Ohio’s English Language Proficiency Assessments

12/27/2023

2024 Spring OELPA Administration Dates, Order Window, and Resources

The 2024 OELPA test administration is Jan. 29-March 22. Paper test materials ordered during the initial order window will be delivered Jan. 16. The additional order window is open in TIDE Jan. 17-March 18. The OELPA Test Coordinator Manual covers policies and procedures for online and paper tests. DTCs and building test coordinators must review the manual to help ensure a successful test administration. Please see the Resources section of the test portal for all manuals and scripts (including translated scripts) that must be used when administering the tests.
 

Getting Ready for the Alt-OELPA

The test administration window for the Alt-OELPA is Jan. 29-March 22. Please review the information below to prepare for this administration.

• The Alt-OELPA Participation Guidelines are available to assist IEP teams in determining a student’s eligibility for the Alt-OELPA.
• A recording of the Office of Assessment’s 2024 Alt-OELPA webinar and PDF of the PowerPoint presentation will soon be available on the test portal. 
• All DTCs,  building test coordinators, and test administrators at schools administering the Alt-OELPA should complete the ELPA21 Alt-OELPA training courses before testing. Follow the directions on the page to create an account and access the trainings.

 

OELPS-BK and OELPS-K

The OELPS-BK was removed from the system on Dec. 31, and the OELPS-K is now available. Only the OELPS-K will be available Jan. through May so test administrators will not need to choose the test. The OELPS-BK will be available again May 28-June 30, so test administrators will need to choose either the OELPS-BK or the OELPS-K during that time period. The OELPS-BK is intended for students who have completed preschool and will enroll in kindergarten in the fall and the OELPS-K is intended for students enrolled in kindergarten. Please contact the Department at statetests@education.ohio.gov with questions.
 

Professional Learning Workshops: Differentiating Instruction for English Learners

Through its membership in English Language Proficiency Assessment 21^st Century (ELPA21), the Department is offering tailored professional learning workshops at no charge to Ohio’s educators. The registration for the workshops in January is open now:

• Jan. 9: Differentiating Instruction for English Learners (Level 1)
• Jan. 11: Differentiating Instruction for English Learners (Level 1)
• Jan. 17: Differentiating Instruction for English Learners (Level 2)
   

View details and register today! Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Although it’s recommended to complete a Level 1 workshop before a Level 2 workshop, it is not a requirement. All workshops are 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and rely on active audience participation. Additional workshops will be offered in April and June and can be viewed on ELPA21’s Eventbrite webpage linked above. Please contact Laquita Moss at ELPA21 with questions.