NebraskaREADS Rules & Regulations

The NebraskaREADS initiative was created to serve the needs of students, educators, and parents along the journey to successful reading. The NebraskaREADS initiative supports the policies and practices outlined in the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, which was enacted in 2018 and went into effect during the 2019-2020 school year. The law takes a comprehensive approach to improve the early literacy skills of Nebraska’s K-3 students. It emphasizes the importance of strong early reading instruction and individualized supports for students who are struggling. The Nebraska Reading Improvement Act values the need to implement, with fidelity, targeted interventions to bring all students to grade-level proficiency. The Nebraska State Board of Education supports and encourages systemic efforts to improve early literacy for all students as outlined in their Early Literacy Position Statement.

Nebraska Revised Statute section 79-11, 157.01 requires school districts to collect and provide to the Nebraska Department of Education information related to learning disabilities, including dyslexia.

The data collecting and reporting set forth in the law is required of all Nebraska public school districts.

Beginning with school year 2023-2024, and each year after, each public school district shall provide to the State Department of Education:

• the number of students in each public school evaluated (tested) for a specific learning disability (SLD) in the area of reading ages 3 to 21;
  • this should include students assessed with instruments that identify the characteristics of dyslexia;
• the results of the evaluation (testing) to determine eligibility under the category of specific learning disability (SLD) in the area of reading;
• the number of students identified as having a reading deficiency according to assessments administered under the requirements of the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, revised statute (79-2601 to 79-2607), and;
• the number of students who have shown growth on the approved screeners (assessments) used to identify a reading deficiency from the fall administering to the spring administering.

Download a PDF of FAQ Information Related to Learning Disabilities, Including Dyslexia

Last Updated on 4/1/2024