The Nebraska Department of Education said literacy and chronic absenteeism are among its priorities as the agency shares the 2023-24 assessment and accountability results. The assessments measure state educational standards and how schools are doing statewide. The Nebraska Student Centered Assessment System (NCAS) for the 2023-2024 school year shows improvement among some students.Among students in grades three through eight, 59% are proficient in English language arts, 58% in math and 74% science.At the high school level, Nebraska juniors were 45% proficient in ELA, 42% in math and 49% in science.Nebraska Commissioner of Education Brian Maher said many groups saw improvement.”Students representing different demographics including race, ethnicity, special education, free and reduced-price lunch and English learners all saw growth compared to last year,” Maher said.However, there are still achievement gaps that need to be addressed.”Proficiency in third grade dropped from 65% to 62% in ELA,” Maher said.He said literacy is one of the Nebraska Department of Education’s focuses. Its goal is to increase third-grade proficiency in ELA to 75% by 2030.Omaha Public Schools has its own goal.Superintendent Matthew Ray wants all students at OPS reading at grade level by 2030. To meet this goal, the district moved to a structured literacy format. It consists of direct instruction, practice and testing. Another focus statewide and at OPS is chronic absenteeism.Due to the holiday, OPS did not have staff available for an interview Wednesday. Staff prepared a pre-recorded interview on the assessment and accountability results in anticipation of media questions.In this video, Chief School Improvement Officer Susanne Cramer said OPS wants to work with families to reduce absenteeism rates. “We know that when students are in school on time and every day, they’re learning,” Cramer said.On November 19, we spoke with OPS leadership who said absenteeism increased to 40.2% last school year. It steadily increased over the last two years.Maher says this phenomenon could be one thing impacting test scores.”It’s hard to say it impacts it by X percent, but I would say it’s very intuitive to know that chronic absenteeism is an issue,” Maher said.Kathy Poehling with the Omaha Education Association believes staffing levels also impact scores. During a phone call Wednesday, she said that’s because teachers have less one-on-one time with students.Despite this, Cramer said test scores and school classifications have improved.In the last three years, ELA scores increased 11 points, nine points in math and 13 in science.Maher said the board continues to look for solutions to chronic absenteeism.”I don’t have great answers yet on great outcomes, but I can tell you we are working together with schools and with multiple state agencies to try to address the issue,” Maher said.They are also prioritizing literacy. He added, in August the Nebraska Department of Education received a federal grant of $55 million over five years to advance literacy. This includes an emphasis on kids, including those living in poverty, English learners and kids with disabilities. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
The Nebraska Department of Education said literacy and chronic absenteeism are among its priorities as the agency shares the 2023-24 assessment and accountability results.
The assessments measure state educational standards and how schools are doing statewide.
The Nebraska Student Centered Assessment System (NCAS) for the 2023-2024 school year shows improvement among some students.
Among students in grades three through eight, 59% are proficient in English language arts, 58% in math and 74% science.
At the high school level, Nebraska juniors were 45% proficient in ELA, 42% in math and 49% in science.
Nebraska Commissioner of Education Brian Maher said many groups saw improvement.
“Students representing different demographics including race, ethnicity, special education, free and reduced-price lunch and English learners all saw growth compared to last year,” Maher said.
However, there are still achievement gaps that need to be addressed.
“Proficiency in third grade dropped from 65% to 62% in ELA,” Maher said.
He said literacy is one of the Nebraska Department of Education’s focuses.
Its goal is to increase third-grade proficiency in ELA to 75% by 2030.
Omaha Public Schools has its own goal.
Superintendent Matthew Ray wants all students at OPS reading at grade level by 2030.
To meet this goal, the district moved to a structured literacy format.
It consists of direct instruction, practice and testing.
Another focus statewide and at OPS is chronic absenteeism.
Due to the holiday, OPS did not have staff available for an interview Wednesday. Staff prepared a pre-recorded interview on the assessment and accountability results in anticipation of media questions.
In this video, Chief School Improvement Officer Susanne Cramer said OPS wants to work with families to reduce absenteeism rates.
“We know that when students are in school on time and every day, they’re learning,” Cramer said.
On November 19, we spoke with OPS leadership who said absenteeism increased to 40.2% last school year. It steadily increased over the last two years.
Maher says this phenomenon could be one thing impacting test scores.
“It’s hard to say it impacts it by X percent, but I would say it’s very intuitive to know that chronic absenteeism is an issue,” Maher said.
Kathy Poehling with the Omaha Education Association believes staffing levels also impact scores.
During a phone call Wednesday, she said that’s because teachers have less one-on-one time with students.
Despite this, Cramer said test scores and school classifications have improved.
In the last three years, ELA scores increased 11 points, nine points in math and 13 in science.
Maher said the board continues to look for solutions to chronic absenteeism.
“I don’t have great answers yet on great outcomes, but I can tell you we are working together with schools and with multiple state agencies to try to address the issue,” Maher said.
They are also prioritizing literacy. He added, in August the Nebraska Department of Education received a federal grant of $55 million over five years to advance literacy. This includes an emphasis on kids, including those living in poverty, English learners and kids with disabilities.