Emergency Medical Waiver Application submission window extended

6/3/2024

As previously announced in EdConnection, the emergency medical waiver application is open. The deadline to submit waiver applications has been extended to June 5.

Ohio’s annual state tests are required by federal and state law. 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 by June 5. These administrators will have access within their OHID accounts to the “Data Collection” tile and should follow the prompts provided.

Results from the state tests are used within the accountability system and published with the Ohio School Report Cards. At the time the Emergency Medical Waiver is submitted, the district should report a test record in EMIS for each test not taken with a "Score Not Reported" code. If the waiver is granted, Department staff will code the test record to remove it from all report card calculations. Please 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, an administrator must answer questions regarding 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 makeup test windows, such as unexpected or worsening illness or physical injury immediately before or during the testing window.

Although superintendents, superintendent designees, principals, and testing and EMIS coordinators can enter the application form information, the 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.

More information on the Department’s process for Emergency Medical Waivers is available on the Report Card Resources webpage.

Direct all questions about Emergency Medical Waivers to Jackie Seward at (614) 387-7570 or EMW@education.ohio.gov

More information on the Department’s guidance for Spring Testing is available on the Testing webpage.