News Release

December 1, 2017

NDE RELEASES STATE ASSESSMENT SCORES

Today the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) released information and statewide assessment scores on the Nebraska Education Profile (NEP).

NEP highlights include the performance of students by district and school in English language arts, mathematics, science, and the ACT as well as performance by groups of students, including race and ethnicity, poverty, special education, and English Language Learners. The NEP is intended to help inform the public and school officials about school district performance and to provide data needed for sound decision-making by education leaders.

The NEP includes results for the new English Language Arts (ELA) assessment, a more rigorous assessment with higher expectations for college and career readiness. “The ELA assessment represents a new baseline in Nebraska. We have raised the bar because it is clear that success beyond high school relies on a set of high expectations,” said Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt. “We know that raising this bar requires a substantial movement to align efforts to meet expectations for the future.”

Over the next few years, Nebraska’s Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow (AQuESTT) will demonstrate progress toward state goals, increase college and career readiness, and improve the quality of educational opportunities for students across the state. Furthermore, NDE will be announcing the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) early next year, aimed at preparing students for success in postsecondary education, career, and civic life.

ACT results are also included on the NEP, which was given to nearly all Nebraska juniors statewide for the first time.  The ACT replaced the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessment for the 11th grade.

Nebraska students continue to show success and improvement across grade levels.  More than seven out of ten students are meeting or exceeding standards in math and science and more than half of all students are already meeting the new increased standards in ELA.  More than half of 11th graders are on track or meeting ACT benchmarks.

Parents received a report on their child’s scores from their local school district earlier this fall.

The Nebraska Education Profile can be viewed at: http://nep.education.ne.gov/.

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David Jespersen
Public Information Officer, Nebraska Department of Education
402-471-4537
david.jespersen@nebraska.gov
@NDE_News