Emergency Medical Waivers

Emergency medical waiver application deadline extended

As previously announced in EdConnection, the emergency medical waiver application is open. The Department is extending the deadline to submit waiver applications to June 2, 2023.

A security precaution within the upgraded emergency medical waiver application system has resulted in public district principals being unable to submit emergency medical waivers. District principals can be granted a temporary role in OEDS of “Director of Assessment Testing” to provide access to submit the emergency medical waiver application. The Department is working to resolve this issue permanently in the future.
For information on assigning OEDS roles please review the “Assigning Roles in OEDS” document.

Please note this issue does not affect community school principals’ access or capability to submit emergency medical waiver applications.

Ohio’s annual state tests are required by federal and state law, and 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 June 2, 2023. The 2022-2023 Emergency Medical Waiver application has been moved to the “Data Collection” tile. Administrators will have access within their OH|ID 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 Ohio’s School Report Cards. The emergency medical waiver, when approved, removes the untested students’ results when calculating the Performance Index scores and the achievement scores as part of the Gap Closing Component. Districts are required to submit a test record for all students. If a student was unable to take the test for any reason, a test record still must be submitted.  In addition, 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 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. Incomplete applications and applications without superintendent or superintendent designee’s approval will not be reviewed.

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 or email Jackie.Seward@education.ohio.gov.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where do I find the application for 2023? When is it due?
Superintendents, superintendents’ designees, principals, test coordinators and Education Management Information System (EMIS) coordinators can enter information into the application through the online system between May 15 and June 2, 2023.
 
These administrators will have access within their OH ID accounts to the Data Submissions Forms tile and should follow the prompts provided. Applications for the 2023 emergency medical waivers are due June 2, 2023.
 
  • Who has access to submit the waiver application?
Superintendents, superintendents’ designees, principals, test coordinators and Education Management Information System (EMIS) coordinators can submit applications through the online system. However, it is crucial that the superintendent or superintendent’s designee approve the waiver application. The Department will only review forms that have received this official local approval by the superintendent or designee.
 
  • What questions are on the waiver application?
The waiver application has prompts to complete student information, the tests in which you are requesting an emergency medical waiver, the testing dates for the school or district, the issue resulting in the student being unable to test and any supplemental documentation that supports the emergency waiver request.
 
  • How will we know when the applications have been approved or denied?
Upon final review of applications by the medical waiver review team, an email will be sent to the district superintendent indicating the status of the application. The approval or denial of emergency medical waiver applications will be sent to district superintendents via email the week of June 26.
 
  • Should a test record be submitted for a student the district is requesting a medical waiver for?
Yes, a test record must be submitted for all students.An approved emergency medical waiver application does not exempt a student from having to complete one of the required pathways to graduate.
 
  • I have a few more questions. Who can I contact?
Direct all questions about emergency medical waivers to Jackie Seward at (614) 387 – 7570 or email Jackie.Seward@education.ohio.gov.
 

 

Last Modified: 5/23/2023 1:02:45 PM