Emergency medical waiver applications open May 15-31

4/10/2023

Federal and state laws require students to take annual state tests. Although Ohio expects all students to take part in state tests, there may be rare circumstances in which students cannot take one or more assessments during the testing window dates because of medical emergencies.

In these cases of medical emergencies, districts and community schools must apply for an emergency medical waiver. Superintendents, superintendent designees, principals, test coordinators and Education Management Information System (EMIS) coordinators can enter information into the application form through the online system between May 15 and 31. These administrators will have access in their OHꟾID accounts to the “Data Collection” tile and should follow the prompts provided. Applications for the 2023 emergency medical waivers must be submitted by May 31.

The Department uses results from the state tests for the accountability system and to publish Ohio’s School Report Cards. The emergency medical waiver, when approved, removes the untested students’ results from the calculations of Performance Index scores and achievement scores. These scores are parts of the Gap Closing Component. Districts must submit a test record for all students, even if a student was unable to take the test for any reason. Additionally, an approved emergency medical waiver does not exempt a student from having to complete one of the required pathways to graduate.

As part of the waiver application, an administrator must answer questions about the student’s medical emergency and upload supporting documentation. The emergency medical waiver application is intended for situations that arise during the testing windows, including the make-up test windows, such as unexpected or worsening illness, or physical injury immediately before or during the testing window.

Although superintendents, superintendent designees, principals, test coordinators and EMIS coordinators can enter the information into the application form, the official submission to the Department requires the superintendent or superintendent designee to approve and submit the completed form. The Department will not review incomplete applications or applications without superintendent or superintendent designee’s approval.

More information on the Department’s process for emergency medical waivers is available on the Report Card Resource webpage.

Direct all questions about emergency medical waivers to Jackie Seward at (614) 387-7570.

More information on spring testing is available on the Department’s testing webpage.