Digital Instructional Materials Acquisition Policies for States

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Overview

Digital Learning Tab: This current tab provides information and links related to digital learning plans and standards, the adoption of computer science standards and state definitions for personalized learning. Visit the Instructional Materials, Procurement and Professional Learning Tabs for more information on this state.

Offices

Nebraska Department of Education

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Finance and Organizational Services

State AEM Contact (Accessible Educational Materials Contact)

DIGITAL LEARNING PLANS & STANDARDS

State Digital Learning Plan

Nebraska has a state digital learning plan.

Two year biennium plans required for state budgeting and . Nebraska published a Statewide PK – 12 Digital Learning and Ed Tech plan in 2018. This 3 year plan is is designed to create the broader road map and framework for digitial learning and technology in Nebraska schools. The plan is comprehensive and is based on the Future Ready Framework.

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State Requirements for District Digital Learning Plans

Nebraska does not have requirements for districts for digital learning plans.

Nebraska no longer requires district level educational technology plans. Instead, starting in the fall of 2018 Nebraska has moved to a new data collection tool called the District Technology Profile which is based on the Future Ready Framework. The new survey-based profile is more streamlined, supports current status and information, and identifies priority services and supports needed by Nebraska schools. Districts will be asked to complete this updated tool and provide district educational technology and other technology data that can be shared through the Nebraska Education Profile website. Nebraska school districts will have access to the profile’s data starting in the spring of 2019. A PDF version of the data that is requested within the Nebraska District Technology Profile can be found on the NDE website.

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Digital Learning Standards for Students

Nebraska does not have digital learning standards for students.

State Personalized Learning Definition

Nebraska does not have a unique state definition for personalized learning.

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Overview

Each school district in Nebraska has the authority, from state and/or local resources, to procure and use digital resources and innovative educational technologies as they deem appropriate to meet educational goals and requirements.

Offices

Nebraska Department of Education

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Finance and Organizational Services

State AEM Contact (Accessible Educational Materials Contact)

Definitions

Definition for Instructional Materials

Nebraska has a definition for instructional materials/textbook.

As part of the CCSSO project work definitions have been shared. In Nebraska, instructional materials are defined as the tools and resources that are used as part of a locally-determined curriculum.

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Includes

Digital

OER

Definition for Open Educational Resources

Nebraska has a definition for open educational resources.

Nebraska’s current definition is OER are freely accessible, openly licensed text, media, and other digital assets that are useful for teaching, learning, and assessing as well as for research purposes.

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Definition for Accessible Educational Materials

Nebraska has a definition for accessible educational materials. The definition is based on

Federal Definition

Nebraska references the Federal Definition for this work. Accessible educational materials, or AEM, are print and technology based educational materials including printed and electronic textbooks and related core materials that are designed or enhanced in a way that makes them usable across the widest range of learner variability, regardless of format (e.g. print, digital graphic, audio, video).” National Center on Accessible Education Materials

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Definition for Accessible Technologies

Nebraska has a definition for accessible technologies. The definition is based on

AEM Definition

Nebraska uses and guides districts to use the AEM materials related to accessible and assistive technologies.

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Guidelines and Policies

State Statute - Instructional Materials Adoption

Nebraska does not have a statute for the adoption of instructional materials.

State Statute - Requires Implementation of Digital Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have a statute requiring the implementation of digital instructional materials.

State Statute - Allows Implementation of Digital Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have a statute allowing the implementation of digital instructional materials.

State Statute - Online Course Requirement

Nebraska does not have a statute requiring students to take an online course prior to graduation.

Out of School Access Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not provide guidance to LEAs in the use of digital instructional materials outside of the classroom.

Guidance Selection Accessible Digital Instructional Materials

No, our state does not provide information, examples or guidelines to LEAs to support the selection and acquisition of accessible digital instructional materials.

Guidance Selection Accessible Technologies

Yes, our state provides information, examples or guidelines to LEAs to support the selection and acquisition of accessible digital instructional materials.

Nebraska has published guidance for our districts to assist with assistive technology. This guide is accessible through the website

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eLearning Days/Inclement Weather

Nebraska does not provide guidance to districts for possible solutions to scheduling issues posed by inclement weather.

State Review Process

Review of Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have a process for the review of instructional materials.

Nebraska provide links to EdReports.org and encourages schools to look at the reviews there when applicable however, we do not review/approve instructional materials at the state level. Nebraska also provides online guidance to districts along with tools they can use to create a vetting system for choosing high-quality, standards aligned materials as part of the Nebraska Instructional Materials Consortium (NIMC) work. Nebraska teachers are also provided training on how to use the Achieve rubric for assessing and vetting OER materials within the OER Commons hub and how to align to Nebraska standards.

Review of Instructional Materials Outcomes

Nebraska does not have a process for the review of instructional materials outcomes.

Posting of Reviewed Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not post state reviewed instructional materials.

Districts Required to Purchase State Reviewed Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not require districts to purchase state reviewed instructional materials.

Districts Required to Follow State Review Process

Nebraska does not require districts to follow the state review process for the review of instructional materials.

Regional Support - Review of Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have an Education Service Agency (ESA) or other regional organization that has a process for the review of instructional materials.

Regional Support - Posting Reviewed Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have an ESA or other regional organization that posts reviewed instructional materials.

Resource Repositories

Content Management System: State Hosted or State Master Contract

Nebraska does not have a state hosted content management system or a state master contract for a content management system available to schools and districts.

Learning Management System: State Hosted or State Master Contract

Nebraska does not have a state hosted learning management system or state master contract for a learning management system available to schools and districts.

State Resource Repository

Nebraska has a state resource repository.

In 2018 Nebraska purchased an OER hub for use by districts across the state. The work of developing, collecting and vetting content for this hub is ongoing.

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Includes

OER

Funding

Dedicated State Funding

Nebraska does not have dedicated state funding.

Districts fund the purchase of digital instructional materials with general state funds and/or local initiatives.

Funding - District Options

Use local funds

Collaborate with other districts

Partner with non-profits

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Overview

Nebraska does not procure resources for schools or districts on a statewide level currently. Each school district has the authority, from state and/or local resources, to procure and use digital resources and innovative educational technologies as they deem appropriate to meet educational goals and requirements. This approach is under review and collaborative solutions are underway to create a more efficient and effective approach in the future.

Offices

Nebraska Department of Education

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Finance and Organizational Services

State AEM Contact (Accessible Educational Materials Contact)

Guidance – Publishers

Nebraska does not have procurement guidelines for companies interested in selling instructional materials in the state.

Guidance – Publishers - Accessibility Features

Nebraska does not have guidelines for commercial or OER publishers, developers, or vendors related to accessibility features in products/services.

Nebraska does not specifically provide information to publishers . It provides a guide to local districts who procure their items and can provide district requirements to publishers.

Request for Proposals/Request for Information

Nebraska does not have a request for proposals/request for information process.

State Master Contract - Contract with State

Nebraska does not have state master contract available for district and schools to make purchases directly with the state.

State Master Contract - Contract with Publisher

Nebraska does not have state master contract available for district and schools to make purchases directly with the publisher.

State Pricing Negotiation

Nebraska does not negotiate prices with publishers, vendors during the RFP/RFI process, and districts may purchase the materials directly from the vendor.

Manage Regional Purchasing Consortia

Nebraska manages regional groups that participate in regional purchasing consortia for instructional materials.

The goal of Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council’s Cooperative Purchasing Program is to provide the schools of Nebraska the opportunity to purchase the best quality product at the lowest possible price. The Cooperative Purchasing Program is a project of the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC). In an effort to serve the state of Nebraska Schools K-12 in the most effective manner, all of the statewide projects have been placed under the ESUCC to create a better network by which to serve the schools we represent. The Fiscal Agent for Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council’s Cooperative Purchasing program is currently Educational Service Unit #17 located in Ainsworth, NE. However, the Cooperative serves all of the Nebraska’s Schools through the ESUCC network statewide. ESUCC Cooperative Purchasing represents 17 Educational Service Units statewide who in turn service Nebraska school districts with over 300,000 students and is currently in its 5th decade of operation.

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Overview

The Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative (NIMC), the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and key partners are committed to providing statewide leadership that informs and supports the decisions made locally related to curriculum and instructional materials. The NIMC has developed a website highlighting high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials and offers Nebraska-specific guidance documents to ensure materials meet the expectations of Nebraska’s Content Area Standards. Along with the CCSSO Network Project and the guidance it provides, Nebraska is also providing training and development around Open Education Resources and the Nebraska OER Commons hub.https://nematerialsmatter.org/nebraska-resources/, https://www.education.ne.gov/educational-technology/oer-open-education-resources/

Offices

Nebraska Department of Education

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Finance and Organizational Services

State AEM Contact (Accessible Educational Materials Contact)

Selection of Digital Instructional Materials

Nebraska provides professional learning opportunities to support teachers in the selection of quality digital instructional materials (licensed and/or OER) to use in the classroom.

In addition to the Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative and its work, Nebraska has also created a Nebraska OER Commons Hub. In 2018 training for Nebraska Teachers to introduce Open Education Resources and the Nebraska hub as a resource was provided. This training and time to curate resources will continue throughout 2019.

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Digital OER

Implementation of Digital Instructional Materials

Nebraska provides professional learning opportunities to support teachers in the selection of quality digital instructional materials (licensed and/or OER) to use in the classroom.

Nebraska provides additional professional development in many ways. It currently provides face to face training on OER and the Nebraska Materials Matter Collaborative at statewide conferences and Educational Service Unit (ESU) trainings and other staff development opportunities as requested. Nebraska also has and continues to develop online training that is offered through its Digital Learning Center. This training is already provided for several areas and continues to grow as more departments move into the digital professional learning space. In addition to the training provided by the Nebraska Department of Education our ESU’s also provide statewide access and training around digital instructional materials they provide through the consortium. The ESU’s also provide access to a professional development organization (PDO) which provides training around the areas of data, network operations, staff development, and teaching and learning with technology.

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Includes

Statewide professional learning for teachers via online courses

Statewide professional learning for teachers in-person

State provides funding for instructional coaches

Development of Professional Learning Programs

Nebraska develops its own professional learning programs.

Our state develops their own professional learning programs

Our state partners with consultants to develop professional learning program

Development of OER

Nebraska provides professional learning opportunities to support the development of digital OER.

Share OER

Nebraska provides professional learning opportunities for teachers to share of digital OER

Professional Learning - Accessibility

Yes, our state provides professional learning to support the implementation of accessible educational materials.

Nebraska provides professional learning around any Rule 51 changes or modifications as needed. This is done both through the website as well as face to face at conferences and meetings.

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Download At A Glance

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Overview

Offices

DIGITAL LEARNING PLANS & STANDARDS

State Digital Learning Plan

Nebraska has a state digital learning plan.

State Requirements for District Digital Learning Plans

Nebraska does not have requirements for districts for digital learning plans.

Digital Learning Standards for Students

Nebraska does not have digital learning standards for students.

State Personalized Learning Definition

Nebraska does not have a unique state definition for personalized learning.

Adopted Computer Science Teacher Association Standards

Nebraska has not adopted the CSTA standards.

K-12 Computer Science Standards

Nebraska does not currently have K-12 computer science standards.

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Overview

Offices

Definition for Instructional Materials

Nebraska has a definition for instructional materials/textbook.

Includes

Digital

OER

Definition for Open Educational Resources

Nebraska has a definition for open educational resources.

Definition for Accessible Educational Materials

Nebraska has a definition for accessible educational materials. The definition is based on

Federal Definition

Definition for Accessible Technologies

Nebraska has a definition for accessible technologies. The definition is based on

AEM Definition

State Statute - Instructional Materials Adoption

Nebraska does not have a statute for the adoption of instructional materials.

State Statute - Requires Implementation of Digital Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have a statute requiring the implementation of digital instructional materials.

State Statute - Allows Implementation of Digital Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have a statute allowing the implementation of digital instructional materials.

State Statute - Online Course Requirement

Nebraska does not have a statute requiring students to take an online course prior to graduation.

Out of School Access Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not provide guidance to LEAs in the use of digital instructional materials outside of the classroom.

Guidance Selection Accessible Digital Instructional Materials

No, our state does not provide information, examples or guidelines to LEAs to support the selection and acquisition of accessible digital instructional materials.

Guidance Selection Accessible Technologies

Yes, our state provides information, examples or guidelines to LEAs to support the selection and acquisition of accessible digital instructional materials.

eLearning Days/Inclement Weather

Nebraska does not provide guidance to districts for possible solutions to scheduling issues posed by inclement weather.

Review of Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have a process for the review of instructional materials.

Review of Instructional Materials Outcomes

Nebraska does not have a process for the review of instructional materials outcomes.

Posting of Reviewed Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not post state reviewed instructional materials.

Districts Required to Purchase State Reviewed Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not require districts to purchase state reviewed instructional materials.

Districts Required to Follow State Review Process

Nebraska does not require districts to follow the state review process for the review of instructional materials.

Regional Support - Review of Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have an Education Service Agency (ESA) or other regional organization that has a process for the review of instructional materials.

Regional Support - Posting Reviewed Instructional Materials

Nebraska does not have an ESA or other regional organization that posts reviewed instructional materials.

Content Management System: State Hosted or State Master Contract

Nebraska does not have a state hosted content management system or a state master contract for a content management system available to schools and districts.

Learning Management System: State Hosted or State Master Contract

Nebraska does not have a state hosted learning management system or state master contract for a learning management system available to schools and districts.

State Resource Repository

Nebraska has a state resource repository.

Includes

OER

Dedicated State Funding

Nebraska does not have dedicated state funding.

Funding - District Options

Use local funds

Collaborate with other districts

Partner with non-profits

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