Information on elementary and middle school subject-accelerated students
In July 2025, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Education to extend and expand its existing waiver under the
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This waiver allows elementary and middle school students who are subject-accelerated in English language arts, mathematics, or science to take the assessment aligned with their course of study, rather than the grade-level test typically administered to students in their enrolled grade. Additional information was submitted in August 2025, and the waiver was approved for school years 2025–2026 through 2028–2029.
This waiver builds on Ohio’s prior success with middle school acceleration and reflects a broader commitment to aligning assessments with instruction. It supports evidence-based practices that promote academic growth, reduce unnecessary testing, and provide equitable access to rigorous coursework for advanced learners across all grade levels. For high school students who have completed all end-of-course exams in a subject area before entering high school, the ACT or SAT will be used to fulfill federal testing requirements.
Subject-Accelerated Elementary School Students
Elementary school students subject-accelerated to higher grade levels in English language arts, math, and science should take the state test that aligns to their subject-accelerated grade.
For example, a fourth-grade student accelerated to fifth grade English language arts should take the grade 5 English language arts test in the spring and should not take the grade 4 English language arts test.
If the student is subject accelerated into a grade level for which there is no state test, the student would not be required to take the test at their overall grade level.
For example, a fifth-grade student accelerated to sixth grade science would not be required to take the grade 5 science test in the spring. Instead, the district may report EMIS Code N: Student Taking Subject Above Grade Level, No Subject Test at Higher Grade. This code removes the student from the district and school’s denominator for report card calculations for that subject. However, if the student has not taken the grade 5 science test, the student or parents may request or the district may choose to administer the test to the student.
Subject Accelerated Middle School Students
Middle school students subject-accelerated to higher middle school grade levels in English language arts, math, and science should take the state test that aligns to their subject-accelerated grade.
For example, a sixth-grade student subject-accelerated to seventh-grade math should take the grade 7 math test in the spring and should not take the grade 6 math test.
Subject Accelerated Middle School Students Enrolled in High School Courses
With the elimination of the physical science and English Language Arts I tests in recent years, middle school students accelerated to these high school courses find themselves in a situation where tests exist at their overall grade levels but do not exist at their accelerated subject grade levels.
Math
Many Ohio middle school students are enrolled in high school courses, most commonly eighth grade students who take high school Algebra I. These students should continue to take the Algebra I end-of-course test, and do not take the grade 8 math test. Similarly, if a middle school student is enrolled in high school Geometry, the student should take the Geometry end-of-course test and does not take the math test of their grade level.
If a middle school student is enrolled in a high school math course for which there is no end-of-course test (e.g., Algebra II), the student would not take a state math test. Instead, the district would report EMIS Code N: Student Taking Subject Above Grade Level, No Subject Test at Higher Grade. This code removes the student from the district and school’s denominator for report card calculations for that subject.
Science
Federal accountability requires that students take science tests once in the elementary school years (in Ohio, grade 5), once in the middle school years (in Ohio, grade 8) and once in high school (in Ohio, biology). However, some middle school students either are accelerated to eighth grade science before their eighth grade year and/or are further accelerated into high school Physical Science or Biology.
Sixth- and seventh-grade students accelerated into eighth-grade science should take the grade 8 science test in the spring.
Middle school students accelerated into high school biology should take the high school biology end-of-course test when they complete the course.
Middle school students accelerated into a high school science course for which there is no end of course test (e.g., physical science) are not required to take the grade 8 science test. Instead, the district may report EMIS Code N: Student Taking Subject Above Grade Level, No Subject Test at Higher Grade. This code removes the student from the district and school’s denominator for report card calculations for that subject. However, if the student has not taken the grade 8 science test, the student or parents may request or the district may choose to administer the test to the student.
English language arts
Federal accountability requires that students take an English language arts test each year in grades 3-8 and once in high school (in Ohio, the English Language Arts II end-of-course test). Middle school students subject accelerated to a higher grade level English language arts course should take the test of the higher grade level.
For example, if a seventh-grade student is subject accelerated into eighth-grade English language arts, the student should take the grade 8 English language arts test in the spring and the student will not take the grade 7 English language arts test.
With the elimination of the English Language Arts I test, students in middle school who are enrolled in English Language Arts 9 or equivalent do not have an aligned test to take in high school.
Past guidance stated that with the elimination of the English Language Arts I test, students in the classes of 2023 and beyond enrolled in English Language Arts I courses as eighth graders should take the eighth-grade English language arts test, even if they previously have taken and passed the eighth-grade test.
In light of Ohio’s new waiver, middle school students subject-accelerated into English Language Arts 9 or equivalent are not required to take the grade 8 English language arts test. Instead, the district may report EMIS Code N: Student Taking Subject Above Grade Level, No Subject Test at Higher Grade. This code removes the student from the district and school’s denominator for report card calculations for that subject. However, if a student subject-accelerated to 9th grade English language arts and the student has not taken the grade 8 English language arts test, the student or parents may request or the district may still choose to administer the test to the student.
If a middle school student is subject accelerated into English Language Arts 10, the student should take the high school English language arts II test when they complete the course.
Questions
For questions related to state testing requirements, please contact
statetests@education.ohio.gov.
For questions related to graduation requirements, please contact
gradrequirements@education.ohio.gov.
For questions related to accountability and report cards, please contact
accountability@education.ohio.gov.