Assessment Accessibility for Ohio’s Students

This page includes information and resources related to accommodations on state assessments such as:

• Ohio’s State Tests (OST)
• Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD)
• Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener (OELPS)
• Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA)
• Alternate Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alt-OELPA)

For assessments developed by entities other than the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, educators should refer to the assessment publisher's accessibility information and resources.

Accessibility Manual for Ohio's State Tests

The Accessibility Manual for Ohio’s State Tests is a comprehensive policy document providing information about the accessibility features of Ohio’s State Tests for grades 3-8 and high school in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
 
The manual helps to define the specific accessibility features available for all students, students with disabilities, students who are English learners, and students who are English learners with disabilities. Ohio’s Assessment Accessibility System consists of accommodations for students with disabilities and students identified as English learners as well as administrative considerations, universal tools, and designated supports.

Accessibility Manual for Ohio's State Tests

• Appendix A - Accessibility Planning Tools
  • Online Testing Accessibility Planning Tool
  • Paper-Based Testing Accessibility Planning Tool
• Appendix B - Decision-Making Tool for Reading Access Accommodation on English Language Arts Tests
• Appendix C - Decision-making Tool for Written Response Accommodations
• Appendix D - Assistive Technology Guidance
• Appendix E - Emergency Accommodation Form
• Appendix F - Guidelines for the Sign Language Interpreter Accommodation
• Appendix G - Non-Disclosure Agreement for Accommodations on Ohio's State Tests

Accessibility Manual for Ohio’s Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD)

• AASCD Test Administration Manual Appendix B: Accessibility and Accommodations

A student who qualifies for an alternate assessment is unable to participate in the state’s regular assessment, even with allowable accommodations. However, it is expected that the majority of students who take an alternate assessment require support and accessibility features to access or respond to the test. Accommodations must be documented in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

• AASCD Frequently Asked Questions

 Accessibility Manuals for Ohio’s English Language Proficiency Assessments (OELPS, OELPA, Alt-OELPA)

• Accessibility Manual for OELPS and OELPA

The Accessibility Manual for OELPS and OELPA is a comprehensive policy document providing information about the accessibility features of the Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener (OELPS) and the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA). The manual is designed to guide the selection and administration of administrative considerations, universal tools, designated supports, accommodations, and domain exemptions for individual students participating in the OELPS and/or OELPA.

• Accessibility Manual for Alt-OELPA

The Accessibility Manual for Alt-OELPA was developed to guide the provision of optimal testing conditions and the selection and administration of appropriate universal tools, designated supports, accommodations, and domain exemptions for individual English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The manual is designed specifically for English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities in kindergarten through high school who are participating in the Alt-OELPA.

Unique Accommodations Requests

The Department of Education and Workforce (Department) is committed to ensuring Ohio students can access the state assessments so they can demonstrate what they know and can do. The Department will review exceptional requests for students who require assessment accommodations beyond those routinely allowed on the state assessments, including the:
 

• Ohio’s State Tests (grades 3-8 and high-school end-of-course tests)
• Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD)
• Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener (OELPS)
• Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA)
• Alternate Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (Alt-OELPA)

 If a student with a disability or an English learner requires an accommodation not listed in the assessment's corresponding accessibility manual linked in the above sections of this webpage, the District Test Coordinator may submit the Unique Accommodation Request Form to the Department to request approval for use of the accommodation during state testing.
 
To request approval for a unique accommodation, the District Test Coordinator should complete and submit the Unique Accommodation Request Form at least four weeks prior to testing. Within 10 days of submitting this form, the District Test Coordinator and any additional staff listed in the form will receive a response from an email indicating whether the request has been approved or denied. District Test Coordinators may want to collaborate with colleagues using this PDF version of the Unique Accommodation Request Form before submitting the actual form linked below.

Please contact the Office of Assessment with questions at statetests@education.ohio.gov or (614) 466-1317.
 
Submit a request here:

Last Modified: 10/17/2025 11:22:58 AM

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