Identification, Reclassification & Monitoring of English Learners

To provide accessible instruction to English learners (ELs), the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires all states and school districts to implement uniform entrance, reclassification and monitoring procedures. The resources below can be used to understand and meet these requirements.  

Identification of English Learners 

• Identifying English Learners  outlines identification and family notification requirements for schools and districts to in accordance with federal law. 
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Language Usage Survey helps districts and schools understand the Language Usage Survey, used to identify students’ language experiences and educational backgrounds and the communication preferences of parents and guardians. 
• Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener (OELPS) is aligned to the English Language Proficiency Standards and is designed to identify Ohio students in grades K-12 as English learner. 
• Parent Notification Procedures for English Learner Identification and Services is a resource to support schools and districts in meeting the notification requirements for English learners. 

Reclassification of English Learners 

• The Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) is the state’s annual summative assessment, which provides documentation of English learners’ progress toward English proficiency. 
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) answers questions relating to the required yearly English language proficiency assessment.   
• Exiting English Learners explains the process of reclassifying English learners and provides additional resources for exiting, or reclassifying, students using the state’s summative Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA).   
• Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) Exit Criteria explains how results will determine whether the student is eligible to continue as an English learner or is proficient and ready to exit the language instructional education program.   

Monitoring English Learners that met Exit Criteria 

• Chapter eight of the U.S. Department of Education's federal toolkit explains the importance of monitoring students even if they opt out of English learner programs.  For at least two years, schools and districts monitor and regularly assess the progress of all English learners reclassified to exit based upon their Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment scores. Data collection systems inform progress towards meeting academic and English language proficiency (ELP) standards. 

Related Resources 

• U.S. Department of Education: English Learner Toolkit  
• Ohio Department of Education: A Guide to Parents Rights in Special Education 
• Ohio Department of Education: Ohio’s Graduation Requirements  

Last Modified: 4/9/2024 6:41:34 PM

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