Assessment Terms
Assessment Terms and Definitions are listed below:
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) - annual “status check” of selected data elements within all school building in the state. Determines whether or not buildings are providing for the achievement of all students. A direct result of the No Child Left Behind Act, examining all schools. Currently, we report academic performance for students in reading and math yearly.
Assessment Team - a selected group of specific individuals, trained to collect and analyze data. This team compiles district data for distribution to designated individuals and / or groups. Assessment Team Members
Assessment Review Team- Team that is independent of the actual writing of assessments. Reviews district used assessments for quality indicators.
Balanced Assessment Approach
Nebraska City Public Schools uses a balanced assessment approach which incorporates the use of Norm Referenced Testing (NRT’s), Criterion Referenced Testing (CRT’s) and Classroom Assessments. These assessments are a combination of performance and traditional assessments and are based on both the Nebraska State Standards and our own locally developed “Learner Wills” that reflect Nebraska City Public School Curriculum objectives. Nebraska City Public Schools is proud to maintain that assessment is essential to the improvement of instruction process and aids teachers in determining student strengths and weaknesses. It is the district’s commitment to promote student achievement.
CRT’s– Criterion Referenced Tests
Nebraska City Public Schools gives these teacher developed assessments based on local curriculum in grades 3, 5, 8 & 10. They cover Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. CRT’s are also in place for other subject areas.
Classroom Assessments-
Teacher developed tests, show the relationship among curriculum and instruction, presented after skills have been taught. They allow for mastery and corrective instruction of skills where needed. At this time, Nebraska City Public Schools has classroom assessments in place for all grades in Math and Language Arts. Tests in science and social studies are currently being identified and developed.
ESU#4- Educational Service Unit # 4. Located in Auburn Nebraska, this group of professionals provide invaluable services to our students and staff by supporting educational opportunities through leadership, providing inservice training and offering their talents and specific areas of speciality, to help improve all aspects of education. Working in pertnership with communities to enhance excellence in education. is their mission statement.
Data Retreat Team- Group responsible for more in-depth analysis of the data provided by the Assessment Team. Based on analysis, suggests school improvement goals.
Learner Will Statements-
District Developed Curriculum Standards are known as Learner Wills. These are curriculum statements that identify what we want kids to know and be able to do at each grade and subject level. First developed in 1992, under the direction of Dr. Keith Rohwer, these statements have been revised and now align with the standards set by the state of Nebraska.
Learner Will statements give students a clear target for success.
Meeting Standards and Learner Wills-
When a student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the content, skills, and /or the process included for a standard / learner will, the student is proficient and the standard has been met. Nebraska City Public Schools submits proficiency levels for students in grades 4, 8, and 11. A District assessment portfolio is sent into the state department for review in June of each year. Schools are evaluated on the portfolio and assessment results. The Nebraska City Assessment Team, Administration and School Board reviews the information.
NRT– Standardized Testing
Nebraska City Public Schools uses the Terra Nova to evaluate standard achievement in grades 4, 8, & 11 every spring. This achievement test compares our students with students across the nation.
State Wide Writing
Nebraska City participates in the State-Wide Writing Assessment, based on the Six Traits Writing Model. Local Testing is done at grades 1, 2, 4, 5, & 11. All grades practice Six Trait writing skills and integrate the traits into their classes. Grades 4, 8, and 11 report to the state.
Nebraska City Public Schools
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Educational Service Unit #4, Auburn, Nebraska
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