Nebraska Reading Assessment

69.4 Percent of Bayard Public Schools Students Tested
Meet OR Exceed State Reading Standards

This average is higher than the state average of 68.4 percent of Nebraska’s students tested on NeSA-R (NeSA stands for Nebraska State Accountability). Nearly seven of every 10 Bayard Public Schools grades three through eight and 11th grade students tested on the state’s first-ever statewide reading test met or exceeded the state’s reading standards. Reading standards determine what students should know and be able to do in specific grades.
While we are satisfied that nearly 70 percent of our students have the reading skills required to meet or do better than the standards set by the state of Nebraska, as we know one can always do better and I am certain that the students at Bayard Public Schools will in the years ahead.

These reading scores set a new baseline for evaluating student skills and our schools. The results represent a number of “firsts.” The first time all Nebraska students took the same grade appropriate test. The first test based on our newly revised reading standards. The first test results for comparing schools. The tests measure the newly revised Nebraska state reading standards and determine Nebraska student proficiency on those standards. Nebraska’s new single, statewide testing system replaces STARS, the former local assessment system, as required by a 2007-2008 state law.

History shows that Bayard Public Schools teachers and students always do the hard work needed to improve student learning. While we cannot compare these reading scores with those from the state’s previous assessment system, we saw consistent and incremental improvement year after year. We will work for that again with higher and higher percentages of students meeting and exceeding our reading expectations in the future.

Bayard Public Schools students in grades three through eight and 11th graders took the reading test in March and April. Of these students tested, nearly 100 percent took the test online. Scale scores range from 0 to 200, as well as, percentage correct will be listed on the student reports that are to be sent home soon after August 25. Students with an 85 or higher score met or exceeded standards. Students scoring 84 or lower were considered below standards.

For further information or questions please contact:
Tammy Tillman
Curriculum and Assessment Director
Bayard Public Schools
P. O. Box 607
726 4th Avenue
Bayard, NE 69334
Phone: 308-586-1700
Fax: 308-586-1638
ttillman@panesu.org