Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Title 92 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Chapter 10 - REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF SCHOOLS
Section 92-10-004 - Curriculum and Standards

Universal Citation: 92 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 10 ยง 004

Current through March 20, 2024

004.01 K-12 Curriculum

Quality Indicator: The curriculum is comprehensive, coordinated, and sequential and is directed toward locally approved goals and standards for student learning. The instructional program focuses on achievement and provides for the needs of all students including learners with disabilities and high ability learners. It draws upon research, best practice, and reputable theory.

AQuESTT Tenet: Every student is prepared to pursue postsecondary educational opportunities and career goals upon completion of secondary education.

AQuESTT Tenet: Every student has access to coordinated and comprehensive instructional opportunities to be prepared for Iearning, earning, and living.

AQuESTT Tenet: All students experience success through a continuous improvement process that builds student, parent/guardian/family and community engagement in order to enhance educational experiences and opportunities for all students.

004.01A The instructional program of the school system is based on written purposes or standards and is approved by the local board of education or governing body. These documents are on file in each school building and each certificated staff member is provided a copy.

004.01B School districts adopt academic content standards in the subject areas of reading and writing (language arts), mathematics, and science determined by each district to be measurable quality standards that are the same as, equal to, or more rigorous than the state academic content standards in Appendix A (English Language Arts Standards), Appendix B (Mathematics Standards), Appendix C (Science Standards) and Appendix D (Social Studies Standards) pursuant to 79-760.01 R.R.S., The deadline for school districts to adopt replacement academic content standards will not extend past one year following the State Board adoption of new content standards. Nonpublic schools have local academic content standards for reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies/history approved by the local governing body.

004.01C The school system has written guides, frameworks, or standards for all other areas of the curriculum. In connection with this requirement, school systems are encouraged to adopt the Fine Arts Standards adopted by the State Board March 4, 2014. The school system also has a written description of the library media and guidance programs.

004.01D Writing experiences are incorporated in all curricular areas K-12.

004.01E Educational/computer technology is incorporated in the instructional program at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.

004.01F The instructional program in public schools incorporates multicultural education in all curriculum areas at all grades. Multicultural education includes, but is not limited to, studies relative to the culture, history, and contributions of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and European Americans with special emphasis on human relations and sensitivity toward all races. The regulation is based on statute and cannot be waived through Section 013.01 of 92 NAC 10.
004.01F1 The district has a statement of philosophy or mission for the multicultural education program. Local program goals address multicultural education.

004.01F2 The district curriculum guides, frameworks, or standards incorporate multicultural education.

004.01F3 The district multicultural education program includes a process for selecting appropriate instructional materials.

004.01F4 The district has a process for provision of staff development in multicultural education including professional development for administrators, teachers, and support staff which is congruent with local district and program goals.

004.01F5 The district has a process for periodic assessment of the multicultural education program. An annual status report is provided to the local board of education.

004.02 Elementary Curriculum

Quality Indicator: The elementary instructional program is based on state or locally approved standards for student learning and helps each student acquire knowledge, skills, and understanding in all subject areas. The instruction is appropriate for the grade level of the students. Teaching and learning activities and the general environment stimulate, nurture, and encourage involvement in a wide range of learning experiences. The program helps students apply and extend basic skills by integrating topics throughout the curriculum. The schedule is sufficiently flexible to encourage teachers and students to address emergent needs and topics.

AOuESTT Tenet: Quality educational systems focus on supports for students transitioning between grade levels, programs, schools, districts, and ultimately, college and career.

004.02A The Elementary Instructional Program. The elementary school has a representative weekly schedule for each classroom teacher encompassing experiences in the following subject areas:
004.02A1 Reading and Language Arts. The curriculum includes development and practice of skills and understanding in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It helps children develop appreciation of literature, creativity, and expression.

004.02A2 Mathematics. The curriculum includes development, practice, and application of numeration, computation, estimation, problem solving, geometry/spatial concepts, measurement and related topics.

004.02A3 Social Studies. The curriculum helps children to develop an understanding of the world and its people. It includes experiences drawn from geography, history, economics, government, citizenship, career awareness, human relations, current affairs, and cultural studies. This includes instruction in American history and stories about the exploits and deeds of American heroes, singing patriotic songs, memorizing the Star-Spangled Banner and America, and reverence for the flag and proper conduct for its presentation as provided in 79-724 R.R.S.

004.02A4 Science. The curriculum helps children develop an understanding of science concepts and processes, and includes science as inquiry. It includes experiences drawn from physical science, life science, earth and space science, science and technology, and history and nature of science.

004.02A5 Health. The curriculum helps children develop an understanding of the body systems, nutrition, wellness (including physical activity), and healthy living habits.

004.02A6 Physical Education. The curriculum helps children develop and maintain physical coordination, large and small muscle control, physical fitness, leisure activities, and healthy behaviors.

004.02A7 Visual Arts. The curriculum helps children understand and apply a variety of media, techniques, and processes within a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas. The curriculum includes reflection upon and assessment of art and study of art in relation to history, culture, and other curricular areas.

004.02A8 Music. The curriculum helps children to sing and play a variety of music, read and notate music, listen to and describe music, and evaluate music. The curriculum includes music in relation to history, culture, and other curricular areas.

004.02B Kindergarten. For school year 2012-2013 and each school year thereafter, admission to public school kindergarten is on an unqualified basis to all resident children who will reach age 5 by July 31 of the calendar year in the school year for which the child is seeking admission begins. Testing prior to school entrance, if any, is conducted only to identify children with disabilities under 92 NAC 51 or to meet requirements of 79-214(2)R.R.S.
004.02B1 Pursuant to 79-214(2)R.R.S., the school board may admit a child who will reach the age of 5 years on or after August 1 and on or before October 15 of such school year under the following circumstances:
004.02B1a The parent or guardian requests such entrance and provides an affidavit stating that:
004.02B1a(i) The child attended kindergarten in another jurisdiction in the current school year, or

004.02B1a(ii) The family anticipates relocation to another jurisdiction that would allow admission within the current year, or

004.02B1a(iii) The child has demonstrated through a recognized assessment procedure approved by the school board that he or she is capable of carrying the work of kindergarten.

004.02B2 Each school board shall approve and make available a recognized assessment procedure for determining if a child is capable of carrying the work of kindergarten.

004.02C Pupils in kindergarten through sixth grade do not participate in any kinds of athletic contests between schools within a school system or between school systems except that elementary school systems having seventh and eighth grade athletics may include sixth grade boys or girls when combined enrollment for seventh and eighth grade becomes fewer than 12 boys or 12 girls and if the school board or local governing body has a policy regulating participation for sixth graders. Annual field or play days are excluded from this regulation.

004.03 Middle Grades Curriculum

Quality Indicator: The middle grades instructional program is based upon state or locally approved standards for student learning. It builds upon the content of the elementary grades, extends the depth of learning experiences, and provides exploratory experiences throughout the curriculum. The program incorporates vocational technical education, foreign language, career education, and technology education. The instructional activities and schedule are designed to meet the developmental needs of middle grade learners.

AQuESTT Tenet: Quality educational systems focus on supports for students transitioning between grade levels, programs, schools, districts, and ultimately, college and career.

004.03A Middle Grades Instructional Program. The program in the middle grades includes instruction for each grade each year in the following subject areas. Instruction may be provided through separate courses, integrated blocks of time, and/or through exploratory programs.
004.03A1 Reading. The curriculum includes experiences designed to help students expand, develop and apply reading skills introduced in the elementary grades. It includes reading for both information and enjoyment.

004.03A2 Language Arts. The curriculum includes activities that engage students in using language for a variety of reading, writing, speaking, and listening purposes.

004.03A3 Mathematics. The curriculum includes practice in numeration, computation, estimation, problem solving, geometry/spatial concepts, and measurement. It introduces algebraic and statistical concepts and provides opportunities for students to develop understanding of the structure of mathematics.

004.03A4 Social Studies. The curriculum includes content and experiences drawn from geography, history, economics, citizenship, government, cultural studies, and current events. This includes instruction in American history that makes the course interesting and attractive and to instill a love of country as provided in 79-724 R.R.S. All history courses stress contributions of all ethnic groups in the development and growth of America.

004.03A5 Science. The curriculum includes elements of life, physical, earth and space sciences, science as technology, and history of science. Learning activities emphasize science as inquiry and scientific processes and concepts.

004.03A6 Health. The curriculum includes the study of body systems and those factors which affect health, including natural and man-made threats and individual health choices.

004.03A7 Art. The curriculum includes activities and experiences designed to develop skills in working with a variety of artistic techniques, processes, and media. The curriculum relates art to history and culture and to other curricular areas.

004.03A8 Music. The curriculum includes experiences that involve students in singing and playing musical instruments and provides opportunities for students to pursue individual musical interests and to develop individual talents. It includes the study of a varied repertoire of music and its relation to history and culture.

004.03A9 Physical Education. The curriculum includes active involvement in health-related physical fitness activities designed to develop cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. It encourages students to develop habits of physical exercise through individual and team activities and by emphasizing involvement rather than competition. Practice for and participation in interscholastic activities cannot substitute for any part of physical education.

004.03B Career education is included in the middle grades program.

004.03C No student in grades seven or eight participates in interscholastic athletic contests between schools within a school system or between school systems which exceed six games in football, fourteen matches in volleyball, twelve games in basketball, eight meets in wrestling, eight meets in track and field, and eight contests in all other activities. Contest limits shall be based upon the total number of contests played. Each game, match or meet played in a tournament shall count as one of the contests permitted within these contest limits.

004.04 Secondary Curriculum

Quality Indicator: The secondary instructional program is based upon state or locally approved standards for student learning. It provides breadth and depth of subject areas which enable students to achieve knowledge and skills necessary to continue post-secondary education or enter a career field. Instruction builds upon knowledge acquired in previous grades and helps students acquire the learning goals of the school, builds 21st century skills, and prepares students for living in a global society. Schools provide required instructional units on site or through a combination of local and distance learning programs.

AQuESTT Tenet: Quality educational systems focus on supports for students transitioning between grade levels, programs, schools, districts, and ultimately, college and career.

004.04A Required High School Program. The high school program consists of courses totaling at least 400 instructional units.

004.04B The instructional program in grades 9-12 includes as a minimum the following subject fields and the number of instructional units shown for each:
004.04B1 Language Arts - 60 instructional units. The curriculum includes written composition, critical reading, interpretation of fiction and non-fiction, oral presentation, and application of listening skills.

004.04B2 Social Science - 40 instructional units. The curriculum includes content drawn from American and world history, geography, economics, civics, government and citizenship and may also include content from other social science areas such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology. This includes instruction in the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions, the benefits and advantages of our government, the dangers of Nazism, Communism, and similar ideologies, the duties of citizenship and the appropriate patriotic exercises to include Lincoln birthday, Washington birthday, Flag Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day as provided in 79-724 R.R.S. All history courses stress contributions of all ethnic groups in the development and growth of America.

004.04B3 Mathematics - 40 instructional units. The curriculum includes communicating, reasoning, problem solving, numeration, computation, estimation, measurement, geometry, data analysis, probability and statistical concepts, and algebraic concepts

004.04B4 Science - 40 instructional units. The curriculum includes science concepts and processes, science as inquiry, physical science, life science, earth and space science, science and technology, and history and nature of science.

004.04B5 World Language - 20 instructional units or two years of daily classes in the same language. The curriculum includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills for communicating in one or more languages other than English, knowledge and understanding of other cultures, and developing insight into the nature of language and culture.

004.04B6 Career Education. The curriculum includes 80 instructional units in Career Education that include instruction in any of the following career fields:
(1) Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,

(2) Business, Marketing, and Management,

(3) Communication and Information Systems,

(4) Health Sciences,

(5) Human Services and Resources Education,

(6) Skilled and Technical Sciences.

004.04B6a Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The curriculum in this career field includes areas such as animal. plant, and soil sciences, agribusiness, food science, power. structural and technical systems, leadership and human resource development, natural resources, biotechnology and environmental science.

004.04B6b Business, Marketing, and Management. The curriculum in this career field includes areas such as e-commerce, business communication, finance, business and consumer law, entrepreneurship, accounting, business economics, personal finance, consumer economics, financial services marketing, retailing, fashion marketing/merchandising, clothing and textiles, international marketing, sports and entertainment marketing, hospitality and recreation marketing.

004.04B6c Communication and Information Systems. The curriculum in this career field includes areas such as advertising. public relations, commercial photography, journalism, graphic design, broadcasting, script writing. radio/TV production. information technology applications, web design, interactive media, networking, e-commerce. computer science, and information technology.

004.04B6d Health Sciences. The curriculum in this career field includes areas such as nutrition and food, family health, medical terminology, health informatics, therapeutic services, diagnostic services, certified nursing assistant, and health care sciences.

004.04B6e Human Services and Education. The curriculum in this career field includes" areas such as independent/adult living, home management, housing and home furnishings, family health, clothing and textiles, parenting and child development, leadership and human resource development, criminal justice, human growth and development, interpersonal relationships, and applied psychology.

004.04B6f Skilled and Technical SciencesThe curriculum in this career field includes areas such as housing and home furnishings, woods and construction, construction/ electricity, construction/home maintenance, computer aided drafting, metals and welding, manufacturing/metalworking, manufacturing/woodworking, millwork and cabinetmaking, electronics, technology engineering education, Principles of Technology, technology education, transportation power/auto mechanics, automotive services, and energy.

004.04B6g Nonpublic college preparatory schools may substitute additional courses in language arts, foreign language, science, mathematics, and/or social science for up to 40 instructional units in career and technical education.

004.04B7 Personal Health and Physical Fitness - 20 instructional units or two years of daily classes in personal health and physical fitness. The personal health and physical fitness curriculum includes content to emphasize life-long wellness habits including the knowledge and psychomotor skills applicable to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The curriculum emphasizes non-participation in high risk behavior. The physical fitness curriculum includes an active program of health-related physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Practice for and participation in interscholastic athletic activities are not accepted as a substitute for any part of the personal health and physical fitness requirement.

004.04B8 Visual and Performing Arts - 40 instructional units which include each year instruction in vocal music, instrumental music, and visual arts. It may also include dance and theater. The visual and performing arts curriculum includes performance, interpretation, and evaluation.
004.04B8a Music. The curriculum includes singing and playing a varied repertoire of music, improvising melodies and accompaniments, reading and notating music, listening to and describing music, evaluating music and music performances, recognizing relationships between music and the other disciplines, and the study of music in relation to history and culture.

004.04B8b Visual Arts. The curriculum includes media, techniques, and processes; choice and evaluation of a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas; assessment of characteristics and merits of student work and the work of others; and the visual arts in relation to other disciplines.

004.04C Local Options for Providing High School Courses.
004.04C1 High schools may meet the instructional unit requirements of Section 004.04B through integrated courses, as defined in Section 002.11, if the school has on file locally a description of the curriculum or course including a list of the goals, an explanation of the subjects included, and the rationale for allocating instructional units to appropriate subject fields in Section 004.04B.

004.04C2 High schools may count instructional units for two courses in a subject field taught in the same classroom at the same time if the courses are primarily individualized wherein all students do independent projects or practice. (Examples: Spanish 3 and 4, Accounting 1 and 2, Art 1 and 2)

004.04C3 Schools may use performance based curriculum or courses as an option in place of any subjects in Section 004.04B if they have a written description of the curricula or course which includes the goals, representative instructional experiences, expected student performance for accomplishment of the goals, and the rationale for allocating instructional units for the course. The written description is approved by the local board of education and is on file in the school. Performance based curriculum provides learning opportunities for students equivalent to or greater than those through the course(s) under Section 004.04B, but may take less than the time required in Section 002.12 for determining instructional units.

004.04C4 Instructional units may be counted each year for two courses taught in alternating years not to exceed one course in each of four subject fields, as listed in Section 004.04B, provided schedules verifying alternating courses are kept on file in the school system. As an example, a high school that alternates a course that generates 10 instructional units in World Language II in the current year, with a course that generated 10 instructional units in World Language I the previous year, may count 20 instructional units each year. A school board of a school district shall not establish an alternating biennial secondary course offering in any subject area for which the State Board of Education has adopted content standards pursuant to section 79-704(2) and 79-760.01 R.R.S..

004.04D Multi-site and Distance Learning Options for Providing High School Courses. Up to a total of 200 instructional units of the total 400 instructional unit requirement for the high school may be provided through one or more of the following course options (instructional units beyond the required 400 instructional units may be delivered in any of the following methods):
004.04D1 Synchronous Course Option: Synchronous courses are those multi-site or distance learning courses in which the teacher and student(s) are simultaneously present; can both see and hear one another; and questions may be answered and instructional accommodations made immediately. This includes:
004.04D1a Teacher Sharing. Instructional units provided through contractual or cooperative arrangements with other school systems, educational service units, and/or postsecondary institutions in which either the teacher(s) or student(s) move to be located at the same site to provide classroom instruction may be counted in meeting a portion of the instructional unit requirement provided:
(a) each course is taught by a teacher holding a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate;

(b) each course is shown on the high school class schedule along with the name of the teacher;

(c) at least one high school student is enrolled and participating in each course; and

(d) each course is made available to all students at the school's expense. A copy of the written agreement with the cooperating school/agency is on file in the school.

004.04D1b Interactive Audio-Visual Options. Up to 100 of the allowable 200 multi-site or distance learning instructional units may be met through synchronous interactive audio-visual instruction provided:
(a) each course is taught by a teacher holding a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate;

(b) each course is shown on the high school class schedule along with the name of the teacher;

(c) at least one high school student is enrolled and participating in the course;

(d) each course is made available to all students at the school expense; and

(e) a teacher holding a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate monitors student progress and general appropriateness of the course and is present in the classroom while the course is being taught unless:

004.04D1b(1) The off-site interactive teacher holds a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate and a district employee is present in the receiving classroom, or

004.04D1b(2) The off-site interactive teacher holds a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate, maintains two-way audio and video communication with the distance learning classroom, and has a direct telephone connection with a supervising adult in the school.

004.04D2 Asynchronous Course Options: Asynchronous courses are those multi-site or distance learning courses in which communication between teacher and student is delayed, as are the cases, for example, with written correspondence courses and many computer-delivered courses. This includes:
004.04D2a University of Nebraska High School Options. Up to 50 of the allowable 200 distance learning multi-site instructional units may be met through the use of courses taught by teachers of the University of Nebraska High School provided that (a) each course is shown on the high school class schedule; (b) at least one high school student is enrolled and participating in the course; (c) each course is made available to all students at the school expense; and (d) a teacher holding a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate is present during the assigned period (one teacher may supervise more than one course) to monitor and assist with instruction.

004.04D2b Other Distance Learning Technology Options. Up to 30 of the allowable 200 distance learning multi-site instructional units may be met through courses delivered by other methods of distance technology provided that each course is reviewed in advance and recommended for school use by a committee of at least one local teacher and one local school administrator and is approved by the local governing body, and the written review and statement of approval are on file in the school system; and provided (a) each course is shown on the high school class schedule; (b) at least one high school student is enrolled and participating in each course; (c) each course is made available to all students at the school expense; (d) a teacher holding a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate is present during the assigned period (one teacher may supervise more than one course) to monitor and assist with instruction; and (e) each student enrolled in such a course is assigned to a teacher holding a Nebraska Teaching Certificate with an appropriate endorsement who monitors student progress and general appropriateness of the course.

004.04E Secondary Schools With Grades Seven and Eight. Secondary schools including grades seven and eight provide an instructional program for those grades in accordance with Sections 004.03A through 004.03C.

004.04F New Schools. A school adding high school grades shall provide at least one-fourth of the total instructional unit requirements and one-fourth of the individual subject matter requirements for each grade that it offers.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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