Curriculum Requirement Reminders

Curriculum Requirement Reminders

There are an increasing number of annual requirements for school districts.  As a (hopefully) helpful reminder, some of the requirements specific to curriculum, instruction, and assessment are listed below.  There may be things we missed. Note that the NALCD Executive Board visits the Nebraska Legislative Education Committee annually to discuss pending legislation and potential unintended consequences for districts.

• Rule 10 Accreditation

  • Annual Rule 10 Assurance Statements (Due Nov. 1 each fall to NDE)

  • Annual Multicultural Awareness Report to the local board (Rule 10 Multicultural Education)

  • Annual Curriculum Report (Due to NDE at the end of February)

  • Annual Report to the public including student performance data (Rule 10: 010-10A)

  • Continuous Improvement Process

    • NDE School Improvement 5-year Visitation Schedule

    • NDE Rule 10 Checklist

• American Civics Statute 79-724

  • Constitution Day - Sept. 17th (Link to US Dept. of Ed. guidance)

  • Annual Board Committee on American Civics Public Testimony  (two annual meetings)

  • Public availability of any district recommended social studies curriculum

  • Secondary student requirements: 

    • Civics portion of the naturalization test, OR Attendance at a meeting of a public body, OR A project or paper meeting statute requirements.

    • At least two high school courses devoted to civics and American history

  • Elementary student requirements:

    • At least one hour per week of designated activities related to American history

    • Appropriate patriotic exercises: George Washington's birthday, Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, Native American Heritage Day, Constitution Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving Day

    • Celebration of Malcolm X Day (Per Nebraska Statue 82-903)

• Nebraska Reading Improvement Act (NRIA) (NDE guidance at  Nebraska Reads)

  • Notable requirements:

    • Districts administer an NDE approved reading assessment three times during the school year to all students in kindergarten through grade three (some expectations apply)

    • Parent notification is required within 15 days of identification

    • Identified students must be provided with a supplemental reading improvement plan (IRIP)

  • Section 79-2607 added a professional development requirement in recent years. Elementary schools and early childhood education programs must ensure that teachers who teach children from four years of age through third grade are adequately trained regarding evidence-based reading instruction to effectively instruct students in reading. 

  • Nebraska Revised Statute 79-11,156  - Structured literacy requirements for special education 

  • Reporting related to dyslexia Nebraska Revised Statute 79-11, 157.01 

    • This statute relates to NDE reporting for early reading difficulties(see NDE NebraskaReads)

• Nebraska Financial Literacy Act 79-729 (Link to NDE guidance)

  • Required high school 5-hour course in personal finance or financial literacy, and instruction in grades K-8 (NE Statute 79-3003)

  • Annual Financial Literacy status report to the local board of education (NE Statute 79-3004)

• Nebraska Computer Science and Technology Act  79-3301to 79- 3307) (Link to NDE resources)

  • Required high school 5-hour course in computer science and technology (beginning fall 2027), and instruction in grades K-8 (NE Statute 79-3304)

  • Annual Computer Science and Technology status report to the local board (NE Statute 79-3305)

• FAFSA graduation requirement (Link to NDE guidance)

  • Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-729, provides that, beginning in school year 2024-2025, each public high school senior student must complete and submit to the United States Department of Education a FAFSA.