The 2020-2021 Statewide Assessment NSCAS Roster Workday was held on January 8.  Recording of this training with NDE and SRS along with the PowerPoint presentation are now available on the ADVISER Google website under the NDE Resources tab.  ADVISER Resources Google Site

This training is designed for district Data Stewards and District Assessment Contacts (DAC’s).

Contact Information: NDE Helpdesk (ADVISERHelp@nebraskacloud.org)

Future Ready District Technology Profile – Due Date: 03/31/2021

The Future Ready District Technology Profile will be available to public school districts on the NDE Portal under the “Data Collections” tab beginning January 25, 2021. An activation code is required to add the collection to the NDE Portal account, which can be obtained from the District Administrator. The district profile will be available for nonpublic schools through the district technology plan website (see link below). Please review the FAQ and instruction documents regarding completion of the web-based Future Ready District Technology Profile through the NDE Portal or on the NDE website shown below.

More information and resources related to the new District Technology Profile are available for districts (public and non-public) on the NDE website:

https://www.education.ne.gov/educational-technology/technology-plan/

The website includes links to the following documents:

1. PDF version of the new profile instrument
2. PDF of the instructions to access the profile in the portal
3. PDF of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
4. On January 25, link for Non-public Schools (Public schools districts must use the NDE portal)

If you have difficulties accessing the documents on the NDE website, please contact the Digital Learning Office at nde.digitallearning@nebraska.gov to request that the documents be emailed to you. Thank you.

Contact Information: nde.digitallearning@nebraska.gov

The Office of Coordinated School and District Support is pleased to announce that funding remains available for districts (up to $5,000 per district) to be used for technology that will enhance teacher/principal evaluation.  To view application, click here.

Due date for application: January 31, 2021

Funds must be used June 30, 2021.

Contact Information: Kim Snyder - kim.snyder@nebraska.gov

Public, Special Purpose, Rule 18 and ESUs Only

The Who Reports What document has been updated and posted to the ADVISER Resources website under the ADVISER Data Guidance section.

This document provides information about Nebraska School District/System responsibilities related to data reporting. The scenarios and different situations among Nebraska schools are unique and diverse, but the information provided within this publication intends to provide clarity on specific situations.

Please see the Change Summary (Appendix B) for the changes/additions that have been made to this document since it was last published regarding Career Academies and Parentally Placed Nonpublic Students.

Contact Information: NDE Helpdesk (ADVISERHelp@nebraskacloud.org)

Public School Districts, Special Purpose Schools and ESUs

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) requested, and was granted, waivers from various federal requirements related to the COVID-19 emergency.

The fiscal waivers allow the NDE to extend the period of availability of the Federal fiscal year 2018 (2018-19) funds to LEAs. Allowing obligation through September 30, 2021 and liquidation through December 30, 2021 for the following programs:

• ESEA¹: Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Title IC, Title ID Subpart 1 and 2, 21st Century CLC, RLIS, and McKinney-Vento; and
• Special Education: IDEA Part B² and Part C³.

The carryover funds from 2018-2019, with an additional year extension, now have the same obligation and liquidation deadlines as the funds from 2019-2020. NDE is unilaterally extending these deadlines for all LEAs for the carryover funds from 2018-2019.

What this means to school districts:

• Carryover timelines are extended for another year, funds do not expire December 2020.
• For the carryover, no action is needed in GMS by the districts. NDE will manually load 2019 funds released on the Final Reimbursement Request for carryover into 2020-2021 Application.
• Once loaded, to use these funds, a budget amendment is required.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your program consultant.

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1 Certain fiscal requirements under ESEA pursuant to authority under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act);

2 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B of 1996 period of availability per Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), pursuant to authority under the CARES Act; and

3 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C of 1997 period of availability per Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), pursuant to authority under the CARES…Read More › – U.S. Department of Education Waivers Granted Related to the COVID-19 Emergency Reminder

Contact Information: Steve Bauers (Steve.Bauers@nebraska.gov or 402-890-8136)

The purpose of this bulletin item is to give guidance on how to request a conditional permit for new teachers that have been hired to start in January 2021.

The certification staff have been receiving applications for December graduates and realize that some colleges will not be issuing transcripts until the middle of January. Occasionally, there are other documents that do not make it to us until after the start of the second semester. For teachers who have been hired to start in January, we may be able to issue a conditional permit if requested from the school district.

A conditional permit can be issued when we have the following items:

1. An application and fee
2. A request for a conditional permit from the school district. NOTE: A request can be completed through a Google Form for those with January teaching positions at https://forms.gle/gttCtPkcb98tbHCX8.
3. Fingerprints (if needed) – A set of fingerprint cards would need to be logged in our office in order for a conditional to be issued but not cleared by the NSP.
4. A document from the college stating that a program has been completed. Preferred: An IV from the college and a “close to final” transcript showing HRT and SPED courses. Minimum: A letter in lieu of a transcript stating that the candidate has completed a program of study along with the required HRT and SPED courses.
5. Praxis I and Praxis II scores

Deficiencies that can be placed on the permit include one or a combination of the following: a final transcript, an IV, Praxis I scores, Praxis II score(s), HRT, SPED, and/or clearance of fingerprints from the NSP. A limitation on the permit will always be the district requesting the conditional. The items that…Read More › – Spring 2021 Conditional Permits – January New Teachers

Contact Information: Clayton Waddle (clayton.waddle@nebraska.gov or 402-471-0738)

The Counselor and Library/Media Specialists Not Endorsed 2020-2021 collection opens November 30, 2020.  This collection can be found in the NDE Portal under the Data Collections tab.  The collection is designed to identify any guidance counselors or library/media specialists who are not currently endorsed in these areas but are serving in that capacity while enrolled in a program to complete their endorsements.

The site allows districts to annually update the progress being made by the identified individuals toward their completion of either the counselor or library/media specialist endorsement.

NOTE: The option for allowing individuals not properly endorsed to serve in either capacity is described in Rule 10, Section 007.04B Media/Technology Staff and Section 007.05D Guidance Staff.

The Main Page is visible upon entering the collection. Select the Enter/Edit Data button to access online data entry.

Contact Information: NDE Helpdesk (ADVISERHelp@nebraskacloud.org)