Here is how it will work.
The second assessment contract being proposed is with NWEA- Northwest Evaluation Association.
· The contract includes MAP testing for grades 3-8 free of charge to districts and the development of statewide summative assessments that will, most likely, be initiated as fixed-form, but will transition to adaptive as soon as enough items are developed.
· Districts will not be required to administer NWEA MAP assessments. However, MAP assessments will be provided to districts at no local district cost through the state contract. Districts may choose to continue to use their previously selected nationally norm-referenced tests at their own cost if they do not want to use the MAP assessments.
· Until NDE and NWEA negotiate the final contract, we cannot determine if there are enough current items developed to provide an adaptive summative test in spring 2018. However, the plan includes progression to an adaptive test for the statewide summative tests in the next few years.
· Formative assessment is included as an option. NDE is exploring the viability of this option.
· The contract proposal includes other strong components, such as key professional development opportunities to improve student learning and development of the predictive component of MAP results to the statewide summative tests.
- All items for the summative general assessments grades 3-8 and alternate assessments grades 3-8 and 11 will be developed by Nebraska educators.
- In May 2017 Nebraska educators will participate in ACT item coding, aligning the items administered in Nebraska in spring 2017 to the Nebraska State Standards.
- In July 2017 Nebraska educators will participate in standard setting for the NeSA-English Language Arts in grades 3-8. At this time, NDE believes this standard setting will be transferable to the NWEA spring 2018 tests.
- A committee of representatives from Nebraska districts, ESUs, and NDE has been involved in the process of standard setting for the subject areas included on the ACT. The work is not yet completed. Additional members, including post-secondary representatives, are being added, and standard setting recommendations will be determined for ACT in July 2017. Aside from results based on state standard setting, students who participated in the state administration of ACT will also receive the traditional ACT individual reports to be mailed to their home addresses from four to seven weeks after testing was completed.
