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)

Assessments developed by vendors other than the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce should refer to the vendors' accessibility manuals.

Ohio Accessibility Manual for Ohio's State Tests

Ohio 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 Accessibility System features are made up of accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners as well as other features including administrative considerations, universal tools, and designated supports.

Ohio Accessibility Manual for Ohio's State Tests

  • Appendix A - Accessibility Features for Students Taking Ohio’s State Tests on Paper
  • 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 and Glossary for Sign Language Interpreters
  • Appendix G - Non-Disclosure Agreement for Accommodations on Ohio's State Tests
Planning Tools

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

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).

 Accessibility Manuals for Ohio’s English Language Proficiency Assessments (OELPS, OELPA, Alt-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 accessibility manual is designed to guide districts’ selection and administration of Administrative Considerations, Universal Tools, Designated Supports, Accommodations, and Domain Exemptions for kindergarten through grade 12 individual students to produce valid assessment results. The Alt-OELPA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual was developed to guide the provision of optimal testing conditions and the selection and administration of appropriate universal features, designated supports, and accommodations for individual English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities. For the administration of the Alt-OELPA, there are only embedded universal features. The manual is provided for English learners for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in kindergarten through grade 12.

Last Modified: 3/18/2025 4:25:44 PM