Emergency Medical Waiver application submission
4/8/2025
Waiver submission window May 19 to June 6
UPDATE: Technical updates have delayed the submission window. The window now will open Monday, May 19 instead May 12 as previously announced. Additionally, window close date has also been extended due to these delays.
Ohio’s annual state tests are required by federal and state law. While Ohio expects all students to participate in these tests, rare circumstances, such as medical emergencies, may prevent students from taking one or more assessments during the testing window.
In 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 submit information through the online system between May 19 and June 6. Access to the application is provided via the “Data Collection” tile in their OHID accounts. All applications for the 2025 Emergency Medical Waivers must be finalized and submitted by June 6.
Results from the state tests are used within the accountability system and published with the Ohio School Report Cards. When submitting an Emergency Medical Waiver, districts must report a test record in EMIS for each missed test using the "Score Not Reported" code. If the waiver is approved, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will update the test record to exclude it from all report card calculations.
NOTE: 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, administrators must provide details about the student’s medical emergency and upload supporting documentation. The Emergency Medical Waiver application should be used in situations that arise during the testing windows, including the make-up testing windows, such as unexpected or worsening illness or physical injury immediately before or during the test window.
Although superintendents, superintendent designees, principals, and testing and EMIS coordinators can enter the information in the application, official submission to the Department requires the superintendent or superintendent designee to approve and submit the completed form. Incomplete applications and applications without the superintendent or superintendent designee’s approval will not be considered or reviewed.
Visit the Department’s Testing webpage for additional information. Additional 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 or EMW@education.ohio.gov.