questions , contact Statewide Assessment.
nde.stateassessment@nebraska.gov
For more information about Special Education, contact Sharon Heater, Education Specialist for the Office of Special Education.
sharon.heater@nebraska.gov