Reporting and Data Use Flashcards

Under FERPA, who must provide written consent before a student's NSCAS individual report can be shared with an outside educational researcher?

Answer: The student's parent or legal guardian

FERPA requires parental consent before personally identifiable student information is disclosed to outside parties without an applicable exception.

Which NSCAS reporting feature allows educators to see how this year's fourth graders compare to last year's fourth graders on the same standards?

Answer: Grade-level cohort comparison

Grade-level cohort comparisons show status trends for a particular grade across different groups of students over time.

What is the primary purpose of the Student Growth Percentile (SGP) measure in Nebraska assessment reporting?

Answer: To show how much a student grew compared to peers with similar prior scores

SGPs contextualize individual growth by comparing each student's progress to academically similar peers, not to the general population.

A district data team notices a large gap in NSCAS Science scores between Title I and non-Title I schools. Which data source should they examine ALONGSIDE assessment results?

Answer: Enrollment, poverty, and resource allocation data

Contextual data such as poverty rates and resource distribution helps explain performance gaps and informs equitable resource planning.

Which NSCAS reporting level provides the most granular information about an individual student's performance on specific standards?

Answer: Strand or domain-level detail on the individual student report

Individual student reports include strand-level breakdowns that pinpoint exactly which standards a student has or has not mastered.

When NSCAS results are used in a school improvement plan, which timeline is MOST appropriate for setting measurable targets?

Answer: Annual targets aligned to multi-year improvement goals

Effective school improvement plans set annual, incremental targets that contribute to longer-term proficiency goals.

If a student was absent on the primary NSCAS testing day and took a make-up session, how are their scores typically treated in reports?

Answer: Their scores are included in school and district reports the same as all other tested students

Make-up scores are valid and are included in aggregate school and district reports under standard reporting protocols.