Lincoln Public Schools

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NeSA-W (Writing)

Statewide Writing Assessment

2013 Testing Window is JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 8

Students in grades 4, 8, and 11* take the statewide writing assessment during the window above. Grade 4 students spend 40 minutes on each of two consecutive days working on the exam in their classes. Students in grades 8 and 11 take the writing test online in one untimed session.  Teachers and schools choose the times to administer the test within a three-week window determined by the state. Lincoln Public Schools sends all the student responses (on paper for grade 4 and online for grades 8 and 11) to the state for scoring.

*The only exceptions are students with disabilities who meet the criteria for completing an alternate assessment. Accommodations for English Language Learners and for students with IEPs or 504 Plans are allowed on the assessment.

How Does the Statewide Writing Test Look?

Each student responds to one writing prompt. The "modes" for the writing prompts are as follows: 

Grade Level

Writing "Mode"

4

Narrative

8

Descriptive

11

Persuasive

Discrepancy forms: Use this form to note testing issues (computer problems, fire alarms, sudden illness, etc.) and missing materials (e.g. biohazards).

discrepancy forms for 2012

NeSA Score Verification Form: NeSA Writing Appeals

We can appeal NeSA W results for students whose scores seem inaccurate.

Posted on April 25, 2013

NeSA Administration Presentations-2013

PowerPoint and WebEx presentations from Nebraska Department of Education regarding NeSA RMS online, paper-pencil and alternate assessment administration training.

Posted on March 05, 2013

NeSA Administration Manuals, Forms, and Other Documents

NeSA Administration Manuals for teachers and test coordinators, training materials, forms, sample parent letters, reference sheets.

Posted on February 26, 2013

2012-13 4th Grade NeSA Writing Analytic Scoring

4th grade analytic rubric training PowerPoint

Posted on January 10, 2013

NeSA-W Sample Parent Letter

Two sample Parent letters schools may copy and use to inform their parents of NeSA-W.

Posted on January 09, 2013

NeSA Security Procedures and Agreement

All staff who will administer the NeSA and ELDA tests need to have access to the NeSA Security Procedures. Principals sign the security agreement ensuring that appropriate administration procedures will be followed in each school.

Posted on November 09, 2012

Sample Graphic Organizers

Link to sample acceptable graphic organizers for students with disabilities to use on the WGDE and NeSA W (when it is written into their IEPs)

Posted on September 19, 2012

Statewide Writing Results

Statewide Writing Results for the district and individual schools on the Nebraska Department of Education's State of the Schools Reports

Statewide Writing Administration Manuals

Nebraska Department of Education Links 

Scoring Guides:

Other Resources:

Statewide Writing Main Page