The NDE is suspending summative statewide assessment (NSCAS) for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes NSCAS – General, Alternate, and ACT. The NDE intends to pursue federal waivers for testing, accountability, and reporting requirements. The NDE is working with ACT to determine if all public high school third-year cohorts who would normally take the ACT as part of the statewide assessment may have the opportunity to take the ACT free-of-charge at a later date.

NDE is working with ACT and NWEA to provide more detailed directions about returning assessment materials. Please look for these specific emails over the next couple of days.
For AQuESTT Accountability and ESSA Designations, NDE will work closely with school district leaders, the State Board of Education, and the U.S. Department of Education to pursue policy adjustments.

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) is suspending the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) testing for the week of March 16-20, 2020 due to concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and school closures across the state.

The NSCAS testing window was scheduled to open today, Monday, March 16. Right now, the priority is to ensure the health and safety of students, educators, and communities.

This is a rapidly changing situation. The NDE will continue to gather information and will share an update about NSCAS testing later this week.

Greetings,

While the NSCAS test windows have not even opened, it is already time to start planning for next year. Below is a link for an application for summer NSCAS test development work for both NSCAS General and Alternate.

We would like all districts to encourage their best and brightest educators to apply for the NSCAS test development opportunities. It is important to NDE to get broad representation from districts, and it is a great way to enhance assessment literacy in Nebraska educators! We particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. The whole process is best when diverse voices contribute to the creation and maintenance of NSCAS assessments.

Summer of 2020- NSCAS Test Development

The Chrome browser is preferred for this application. The first page of the application will offer details about content areas and dates. Please let NDE know if you have any questions about the application or the test development opportunities. The initial selection process will begin February 17.

Statewide Assessment

Guidance for Text-to-Speech 

In observance of President’s Day the NDE Statewide Assessment office will be closed on February 17, 2020.

Access the training at the link below:

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2089015/256968E94607945AB18CDEFCE31EAFB0

Statewide Assessment Office Closed for the Holidays

• 12/24/19
• 12/25/19
• 1/1/20

The Nebraska Department of Education Assessment office will being putting on Fall Assessment workshops. These workshop are intended to provide Districts with valuable information on the 2019-2020 NSCAS Assessment System in Nebraska. Topics will include information on Spring NSCAS Summative Assessments, NWEA Professional Development, and also look at the future of NSCAS.  Below you will find a link to register your attendance at a workshop in your area. Also fill free to forward the link to anyone that also may need to attend from your district.   All workshop will run from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. between October 9 – 16, 2019.

Registration Link

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Scottsbluff – ESU 13

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Kearney – Kearney Archway Museum

Friday, October 11, 2019

Norfolk – The Life Long Learning Center

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Lincoln – The Cornhusker Hotel

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Omaha – The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Hotel & Convention Center

If you have any question please contact us at 402-471-2495.

NSCAS test development opportunities are available for the summer 2019.  We encourage all educators to apply for the posted opportunities. It is important to NDE to get broad representation from districts, and it is a great learning experience for educators! NDE would also like to encourage educators with various backgrounds to apply. The whole process is best when diverse voices contribute to the creation and maintenance of NSCAS assessments.  The Application is below.

General Assessment

ELA Item Writer Workshop – June 11-13, 2019

Math Item Writer Workshop – June 11-13, 2019

Science Task Development Workshop I – June 17-21

Science Task Development Workshop II – July 8-12, 2019 or 9-12, 2019

ELA Item Content and Bias Review – July 23-25, 2019

Math  Item Content and Bias Review – July 23-25, 2019

Science Task Content and bias Review – TBD

Alternate Assessment

Alternate ELA Item Writer Workshop – June 5-6, 2019

Alternate Math Item Writer Workshop June 7, 2019

Alternate Science Item Writer Workshop June 10-13, 2019

NSCAS Application 2019

The Chrome browser is preferred for this application. The first page of the link will offer details about content areas and dates. Please let NDE know if you have any questions about the application or the test development opportunities.

Thank you,

Statewide Assessment

ACT will be closed due to weather on Wednesday January 30, 2019.  The call center will close at 5 p.m. central Tuesday and reopen on Thursday at 8 a.m.  If you are calling in on Thursday, January 31, 2019 , expect delays due to a high volume of calls.

Please contact Iris Owens if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Statewide Assessment

If you were on the webinar that started at 1 pm, there are some technical difficulties and everyone has been disconnected.  You can continue to try the link.  If you are not able to access the webinar it is being recorded and will be available soon. We will make another post once the recording is available.  Sorry about the inconvenience and let us know if you have any questions.

Statewide Assessment

Please Join us!

Thurs. January 24, 2019 1 pm CT- ACT Online Technical Readiness Webinar

Let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you!

Statewide Assessment

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day we will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2019.

Statewide Assessment

Click on the link below to register for the ACT Test Administration Q&A.

Tues. January 15, 2019 10 am CT- Nebraska ACT Test Administration Q&A #1

Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you!

Statewide Assessment