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How should I prepare to give the OELPS?

Read the OELPS Test Coordinator Manual, OELPS Test Administration Manual, the OELPS Step Two Speaking Scoring Guide, the Teacher Assessment Scoring Center (TASC) User Guide and the Accessibility Manual for OELPS and OELPA completely before administering the OELPS. Test administrators should print the OELPS Step Two Speaking Scoring Guide as it will be used during the administration to score the first four items in Step Two, the speaking items. Test administrators who will be testing students using paper should review the Data Entry Interface User Guide for Paper Tests for instructions on submitting the student responses. Test administrators should visit the  Test Administrator (TA) Interface Tutorial to become familiar with the TA Interface and the test delivery system. Students should have the opportunity to take the Student Practice Test to become familiar with the technology and item types. 

Who can administer the OELPS?

The test administrator must be an employee of the district or school and hold a valid, current license, certificate or permit issued by the Ohio Department of Education (Department). The test administrator need not be an English learner specialist.

How long does it take to administer the OELPS?

Testing times vary based on student effort, ability and progress through the test. For the OELPS, districts should plan on 20-45 minutes per student, though some students may require more or less time.

How can test administrators help students to navigate the OELPS?

Students who cannot effectively navigate the online OELPS on their own because they are without the necessary skills or experience may have a trained test administrator assist with test navigation. For example, the test administrator may assist with the mouse, point-and-click, drag-and-drop, and on-screen tools. The test administrator may assist only with the technology as indicated by the student and must not assist with answer selection. Influencing a student’s answer selection or response is a test security violation and will invalidate the assessment.

On writing items where the student is to compose a written response, only students with a scribe documented on the IEP or 504 plan may have the test administrator type their handwritten responses into the online test. For students who are incapable of typing their own responses, see the “Scribe” accommodation in the Accessibility Manual for OELPS and OELPA.

Which accessibility features or accommodations are available for students who use online tests and for students who use paper tests?

For information about accessibility features and accommodations for students participating in the OELPS or OELPA, refer to the Accessibility Manual for OELPS and OELPA.

For information about accessibility features and accommodations for English learners participating in Ohio’s State Tests of English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies, refer to Ohio’s Accessibility Manual and Planning Tools.

Why would a test administrator discontinue the OELPS after Step One?

The OELPS has an early stopping rule for students who do not engage with or respond to the items in Step One of the OELPS. After the test administrator administers Step One, the test administrator is presented with some mandatory questions about the student’s engagement with the test. If the student did not participate in any manner during Step One, the test administrator responds accordingly and the OELPS stops. Engagement in any manner includes verbal or non-verbal responses. The screening should continue to Step Two if the student does not respond in English. See the Mandatory TA Responses section of the OELPS Test Administration Manual for complete information, including example scenarios with guidance.

My student is new to Ohio public schools and does not have an SSID, what should I do?

Districts and schools must assign a Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) for each student taking the OELPS. Check if the SSID has already been assigned for other state tests. Districts and schools should work with the IBM vendor to assign an SSID and if necessary, contact the Office of Assessment. This requirement applies to all students attending Ohio’s public schools including community schools and those students enrolled in scholarship programs. Please note that chartered nonpublic students participating in an EdChoice, Cleveland or Jon Peterson Scholarship program already have an assigned SSID that they will use for the OELPS. For assistance locating a scholarship student’s SSID, contact the Department’s Office of Chartered Nonpublic Schools at chartered.nonpublic.schools@education.ohio.gov or 614-728-2678.

How is the Student ID assigned for a student attending a chartered nonpublic school?

The Department provides chartered nonpublic schools with a four-letter school code to create and assign Student IDs. Test coordinators must use the Department guidelines to establish Student IDs and pre-identify students for state testing who attend chartered nonpublic schools. Chartered nonpublic schools will enter Student IDs in the SSID field of the student’s Pre-ID record in TIDE since there is no field for the Student ID. Nonpublic-school students should use the same Student ID from year-to-year. Newly enrolled students should not be assigned Nonpublic Student IDs used in prior years by another student. Chartered nonpublic schools that need Student IDs assigned for their students must not create the ID without assistance from the Department. A Student ID created by the chartered nonpublic school will cause problems in terms of the test administration and delays in reporting results. The chartered nonpublic schools must contact the Department to process and authorize the Student ID. Contact the Office of Assessment at statetests@education.ohio.gov.

How are reset, reopen and invalidation Test Status Requests different?

The district test coordinator may request a reset, reopen or an invalidation using the Test Status Request feature in TIDE for the OELPS. Each request is defined and reasons to request them are listed below:

• Reset. Resetting a student’s test removes that test from the system and enables the student to start the test anew (without losing their test opportunity). The previously submitted responses associated with a test that has been reset are erased from the system. Reasons for a reset are when a student is administered the OELPS unnecessarily, such as the OELPS was opened by mistake instead of the OELPA, or the student exited from the English language development program in a prior year.
• Reopen. The reopen saves the student responses and opens where the student stopped the test. Reasons for a reopen are the test was submitted too soon, a technical issue occurred or the student was ill.
• Invalidation. An invalidation is required when the OELPS has been compromised by a student, test administrator or an unauthorized party. In these cases, the test administrator or district administrator should contact the Department to discuss a possible test security violation.

Can the OELPS be paused?

Yes. The OELPS has a four-day limit for a pause. If the test is not resumed after four days, the test will be submitted for scoring. The district test coordinator may submit a test status request in TIDE to reopen or reset the test if the student needs to complete the OELPS before submitting for scoring. Refer to the OELPS Test Administration Manual for additional information.

Can I access the OELPS through TIDE?

No, the test is accessed through the Test Administrator (TA) Interface, accessible from the test portal.

Do I enter student responses in the Data Entry Interface (DEI) if the student used the online OELPS?

No. The Data Entry Interface (DEI) is the system in which the test administrators enter student responses when students take the paper-pencil, large print or braille versions of the OELPS. 

I work in a chartered nonpublic school. May I administer the OELPA but not the OELPS?

Yes. Chartered nonpublic schools are not required to administer the OELPA or the OELPS but are welcome to use either or both. There is no cost for the tests, scoring or reporting for the chartered nonpublic school. A chartered nonpublic school receiving Title III equitable services for English learners should consult with its public school district about whether the OELPS and/or OELPA are used.

Where can I locate the online practice test for the OELPS?

There is no separate Practice Test for the OELPS as the Practice Test for the OELPS is Step One in the test. However, students and test administrators are encouraged to use the OELPA Practice Test to become familiar with the navigation tools and the item types on the OELPS.

The Student Practice Site can be accessed via any supported web browser by clicking the Practice Tests quick link on the portal homepage. The Student Practice Test Site can also be accessed via the Cambium Assessment Secure Browser or Secure Test App, available for download by clicking the Secure Browsers quick link on the portal home page. The TA Practice Site can be accessed via any supported web browser by clicking the Teachers and Test Administrators or Test Coordinators user cards on the portal homepage and then clicking the TA Practice Site card.

Do I have to purchase the headsets listed on the test portal?

No, any compatible audio equipment may be used. Students and test administrators may test the compatibility of their earbuds, headphones and microphone on the student practice test and/or during the beginning of each test.