INTRODUCTION FOR PARENTS 2018-2019

1. INTRODUCTION FOR PARENTS 2018-2019

2. Embodies Nebraska’s holistic view of students • Gives schools and districts valuable information about student learning • Helps teachers prepare students for a lifetime of success Introduction Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS)

3. Provides multiple types of assessments throughout the year • Reveals in-depth information about what each student knows and is ready to learn • Empowers teachers with timely and actionable insights that accelerate learning About NSCAS Putting students at the center of teaching and learning

4. Formative assessment to inform instructional approaches Interim assessment to measure academic growth and identify learning needs Summative assessment to measure student achievement About NSCAS Different assessments serve different purposes

5. Assessment Types

6. Check for understanding in the moment • Adjust teaching and learning accordingly • Used daily by Nebraska teachers to support student success Formative Assessment Check for student understanding

7. NDE makes MAP Growth available to NE districts at no cost • Teachers in 100% of NE districts use MAP Growth to: • Identify student learning needs and set goals with students • Measure academic growth within and across school years • Predict how students will do on the end-of-year state assessment Interim Assessment Identify student learning needs, measure growth

8. NSCAS General Summative—grades 3–8 Shows whether students have learned what they are expected to learn in: • English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science • Goal – more timely results NSCAS Alternate—grades 3–8 & 11 For students with significant cognitive disabilities NSCAS ACT—summative assessment for all third-year high school students Indicates college readiness in Nebraska students in: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science Valid ACT scores can be submitted to postsecondary institutions Summative Assessment NSCAS General Summative NSCAS Alternate Summative NSCAS ACT

9. NSCAS General: • Deeper view of student grade-level performance • Stable and secure testing experience reduces stress • Students of all abilities can participate NSCAS Alternate: • Access to grade-level content for students with significant cognitive disabilities • Online administration for faster results NSCAS General &NSCAS Alternate Summative Focused on the student

10. Administered in the spring to all third-year high school students, typically juniors • Provides more postsecondary opportunities for students in Nebraska • Brings increased expectations and relevance for students NSCAS ACT Focused on the student

11. Professional Learning

12. Workshops led by Nebraska-certified facilitators • Assessment literacy • Formative practices • Text-dependent analysis • Interim tools • Summative assessments • Year-round access to online professional learning resources Professional Learning Workshops and online resources to help teachers support student learning

13. Conclusion

14. Formative assessment Address student learning needs in-the-moment Interim assessment Understand student learning needs and measure growth toward learning goals Summative assessment NSCAS General & Alternate: Assess student performance against Nebraska’s content area standards NSCAS ACT: Assesses college readiness of Nebraska students Professional learning Support educators—and by extension parents—in their use of assessment data to accelerate student learning at all levels NSCAS Four core components to prepare students for a lifetime of success

15. QUESTIONS? To learn more about Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS), visit education.ne.gov/assessment/nscas-system.