“A culture of school success for every student, every day!” is the aim of the Educator Effectiveness tenet of the Nebraska Department of Education’s (NDE’s) Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow (AQuESTT) framework. The NDE is committed to ensuring that all students have equitable access to effective teachers and principals who hold a genuine belief that each child can learn and grow. Teachers are the single most important school-based factor affecting student achievement (McCaffrey et al., 2003), and school leadership is second only to teaching among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn in school (Gates et al., 2019). A shift in how Nebraska supports and develops teachers and principals is essential to ensuring each student has what they need at the right moment, at the right level, and with the right intensity.
The determination of student needs must be rooted in the collection and analysis of multiple sources of relevant data. Meaningful use of data leads to systematic educational decisions, ensuring all students have the opportunity to achieve at high levels (Datnow & Park, 2015). Most importantly, the disaggregation of data to analyze and address the needs of specific student groups is essential to providing equitable access to each student. The enhanced usage of student, teacher, and principal data to make decisions about student needs must be a collective effort among the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), local educational agencies (LEAs), Educational Service Units (ESUs), Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs), and other educational organizations.
The Nebraska Department of Education and its partners are committed to leading and supporting all Nebraskans in learning, earning, and living. For more resources, visit the Office of Coordinated School and District Support.