Student literacy improves overall, declines for third graders

Nebraska students scored better in English Language Arts on the statewide assessment last school year compared to the previous school year. But third grade scores decreased, according to new state data.

The State Board of Education set a goal to increase third grade proficiency in ELA to 75% by 2030. Only 59% of third graders were considered proficient in the 2023-24 school year, which was a decrease from 62% in 2022-23.

Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher said the state has resources focused on improving literacy in the state, including a $55 million federal grant that will be used over the next five years.

“Literacy continues to be a priority for the Nebraska Department of Education,” Maher said. “We will continue to focus resources on statewide improvement.”

Maher presented a state plan for literacy at the October Board of Education meeting. The plan includes constructing a Literacy Advisory Panel, creating a network of regional literacy coaches to support schools and ensuring all educators are trained to teach evidence-based reading instruction.

The state is also focused on addressing chronic absenteeism, with a goal of halving the amount of students chronically absent by 2030. A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of school.

In the 2023-24 school year, about 21% of students were identified as chronically absent. This number stayed the same from the previous school year. About 15% of students were chronically absent in the 2019-20 school year when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools in the second semester.

Maher said it’s hard to tell how exactly absences impact the statewide assessment scores, but it’s an issue the department cares about.

“As I speak to groups across the state of Nebraska, I tell people it’s not an urban issue or a rural issue, it’s truly a statewide issue, regardless of zip code,” Maher said.

Maher said the state is working with several school districts to pilot programs with the goal of increasing attendance. He also said schools are working with organizations in their communities, like law enforcement and businesses, to address chronic absenteeism.