²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s Department of Data, Assessment, Research and Evaluation leads, designs, and organizes testing. Assessment is key to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ because it allows teachers and staff to make data-informed decisions. DARE focuses on providing:
- Variety of high quality assessments to meet numerous purposes
- Minimal testing time, thus maximum teaching time
- Ethical and appropriate testing practices
- Test administration training
- Assurance of test security
- Timely communication of results
The ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Public ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ establishes the expectation that the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ comprehensive student assessment system be aligned with our written and taught curriculum in order to:
- Monitor student progress and level of College and Career Readiness
- Monitor the progress of students in a program, school, or the district
- Aid in planning and providing classroom instruction appropriate to student needs
- Assist in making decisions about student placement
- Provide information for program monitoring, management, and evaluation
The ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ comprehensive student assessment system is further explained in:
- Policy 6315: ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Education Program: Use of Assessment Data and accompanying rules
- Policy 6320: Students’ Graduation and accompanying rules
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Assessment System
NSCAS: ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ students take a variety of assessments throughout their school years. All students take state tests known as NSCAS, or Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System. The Nebraska Department of Education compiles these results by schools for the Nebraska Education Profile, also known as the NEP. The NEP profiles every district and school in the state.
MAP Growth:Ìý ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ also gives the MAP Growth test, orÌýMeasures of Academic Progress. This is a testing tool that we are finding very motivational for students.ÌýThe MAP Growth test is given three times a year.Ìý Students get immediate results, and those results are compared to how the student did on previous tests.Ìý Students are in competition with themselves for their best possible personal score.Ìý Teachers help students set MAP Growth goals and work toward them.
ACT: All ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ students take the ACT in the spring of their junior year. In addition to being the state test for juniors, the opportunity to take the ACT free of charge helps juniors meet college application requirements and can lead to possible scholarships for those with qualifying scores.Ìý
Please note that some links are live and are controlled by organizations outside of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. Educators are asked to use professional discernment and follow Board Policy and Rule when using these resources.
For a description of all of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s assessments, look through our brochure Understanding ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Public ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Assessments. This publication is updated each year and is available in multiple languages.Ìý