We’re thrilled to announce that we are in the process of modernizing our Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Portal, and we want YOU to be a part of it! Your feedback is incredibly important to us as we work to create a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for all users.

As part of this process, we’re inviting you to participate in a brief survey to share your thoughts on our current NDE portal and what you would like to see in the new, modernized version. Your input will directly influence the features and functionality of the new portal.

Here are some of the exciting features planned for the new portal:

1. Improved Authentication: Public district and ESU staff can say goodbye to remembering yet another user name and password! The new portal will feature improved authentication via single sign-on with district/ESU credentials, making it easier than ever to access the resources you need.
2. Easier Management of Staff Access: We understand the importance of efficiently managing staff access to data collections and reports. The new portal will provide enhanced tools for administrators to easily manage staff access, and staff to request access from their district administrator, ensuring that the right people have access to the right collections. This means NO MORE ACTIVATION CODES!
3. Enhanced Submission Calendars: Keep track of important deadlines with ease! The new portal will feature improved ability to view and track submission calendars and progress, helping you stay organized and on track.

Your feedback is essential to ensure that the new NDE portal meets the needs of our users. We want to hear from data stewards, administrators, educators, and anyone else who interacts with the portal.

To participate in the survey, simply click this link: Read More › – Exciting News: Help Shape Our New NDE Portal!

Contact Information: NDE Service Desk (NDE.ServiceDesk@Nebraska.gov)

A new ADVISER Validation error will be activated next week.

Error 802 – Residency Status Code “09” Reported in Invalid District

A student enrollment was reported with a Residency Status Code of 09 “Ward of the State/Court Assigned to a Residential Setting” (see ADVISER Data Elements for description), but no such residential setting is known to exist by NDE in the reporting district. Please correct the Residency Status Code on this record, or contact the NDE Service Desk to discuss the student’s status.

For additional information, visit the Knowledge Base article here.

Contact Information: NDE Service Desk (NDE.ServiceDesk@nebraska.gov)

Public School Districts, Special Purpose Schools and ESUs

The NDE and your SIS Vendor support teams encourage all Data Stewards, SPED staff and school leadership who approve ADVISER data to attend at least one workday every data reporting period. The NDE, SRS and SIS Vendor Support will be available to assist with any questions and troubleshooting of your 23-24 ADVISER Year End data at the following workdays:

Friday, May 31 – PowerSchool (ESU 10), Edupoint, Infinite Campus, JMC, SRS
Wednesday, June 5 – PowerSchool (NebPS), Edupoint, NebSIS, JMC, GoEdustar, SRS
Wednesday, June 12 – PowerSchool (ESU 10) (AM), PowerSchool (NebPS) (PM), Edupoint, GoEdustar, SRS

All workdays will be from 9am-3pm Central time with a 30 minute lunch break from 12-1230pm.

Who Should Attend
Data Stewards, District Administrators/Superintendents, SPED staff responsible for district ADVISER SPED data and any other staff members who review and approve ADVISER data.

Additional information, including the zoom link, presentations, work materials and pre-recorded informational sessions, can be found here (when available): https://help.education.ne.gov/knowledge-base/workdays/ Registration is not required.

Contact Information: NDE Service Desk (NDE.ServiceDesk@Nebraska.gov)

The purpose of this bulletin item is to provide information on how to request a conditional or alternative permit for teachers who have been hired to start in SUMMER or FALL 2024 and may not have all their necessary documentation prior to the first day of school with students.

A conditional permit allows someone to sign a contract and work as a certified staff member with a location (district) limitation and deficiencies that have not been met to issued a regular teaching certificate such as a content test. A conditional permit can also be requested for someone who has applied for a local substitute permit and has not completed the human relations training course.

A conditional or alternative permit can be requested by completing the Google Form for those with Summer or Fall teaching positions at https://forms.gle/TWYMHF2m3Lgcj4pf8 

More information on a Conditional Permit can be found on our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/teaching-certificates/teaching-conditional-permit/.

More information on an Alternative Permit can be found on our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/teaching-certificates/teaching-alternative-permit/

More information on a Local Substitute Permit can be found on our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/substitute-teacher/local-substitute-permit/

Contact Information: Educator Certification (nde.tcertweb@nebraska.gov or 402-471-0739)

2024-2025 Course Codes and Clearing Endorsements are now available: https://coursecodes.education.ne.gov/

The website features several helpful tools including:
1. A Changes tab in the Menu bar at the top of the page – view all changes from the prior year
2. Search Fields – search by specific key words, a Course Code number or even an Endorsement Code
3. Select Subject – select only Math, Special Education or any other subject specific courses

Contact Information: NDE Service Desk (NDE.ServiceDesk@Nebraska.gov)

The “Instructional Unit Subject Area Totals” report for the 2023-2024 school year in ADVISER Validation will be updated on 3/15/2024 with additional course offerings derived from high school course sections that have teachers but no students assigned to them. The notification explaining this change (copied below) will also be emailed out to superintendents on 3/14/2024:

Dear Nebraska Superintendents,

The Accreditation section of the NDE is notifying schools of a revised interpretation of language within Rule 10 that will allow for flexibility in meeting the instructional unit requirements. The revised interpretation ensures diverse opportunities for students while maintaining the standards of the requirement.

Rule 10 definition 002.12 Instructional Unit means 15 clock hours (900 minutes) of classroom instruction in a course offered in the secondary school. An “offered” course must meet the following criteria:

• The course offerings will meet all the necessary requirements under current Rule 10.
• A certificated teacher is available to be assigned to each course offered as part of the teacher’s daily schedule.
• Course offerings are available for students to access.
• The course has been identified as part of the current school year master schedule.

Districts will demonstrate that class offerings were available to students for the current school year through the following:

• Submission of a completed and signed the Rule 10 Assurance Statement.
• Uploaded course information through ADVISER as a “Course Offering” during the current school year.
• Proof of “Course Offerings” if requested: Registration materials for grades 9-12 of current school year.

If you have any questions regarding the new interpretation, feel free to reach out to:

Office of Accreditation, Certification and Approval

nde.accreditation@nebraska.gov

Contact Information: Office of Accreditation, Certification and Approval (nde.accreditation@nebraska.gov)

The purpose of this bulletin item is to provide information on how to request a conditional or alternative permit for teachers who have been hired to start in SPRING 2024 and may not have all their necessary documentation prior to the first day of school with students.

A conditional permit allows someone to sign a contract and work as a certified staff member with a location (district) limitation and deficiencies that have not been met to issued a regular teaching certificate such as a content test. A conditional permit can also be requested for someone who has applied for a local substitute permit and has not completed the human relations training course.

A conditional or alternative permit can be requested by completing the Google Form for those with spring teaching positions at https://forms.gle/iKTmKeMHJmVyr28e9.

More information on a Conditional Permit can be found on our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/teaching-certificates/teaching-conditional-permit/.

More information on an Alternative Permit can be found on our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/teaching-certificates/teaching-alternative-permit/

More information on a Local Substitute Permit can be found on our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/substitute-teacher/local-substitute-permit/

Contact Information: Educator Certification (nde.tcertweb@nebraska.gov or 402-471-0739)

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) is aware of the continued shortage of substitute teachers in school systems this school year.

The Commissioner may authorize additional days for local substitute teaching permit holders upon request by a Nebraska school system that demonstrates a need for additional days, beyond the 90 full-time days per school year currently allowed.  In order to authorize the additional days, the Department must receive a request from a Nebraska school system that demonstrates need.

To facilitate school system requests, the Department has created an online form. You or your school system staff can access that form here: Local Substitute Teaching Permit – Request for Additional Days Form.

Once a request has been submitted, it will be reviewed, and the school system will be notified of the authorization.

Contact Information: Brad Dirksen (brad.dirksen@nebraska.gov)