General Information
4/1/2026
Update to Hotline Direct Access and New User Role
The Hotline Direct system significantly improves how child alerts are communicated to districts and schools. Districts’ and schools’ timely responses and appropriate actions are critical to helping children who may be in crisis.
Cambium Assessment and the Department have responded to feedback about the Hotline Direct system regarding user roles that have access to alerts containing sensitive information. The following adjustments help ensure only appropriate personnel receive that information.
- Cambium created a new user role called Building Child Alert Responder (BCAR). This role allows DTCs to assign one individual in each school who will be responsible for receiving child alerts and ensuring that appropriate action is taken.
- DTC and District Administrator (DA) access remains the same.
- The Building Test Coordinator (BTC) role will no longer have access to Hotline Direct.
- Cambium created a video to explain the Hotline Direct system.
An
announcement on the test portal provides further details, and the
Hotline Direct User Guide provides instructions for using the system. For policy questions about child alerts, contact the Department at 614-466-1317 or
Child.Alerts@education.ohio.gov.
Secure File Center Update 
The Secure File Center (SFC) now offers users a
Forward feature that lets users forward secure files directly to another authorized user's SFC, without first saving those files on their own device. Anyone who has access to the Share Files task can use this feature. To forward files, check the box for the file(s) the user wishes to forward and select the Forward button. For complete details, see the
TIDE User Guide, pages 28-30.
When forwarding, please remember that any disclosure of personally identifiable student information must comply with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Ohio Assessment Conference
Save the dates! The Office of Assessment will host the 2026-2027 Ohio Assessment Conference virtually the mornings of Sept 22-24. More details—including the agenda and registration—will be announced in August.