NSCAS Reporting and Data Use 5

Question 1

Which NSCAS assessment is specifically designed to measure student growth and is administered in the fall and spring?

Accepted Answer

NSCAS Growth (MAP Growth)

Answer

NSCAS Growth uses MAP Growth assessments administered twice yearly to measure individual student progress across the school year.

Question 2

A parent asks what their child's 'RIT score' on NSCAS Growth means. Which explanation is MOST accurate?

Accepted Answer

It is a scale score that shows where the student is on a learning continuum independent of grade level

Answer

RIT (Rasch Unit) scores place students on a continuous scale that spans grade levels, allowing tracking of growth over time.

Question 3

Under Nebraska's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, which indicator uses NSCAS data as part of school accountability ratings?

Accepted Answer

Academic Achievement indicator

Answer

Nebraska's ESSA plan uses NSCAS proficiency rates as a core component of the Academic Achievement indicator in its accountability system.

Question 4

Which practice BEST protects student data privacy when a district presents NSCAS results to the community?

Accepted Answer

Reporting only aggregate and subgroup data, suppressing cells with fewer than the minimum n-size

Answer

Aggregate reporting with suppression of small cells prevents identification of individual students while still informing the public.

Question 5

A district finds that NSCAS ELA scores declined school-wide over three years. Which additional data source would BEST help determine whether the decline is an instructional issue or a demographic shift?

Accepted Answer

Changes in student enrollment demographics (EL, poverty, mobility) over the same period

Answer

Demographic shifts such as increased EL enrollment or higher poverty rates can affect aggregate scores and must be considered alongside instructional quality data.

(NSCAS) Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System Practice Test

(NSCAS) Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System Practice Test

NSCAS Reporting and Data Use 5