How will teachers get to know my child?
The Early Learning Assessment will help teachers get to know your child and provide individualized instruction. For more information, see
Welcome to Preschool.
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What is the Early Learning Assessment?
Ohio’s Early Learning Assessment (ELA) is a tool teachers use with preschool-age children. Teachers use the tool to determine the current level of each child’s skills, knowledge and behaviors.
The ELA is an ongoing formative assessment that gives teachers information to support the continuous growth of preschool-age children.
The ELA is not a test. Teachers do
not remove children from the classroom to assess. Teachers use the tool to determine a child’s current developmental level based on observation. Then, teachers use the information they collect to plan activities for the growth of each individual child.
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What is Formative Assessment?
Formative Assessment is a process. The first step of the process is to gather information. Then, the next step in the process is to reflect on information to plan activities that support quality learning and development. For more about formative assessment, see
ELA for Teachers.
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What is the purpose of the ELA?
The ELA promotes structure to help teachers’ document, analyze and make instructional decisions. Teacher’s make instructional decisions based on the information they collect while observing children.
The ELA has multiple purposes, including:
- Monitoring the growth and development of preschool-age children
- Providing teachers with the information to individualize learning
- Reporting data for the Federal Requirements, including IDEA required Early Childhood Outcomes
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What is a Learning Progression?
A Learning Progression defines a series of skills, knowledge or behaviors for children 36 months to 72 months. This series of skills, knowledge or behaviors includes children who may be at earlier developmental levels than their peers. There are 32 Learning Progressions in the ELA.
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What are the benefits of the ELA?
The ELA has many benefits for children, teachers and policymakers.
For children, the ELA uncovers real learning and developmental experiences. Teachers who use the tool get concrete evidence to plan future instruction for their children. And, for policymakers, the ELA provides a common measure of children’s learning aligned to the
Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards (OELDS). OELDS is a state framework that support a child’s learning growth from pre-k through kindergarten.
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How is the ELA implemented?
The assessment of young children is
ongoing. The purpose of the ELA is to determine the current developmental level of children. As such, results are required to be reported at a minimum of twice per year during the assessment windows.
| Assessment Windows |
Time Frame |
Assessment Requirements |
| Fall |
Aug. 15 – Nov. 14 |
Required for reporting |
| Winter |
Nov. 15 – Feb. 14 |
Ongoing for best practice |
| Spring |
Feb. 15 – May 14 |
Required for reporting |
| Summer |
May 15 – Aug.14 |
Ongoing for best practice |
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What are examples of the assessment activities that my child will experience?
Your child’s early education professional may choose to use the Early Learning Assessment with your child one-on-one or in a small group. The early education professional will also watch your child interact with other students in class or on the playground. Below are just a few examples of activities where your child may demonstrate their knowledge in the areas of Social Foundations, Mathematics, Language and Literacy, and Physical Well-Being & Motor Development. See
Welcome to Preschool for more details.
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Is the Early Learning Assessment required with all preschool age children?
No. The Early Learning Assessment is required to be used only with preschool age children enrolled in Early Childhood Education and Preschool Special Education funded programs.
Unrated and 1-2 star rated programs who register for a 3-5 star rating can choose to use the Early Learning Assessment with their preschool-age children, but are not required to.
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If my child has a individualized education plan, will he or she complete the assessment?
Yes. Ohio's Early Learning Assessment is for all children, including children with disabilities.
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How and when will I get ELA results?
Early education professionals will review Individual Student Reports with families, so that families will be able to support their children’s growth and development at home. See Welcome to Preschool for more details.
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