General Information

8/30/2024

2024-2025 Ohio Assessment Conference

Registration for the 2024-2025 Assessment Conference is now open. Additional information, including the conference program is available on the OST test portal. The virtual conference includes three half-day sessions on Sept. 10-12.
 
On the days of the conference, visit the 2024-2025 Ohio Assessment Conference page on the  OST test portal for links to each day’s live stream and additional resources, including daily agendas and presentation slides. The link to each day’s session will go live that morning. 
 

Speech-to-Text Requests

The Department will be releasing the new Decision-Making Tool for Response Accommodations in the Ohio Accessibility Manual for Ohio’s State Tests. This tool is found in Appendix C and serves as a checklist to assist Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and 504 plan coordinators in determining eligibility for use of the embedded speech-to-text (STT) feature. This appendix will go hand-in-hand with the new Accommodation Request form, which is planned to be released in TIDE in October. DTCs should attend the Accessibility and Accommodations session on Sept. 11, Day 2 of the 2024-2025 Ohio Assessment Conference to learn more about the Speech-to-Text accommodation.
 

Draft Rules Open for Comment     

The Department drafts and edits Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules. Public comment opportunities are made available for affected individuals and organizations during the rule making process. The draft Proficiency Tests OAC rules 3301-13-04, 3301-13-09, and 3301-13-10  are now open for comment and may be reviewed on the Department webpage. The current Proficiency Tests OAC rules are also available for review on the webpage.
 

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for List of Approved Assessments

The Department is seeking assistance notifying and encouraging vendors to apply for inclusion on the List of Approved Assessments for the 2025-2026 school year. The Department posted the RFQ at the end of August for vendors wishing to apply. The approval process screens third-party developed assessments for specific purposes defined in Ohio law.
 
The Department is asking DTCs to reach out to vendors regarding instruments not already on the list that their district uses or would like to use. Vendors can access the Vendor Contact Information Form to ensure they receive notifications about the RFQ. DTCs can also use the Vendor Referral Form to ask the Department to contact vendors with information about the RFQ process.  For questions, please contact ApprovedAssessments@education.ohio.gov.