Ohio Department of Education Learning Supports

State and Federal law require an annual assessment of K-12 Limited English Proficient (LEP) students to measure their English language proficiency. The Ohio Test of English Language Acquisition (OTELA) is the assessment used for testing English language proficiency for Ohio LEP students in Grades K-12.

The OTELA is based on the test item banks and scales from the English Language Development Assessment (ELDA), which was used in Ohio Grades 3-12 in 2005, and Grades K-2 in 2006. ELDA is a test product for English language proficiency assessment developed through the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Ohio was one member of a multi-state collaborative effort to develop and field test the ELDA. Field tests of ELDA items and forms were conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2005, Ohio conducted a statewide census field test of the ELDA in Grades 3-12 and a census field test of grades K-2 in 2006.

The OTELA differs from ELDA in that it is comprised of shorter forms (fewer test items) for each tested domain. These shorter OTELA forms address the same English Language Proficiency standards and are of comparable reliability. ODE estimates that the overall test administration time required for the OTELA forms will be less than 40 percent of that required for the full length ELDA test forms.

Following are information and resources for the OTELA.

• Recording of Dec. 18 webinar: OTELA Administration (WAV)
• PowerPoint for Dec. 18 webinar: OTELA Administration (PDF)
• Dec. 18 webinar Q&A (PDF)
• November 2012 TESOL Conference PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)

2013 OTELA Test Materials

• Kindergarten Directions for Administration (PDF)
  This document contains instructions, inventory items, scoring rubrics and optional student score recording sheets. It is the same document which is sent to schools by the test vendor.
• Grades 1-2 Directions for Administration (PDF)
  This document contains instructions, inventory items, scoring rubrics and optional student score recording sheets. It is the same document which is sent to schools by the test vendor.
• Grades 3-12 Directions for Administration (PDF)
  This document contains specific instructions for administering the grade 3-12 OTELA in reading, listening, speaking and writing.
• Grades K-12 Coordinator Manual (PDF)
  This document contains information for District and Building Test Coordinators for the current spring OTELA for grade levels K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
• 2013 Guide to Understanding Test Results (PDF)  (updated 5/16/13) 

OTELA

Training and Support Materials

• English Language Learner (ELL) Accommodation Survey Results - A summary of responses to an online survey conducted by the Center for Special Needs Populations for the Office for Exceptional Children.  (PDF)
• Students with Disabilities (SWD) Accommodation Survey Results - a summary of responses to an online survey conducted by the Center for Special Needs Populations for the Office for Exceptional Children.  (PDF)
               
• Ohio Guidelines for K-2 OTELA (PDF)

Training Slides for K-2 OTELA Administration (PowerPoint)

• Training Slides for OTELA Grade 3-12 Test Administration (PowerPoint)
• OTELA Grade 3-12 Speaking Scoring Guide with Sample Items (PDF)
• Training PowerPoint to Accompany Sample Speaking Items and Speaking Scoring Guide (PowerPoint)
• Ohio’s English Language Proficiency Standards for Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

Contact Information
Office of Curriculum and Assessment
(614) 466-0223