Approved Assessments
Pursuant to the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act (Nebraska Revised Statute 79-2601 to 79-2607) by March 1st of each year, the Nebraska Department of Education makes public the list of reading assessments that have been approved for the following academic school year.
Please note that assessment threshold scores may vary from year to year. An asterisk (*) indicates the threshold levels have changed for that assessment.
If you have questions regarding specific changes to scores, you may contact the vendor directly.
Acadience Reading
aimswebPlus
Amira*
Amplify mClass DIBELS 8th
DRA3
FastBridge Suite
i-Ready
Indicators of Progress (ISIP)*
MAP Suite*
Star Suite*
Acadience Reading
aimswebPlus
Amira
Amplify mClass DIBELS 8th
DRA3*
FastBridge Suite
i-Ready
Indicators of Progress (ISIP)*
MAP Suite
Star Suite
Amplify Education, Inc.
Center on Teaching and Learning, University of Oregon
Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Dynamic Measurement Group (DMG)
FastBridge Learning
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (HMH)
Literably, Inc.
NCS Pearson, Inc.
NWEA
Renaissance Learning, Inc.
Riverside Insights
Amplify Education, Inc.
Center on Teaching and Learning, University of Oregon
Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Dynamic Measurement Group (DMG)
K, 1, 2, 3
FastBridge Learning
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (HMH)
Literably, Inc.
NCS Pearson, Inc.
NWEA
Renaissance Learning, Inc.
Riverside Insights
Amplify Education, Inc.
Center on Teaching and Learning, University of Oregon
Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Dynamic Measurement Group (DMG)
FastBridge Learning
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (HMH)
Literably, Inc.
NCS Pearson, Inc.
NWEA
Renaissance Learning, Inc.
Riverside Insights
Selection Process
The NDE drafted a comprehensive rubric unique to Nebraska. The Nebraska rubric borrows language for indicators related to validity, reliability, administration, scoring, and diverse populations from other states’ rubrics and criteria. In an effort to develop a literacy-centric and user-friendly tool, the Nebraska rubric minimizes the use of highly technical language, includes literacy constructs to prioritize research-based approaches to foundational skills instruction, and leverages essential questions to drive evaluation for each indicator. The draft rubric was reviewed by a small group of ad hoc committee members, revised based on stakeholder feedback, and tested using sample proposals.
In October 2021, NDE published a Request for Information (RFI) with requirements for alignment to the rubric. The following vendors submitted proposals for the indicated assessments in response to the RFI:
- Amplify Education: mClass DIBELS 8th
- Curriculum Associates: i-Ready
- EarlyBird Education: EarlyBird
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Amira
- Illuminate Education: FastBridge Suite (aReading, CBMreading, earlyReading)
- Istation: ISIP Reading
- NWEA: MAP Suite (MAP Growth Reading, MAP Reading Fluency)
- Pearson Clinical Assessment: DRA3 and aimswebPlus
- Renaissance: Star Reading Suite (Star Early Literacy, Star Reading, Star CBM Reading)
- Voyager Sopris Learning: Acadience Reading
In November 2021, the NDE convened an ad hoc committee of 16 Nebraska school district representatives well-versed in early literacy to norm on scoring using the rubric and evaluate each proposal. Evaluators first rated the proposal independently, then normed on ratings in small groups and submitted scores and evidence. Over 5 rounds of evaluation, each proposal was rated at least twice by different evaluator groups. Any assessments that scored inconsistently across groups were reevaluated by a smaller subset of the ad hoc committee in early December.
The NDE is thankful to the following Nebraska educators for sharing their expertise, time, and passion for early literacy:
- Angela Dubuc, Early Literacy Education Specialist, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
- Ann Foster, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator, Lexington Public Schools
- Audra Haas, Title Reading Specialist, Kearney Public Schools
- Brittney Bills, Curriculum Coordinator, Grand Island Public Schools
- Kady Maresh, Instructional/MTSS Coach, Fremont Public Schools
- Kendra Ross, K-6 Reading Specialist, Walthill Public Schools
- Kristin Weaver, First Grade Teacher, Loomis Public Schools
- Lisa Oltman, K-6 Language Arts Curriculum Specialist, Lincoln Public Schools
- Lori Thomas, Literacy Facilitator, Omaha Public Schools
- Mary Jo McElhose, NeMTSS Systems Consultant, Nebraska Department of Education
- Michelle Ryan, Literacy Facilitator, Omaha Public Schools
- Michelle Schleicher, Reading Specialist, Fremont Public Schools
- Sara Robinson, Academic Support Coach, Grand Island Public Schools
- Sarah Sell, Elementary Assistant Principal, Crete Public Schools
- Troy Baker, School Psychologist, Lincoln Public Schools
- Violet Glasshoff, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Gretna Public Schools