Request to Amend Accountability Plans – Nebraska – NCLB Policy Letters to States

May 18, 2007

Dr. Douglas Christensen
Commissioner
Nebraska Department of Education
301 Centennial Hall, South, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 94987
Lincoln, NE 68509-4987

Dear Commissioner Christensen:

I am writing in response to Nebraska’s request to amend its State accountability plan under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Following our discussions with your staff, the approved changes are now included in an amended State accountability plan that Nebraska submitted to the Department on February 15, 2007, which we will post on the Department’s website. A summary of the approved amendments is enclosed with this letter. As you know, any further requests to amend the Nebraska accountability plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval as required by section 1111(f)(2) of Title I.

Please also be aware that approval of Nebraska’s accountability plan for Title I, including the amendments approved above, does not indicate that the plan complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

I am confident that Nebraska will continue to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. I wish you well in your school improvement efforts. If you need any additional assistance in implementing the standards, assessments and accountability provisions of NCLB, please do not hesitate to contact Abigail Potts (abigail.potts@ed.gov) or Zollie Stevenson (zollie.stevenson@ed.gov).

Sincerely,

Kerri L. Briggs, Ph.D.
Acting Assistant Secretary

cc: Governor Dave Heineman
Marilyn Peterson

Amendment to the Nebraska Accountability Plan

The following is a summary of the State’s amendment request. Please refer to the Department’s website www.ed.govhttps://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/index.html) for the complete Nebraska accountability plan.

Calculation of adequate yearly progress (AYP) (Element 3.1)

Revision: When making adequate yearly progress determinations, including calculating Safe Harbor, Nebraska will average the Statewide writing assessment results for current year and the previous year to determine whether the State, district, school, or subgroup met the target for the other academic indicator at the elementary and middle school levels.

Decision Letters on State Accountability Plans