NSCAS Overview
The Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS), pronounced “en-skass,” is a new statewide assessment system that embodies Nebraska’s holistic view of students and helps them prepare for success in postsecondary education, career, and civic life. It uses multiple measures throughout the year to provide educators and decision makers at all levels with the insights they need to support student learning.
NSCAS Summative Assessment Administration
NSCAS General Summative Assessments
NSCAS-English Language Arts
- Grades 3-8
NSCAS-Mathematics
- Grade 3-8
NSCAS-Science
- Grades 5 & 8
NSCAS ACT
- High School*
NSCAS Alternate Summative Assessments
NSCAS-AA-English Language Arts
- Grades 3-8, High School*
NSCAS-AA-Mathematics
- Grade 3-8, High School*
NSCAS-AA-Science
- Grades 5 & 8, High School*
ELPA21
- K-12 English Learners
*Note: Students who are in their third year of cohort at the high school level will participate in the college entrance exam-the ACT, or in the NSCAS- Alternate Assessments
NSCAS Summative Assessment Resources
NSCAS Documents
NSCAS Accessibility Manual – Updated 4.4.23
– Accessibility Tools 1-3 short form – Updated 3.9.23
*Accommodations list included
School Age Instruction for Students with Disabilities
(Includes Alternate Standards Documents)
School Age Statewide Assessment Tests for Students with Disabilities
(Includes Alternate Assessment Information)
2022-2023 NSCAS Summative Test Windows – Posted 4.28.22
2022-2023 NSCAS Growth Scheduling Guidance
2022-2023 NSCAS Test Administration Orientation (PowerPoint) – Posted 8.15.22
Suggestions for Smooth Testing Process
NSCAS Growth Retest Guidelines Posted 04.18.23
NSCAS Security Procedures
NSCAS Assessment Security Manual – Updated 8.15.22
NSCAS Security Procedures – Updated 8.15.22
NSCAS Observation Checklist– Updated 3.21.23
Testing Irregularity
Report of Testing Irregularity Form – Updated 04.18.23
Confidentiality Agreements
Sample District Security Policy
Building Principal Security Agreement- Updated 8.15.22
DAC Confidentiality Agreement – Updated 8.15.22
Test Development Confidentiality Agreement
Summer 2023 NSCAS Post-Test Verification Schedule
Emergency Medical Waiver Form for NSCAS, ACT, ELPA 21– Updated 10.14.22 – Please fax to our office 402.742.2319
EL Status Guidance – Posted 9.1.22
2022-2023 NSCAS Not Tested Codes Guidelines – Posted 9.1.22
Not Tested Codes Tips & Processes – Posted 4.18.23
2022-2023 NSCAS Roster Review Process
2022-2023 NSCAS ACT Irregularity Report
Go to the ADVISER Data Guidance tab of the ADVISER Resources page for the latest version of the following guidelines:
- ADVISER Data Elements
- Who Reports What
- Systems Involved Student Report
2022 Administrators’ Day – July 27, 2022
NSCAS Update: High Level Review of All Things NSCAS (Includes livestream link)
NSCAS Growth Reimagines the Role of Statewide Summative Assessments (Includes livestream link)
Refreshingly Familiar – NSCAS ACT Update (includes livestream link)
Reimagining Professional Learning (includes PowerPoint link)
FASN Early Adopters Information Session (includes PowerPoint link)
General NSCAS Information
2022-2023 NSCAS FAQs – Updated 8.23.22
NSCAS Infographic – Updated 3.26.21
NSCAS One Page Info Sheet– Updated 2.5.21
NSCAS 2020-2021 Key Messages – Updated 3.18.21
Teacher & Parent Communication
ISR Parent Letter 2022-2023 (pdf)
ISR Parent Letter 2022-2023 (doc)
ISR Parent Letter 2022-2023 Spanish (pdf)
ISR Parent Letter 2022-2023 Spanish (doc)
2021 NSCAS General Summative Overview – For Educators – Updated 3.26.21
2021 NSCAS General Summative Overview – For Parents – Updated 3.26.21
ACT
NSCAS ACT ISR 2021 Additional Guidance – Posted 3.2.21
NSCAS ACT Family Letter – Posted 3.1.21 (Give to students after testing)
NSCAS ACT Family Letter – Spanish – Posted 3.5.21 (Give to students after testing)
Professional Learning
NSCAS Professional Learning Overview 2020-2021 – Posted 4.27.21
NSCAS Professional Learning Descriptions 2020-2021– Posted 4.27.21
NSCAS Legislative Policy Brief
2022-2023 SAA Update Updated 3.16.23
SAA Update 22 – Posted 2.22.21
SAA Update 21 – Updated 2.11.20
SAA Update 20 – January 2018
2016 RFP
Attachment A–RFP NDE.GA.ASMT.2016, 86 pages
Attachment B consists of the following portions of the DRC bid proposal
The signed RFP bidder form (first page of the RFP), 1 page
Completed Bidder Contract Sheet (page 75 of the RFP), 1 page
Initialed Part III Terms and Conditions (pages 10 through 28 of the RFP), 18 pages
Section 4 (Technical Approach) of the DRC technical proposal dated February 1, 2017, 286 pages
Memo for NeSA ELA Peer Review Support, dated April 28, 2017, 2 pages
Memo for Development of Mathematics Achievement Level Descriptors, dated August 8, 2017, 6 pages
Memo for Development of Science Indicators, dated September 21, 2017, 2 pages
Attachment C Statement of Work-Nebraska Alternate Assessment
Attachment D consists of the following portions of the NWEA bid proposal
The signed RFP bidder form (second page of the RFP), 1 page
Completed Bidder Contract Sheet (page 6 of the RFP), 1 page
Cost Proposal of the NWEA proposal dated February 1, 2017
Technical Proposal of the NWEA proposal dated February 1, 2017,
Section 4 (Technical Approach) of the NWEA technical proposal dated February 1, 2017, 345 pages