2025 NECounts and District Annual Determinations
Public Comments Accepted - January 16, 2025 - February 15, 2025
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) is offering the public the opportunity to comment on its proposal to change certain elements of NECounts and district annual determinations.
NDE is required to make an annual determination on the performance of each school district under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), consistent with sections 616(a) and (e) of the IDEA. NDE makes this district annual determination using both outcome and compliance data. NDE is also required to assess each school district for risk under the Uniform Grant Guidance, determining the school district’s risk of noncompliance with federal statutes and regulations and whether the school district may not achieve intended outcomes with federal special education dollars. NDE combines the data analysis, technical assistance, and monitoring of NECounts and district annual determinations in one process, NECounts and district annual determination.
34 C.F.R. § 300.165(a) requires a State to “ensure that there are public hearings, adequate notice of the hearings, and an opportunity for comment available to the general public, including individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities” prior to adopting any policies or procedures that the State needs to comply with Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In addition to this requirement, NDE is genuinely interested in the feedback of stakeholders on implementing these very important processes.
This proposed technical guide, “2025 NECounts and District Annual Determinations” may be reviewed on the NDE – Office of Special Education Website at https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/, outlines the processes NDE’s Office of Special Education proposes to use for the 2025 NECounts and district annual determinations, which will be released September 1, 2025. NDE will accept and consider public comments prior to adopting this technical guide.
Please submit written comments to nde.SPEDRFP@nebraska.gov or mail comments to Office of Special Education, Nebraska Department of Education, 500 S. 84th St., 2nd Floor Lincoln, Nebraska, 68510-2611.
For specific questions related to NDE requests for comments, please contact Kelly Wojcik at kelly.wojcik@nebraska.gov.
As a condition of receiving IDEA funds, the State agency (which is the SEA under IDEA Part B Section 611 and Section 619 and the LA under IDEA Part C) must have a general supervision system. This system includes multiple components such as monitoring to — (1) improve educational results and functional outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that LEAs and EIS programs and providers meet the requirements under IDEA.
State General Supervision Responsibilities Under Parts B and C of the IDEA
As part of Nebraska’s “Journey to Inclusion,” we are excited to work with our partners at Hanover Research to develop meaningful and easy-to-use resources to inform stakeholders about how to support inclusive efforts. This published infographic “Best Practices in Special Education NDE” highlights instructional strategies that not only support students with special needs but all students in the classroom. These high-impact instructional strategies are also aligned with selections found in the Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) that schools submit to portray continuous improvement efforts within Special Education programs.
In December 2023, this infographic was reviewed by Nebraska’s Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) and we are excited to share it widely. Stayed tuned for the next publication, “Benchmarking Co-Teaching Policies & Practices.”
Upcoming SPED Events

2025 Nebraska MTSS Summit – Hybrid
“Road Trip – Navigating Literacy on the MTSS Highway”
October 9-10, 2025
Younes Conference Center North
Kearney, Nebraska
Participants may attend in person at the Younes Conference Center North or participate virtually.
REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION – COMING SOON!