DATE:
Thursday, March 12, 2026
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
SUBJECT:
RISE Alert Papers
Cambium (CAI), the RISE testing vendor, alerts USBE whenever a student puts certain terms in their benchmark or summative writing assessments or the global notes attached to other benchmark, interim, or summative assessments. The certain terms may include topics like death, suicide, murder, etc.
When USBE receives these alerts from CAI, they will forward them to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability who will take the following actions:
- An email will be sent to the administration of the school at which the student attends notifying them of the RISE alert paper and asking that someone meet with the student.
- A secure email will be sent via MoveIT that contains the student’s information, including the language that was flagged by CAI.
When school administrators receive a notification of a RISE alert paper, they should complete the following steps:
- Meet with the student as soon as possible the same school day the notification is received to determine if there is a concern.
- If there is a concern, the school administrator should follow the recommended CSTAG procedures to ensure the student receives the requisite help and support.
- Regardless of whether there is a credible concern or the student was joking, parents should also be notified.
- Then be sure to notify Ben Jameson within 24 hours of the notification that you have met with the student and that the issue is being addressed so that he can report back to USBE.
- Log the event and the actions taken in Skyward, even if there is no concern.
For questions about RISE alert papers, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability. For questions about CSTAG procedures and protocols, please contact Angie Rasmussen in Student Services.
