English Language Arts Standards

Nebraska's College and Career Ready Standards for English Language Arts

The ability to use language for the pursuit of knowledge, for purposeful expression, and for active participation in civic life requires academic content standards that are clearly defined and increasingly rigorous across grade levels. The Nebraska English Language Arts standards encompass a wide range of essential skills in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The standards, both individually and as an integrated whole, describe not only expectations for college, career, and civic readiness, but the 21st century literacies necessary for critical and innovative thinking and problem solving. The progression of skills within each strand are research and evidence-based and designed to prepare Nebraska’s students for post-secondary and workforce demands.

Key Instructional Shifts for Quality Implementation CCR Standards

Recent revisions and updates to Nebraska content standards, per Nebraska Revised Statute 79-760.01, require a number of key shifts that require thoughtful changes in instruction. An overview is provided in the key instructional shifts in the subject areas of English Language Arts.

ELA Standards Resources

The Student-friendly Standards are “I can…” statements directly correlated to Nebraska’s 2021 College and Career Ready Standards for English Language Arts. These statements were written using accessible language that is consistent with the Standards and designed to spiral between grade levels for coherence in early literacy instruction. Student-friendly standards are written so that all students can easily understand the statements and to guide their own learning within district-approved, grade-level instructional materials. The Standards can be printed and displayed in classrooms, and may also be shared with families and other caregivers to support foundational skills, along with the NDE’s Read-At-Home Plan for Student Success.

Updated September 16, 2024 4:44pm