Academic Standards on State Board’s Agenda

Rachel Wise, District 3, Nebraska State Board of Education 

Rachel Wise

Too Much To Write….Too Little Time!!

This month there are three major topics that I would like to touch base on. All three of these topics are important to the State Board of Education, to Nebraska schools and in ensuring continued high-quality public education in Nebraska!

First, I want to touch base on standards, again! A review of the academic standards in English/Language Arts has been underway at the Nebraska Department of Education. During the April meeting, a draft of the revised standards was released for public comment. The revised standards as well as a survey for public comment can be found on the NDE website at http://www.education.ne.gov/StandardsSurvey/index.html. Please go online to provide your input by May 31^st. In June, the standards will be revised based on your feedback and additional public comment will be requested in July. As stated in previous articles, the primary authors of Nebraska standards are Nebraska teachers–elementary teachers, secondary teachers and faculty from community colleges, colleges and universities. Nebraska’s standards development process included a review of standards from other states and national standards before identifying broad standards, grade level standards and curricular indicators. Local school districts are responsible for developing their local curriculum based on standards and for adopting appropriate instructional materials.

Second, I want to talk about Nebraska State Assessments (NeSA), the statewide tests that look at student progress in writing, reading, math and science. As I have stated in previous articles, we have had technical difficulties with testing this year. We have been working through assurances for next year with the testing vendor, Data Recognition Corporation, and we will make a decision in June regarding the 2014/2015 DRC contract. The challenges we have encountered this year and the feedback we are receiving about “too much testing” has told us that we need to take a good hard look at what we are doing with assessment. Over the next few months, we will seek input and review what the state is asking schools to do relative to assessment. I will keep you posted on the progress of this review and on your opportunities to provide input.

Finally, we have moved forward on some accountability issues. We have two levels of accountability requirements to consider; a new state law and federal requirements under No Child Left Behind. At the May state board meeting, we asked Commissioner Matt Blomstedt to put together a potential plan to seek a waiver from the federal government’s accountability requirements in No Child Left Behind and to define the relationship between a possible waiver request and the expectations in the new state law on accountability. At the federal level, 2014 is the magic year for all students to be 100 percent proficient in reading and math. Nebraska students have been making gains in reading and math. However, it is unrealistic for the federal government to expect all students to be 100 percent proficient. The consequences the federal government has set for not meeting this unrealistic benchmark are also unrealistic for schools and communities, especially those in rural settings! I will spend a little more time in June on this issue, including strategies and next steps Nebraska may take relative to a waiver as presented by Commissioner Blomstedt.

This article represents my personal view, not that of the State Board of Education or my role as president. Feel free to contact me at rachel.wise@nebraska.gov. Search the Nebraska Department of Education website at http://www.education.ne.gov to learn more about education in our state.