Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions for Families

1. What are the Ohio Achievement Tests and why does my child take them?
   

   The Ohio Reading and Mathematics Achievement Tests are annual assessments that measure how well students have learned the reading and math concepts taught in grades 3 - 8. The achievement tests are designed specifically for Ohio students and are based on Ohios academic content standards. They do not test a childs intelligence or aptitude and are not meant to compare childrens abilities.

   The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB) requires all states to establish academic standards that tell what students should know and be able to do in reading and math at the end of each grade. NCLB also requires states to test all students in grades 3 8 annually in reading and math to assess how well students are meeting the academic content standards. The results of the tests are used to identify districts, schools and students that may require additional resources to meet state academic standards.

2. How do the Ohio Achievement Tests benefit my child?
   

   The achievement tests ensure that families and teachers know whether each student has learned the reading and math skills and information expected at each grade. The achievement tests can also help identify specific areas in which a student needs extra support and practice. Teachers and families can then work together to ensure that a student gets the help that he or she needs.

   The achievement tests also help identify when students have gained a strong understanding of grade-level materials and may be ready to be challenged by more advanced concepts and activities.

3. What happens if my child is not proficient on the achievement tests?
   

   These test results are one of the factors, but not the sole factor, that teachers use to evaluate a childs readiness to move to the next grade. Teachers also look at the childs attendance, classroom participation and class work to determine whether the child is ready to be promoted.

   If your child does not score at or above the proficient level on any of the tests, this is a sign that he or she is having difficulty learning the skills and knowledge expected of the grade level and may need additional help. You may wish to talk to your childs teacher(s) about the test results and the resources that can help ensure his or her success.

4. My child has two scores for the grade 3 reading test, why is that?
   

   Because strong reading skills are such an important component of success in school after grade 3, special emphasis has been placed on the results of the Grade 3 Reading Achievement Test. Unlike the other OAT tests, the Grade 3 Reading Achievement Test is given twice a year. Students first take the test in the fall of grade 3 and may take the test again in the spring. Students are credited with the higher of their two scores.

5. What happens if my childs school does not perform well on the test?
   

   If a school does not perform as well as expected on the tests, the district and state may offer the school additional teacher training, extra instructional materials, coaching from experienced educators, and other reforms.

   If a school does not meet test performance goals for several years in a row, students at that school may receive additional educational options, such as the chance to transfer to another school in the district or free after-school tutoring.

6. Do students with special needs or children who do not speak English as a first language take the same tests as children in general education programs?
   

   Schools are responsible for ensuring that all students, including special education students and English language learners, acquire the knowledge and skills expected at each grade level. Therefore, all students take statewide achievement tests. A small number of students with disabilities take an adapted version of the general education test, called the Ohio Alternate Assessment, which is designed specifically for students with cognitive disabilities. Students who are not yet proficient in English are given extra support to help them understand the tests, such as a dictionary, an interpreter or extra time to complete the tests.

7. Where can I see samples of the questions my child answers on the test?
   

   The Student Success Web site at http://portal.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/ contains questions on the spring achievement tests. The Web site gives a detailed explanation of each question, the scoring guidelines for the questions, and explanations of each possible answer choice. The website also gives parents easy-to-understand explanations of the concepts that children need to understand to be proficient.

8. Who writes the tests?
   

   The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) works with an independent test contractor to develop the achievement tests. Test questions are based on Ohios academic content standards which were developed and adopted with input from teachers, families and school personnel across the state.

   Every question is field-tested in Ohio schools before it can be included in the official tests. Committees of Ohio educators review all test questions and materials before and after the field test. An additional panel of experts reflecting Ohios cultural diversity scrutinizes each question for content that might be offensive or put any group at a disadvantage when answering the question. These panels recommend which questions from the field test should be included on statewide tests and which should be discarded. Only reviewed, field-tested and approved items are used on any of the statewide tests or the practice tests.

9. What resources are available to help my child improve his or her performance on the tests? Are practice tests available?
   

   Practice tests are available online at: ODE's Web Site
   
   Also, consult the Online Resources section of this Web site for more information on helping your child do better on the test. The score reports that you receive at home also include suggested activities to help your child practice specific skills. Your childs teacher may be able to recommend additional ways your child can improve his or her performance.

10. How are test scores determined?
    

    There are different types of questions on your child’s tests – multiple choice, short answer, extended response or writing prompt. Each of these is scored differently. Multiple choice questions are given a score of 0 or 1, depending to whether the answer is incorrect or correct. Short answer questions are given a score that could range from 0 – 2 points, depending on your child’s performance. Extended response questions are given a score that ranges from 0-5 depending on your child’s responses. For Writing, your child’s responses can receive scores of 0, 3, 6, 9 or 12.

    For more information on how the Achievement tests are scored and what the different types of questions are, please see the Scoring Training section of this website.

11. What is my child expected to know at the end of each grade?
    

    By the end of each grade, your child is expected to know and be able to do what is described in the Ohio Content Standards. By meeting grade-level expectations, your child will be on track for continued success beyond the current grade.

    For more information on the expectations for your child, please see the Whats Expected section of this site, where you will find detailed descriptions of the standards in Reading, Math and Writing.

12. How do I exit this website?
    

    To exit this website, click the 'x' in the upper right-hand side of your screen if you are using a Windows machine, or click the red circle in the upper left-hand side of your screen if you are using a Mac.

13. How do I contact support for this website?
    

    For additional support with the Ohio Portal, please dial our toll-free number, 1-(888)-944-5001

Frequently Asked Questions for Educators

1. Why does the state administer achievement tests?
   

   The Ohio Reading and Mathematics Achievement Tests are annual assessments that measure how well students have learned the reading and mathematics concepts taught in grades 3 8. The achievement tests are designed specifically for Ohio students and are based on Ohios academic content standards.

   The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB) requires all states to establish academic standards that detail what students should know and be able to do in reading and mathematics at the end of each grade. NCLB also requires states to test all students in grades 3 8 annually in reading and mathematics to assess how well students are meeting the academic content standards. The results of the tests are used to identify districts, schools and students that may require support to meet state academic standards.

2. How do the tests link to Ohios academic standards?
   

   The Ohio Achievement Tests are written in reference to specific benchmarks and indicators in the Ohio Academic Content Standards.

3. What happens if my school does not perform well on the test?
   

   If a school does not perform as well as expected on the tests, the district and state may offer the school additional teacher training, extra instructional materials, coaching from experienced educators, and other reforms. If a school does not meet test performance goals for several years in a row, students at that school may receive additional educational options, such as the chance to transfer to another school in the district or free after-school tutoring. The school may also be required to undertake more dramatic reforms.

4. Do students in special education programs and English Language Learners take the same tests?
   

   Schools are responsible for ensuring that all students, including special education students and English language learners, acquire the knowledge and skills expected at each grade level. Therefore, all students take statewide achievement tests. Students with disabilities may take the tests with certain accommodations, such as additional time, or may take an adapted version of the general education test, called the Ohio Alternate Assessment, which is designed specifically for students with cognitive disabilities. Students who are not yet proficient in English are given extra support to help them understand the tests, such as a dictionary, an interpreter or extra time to complete the tests.

5. Will these reports be used for teacher evaluation?
   

   State test results are not intended to be used for teacher evaluation. Instead, they provide a good snapshot of how well your class and individual students in the class have learned state academic content standards for their grade level. The tests can also help identify particular areas in which individual students or a class can benefit from targeted instruction. ODE encourages teachers, principals and superintendents to use the achievement test score reports as tools for examining and discussing student achievement. Principals and superintendents can also use the test results to identify professional development opportunities for staff related to specific content standards or concepts.

6. Who writes the tests?
   

   The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) works with an independent contractor to develop the achievement tests. Test questions are based on Ohios academic content standards which were developed and adopted with input from teachers, families and school personnel across the state.

   Every question is field-tested in Ohio schools before it can be included in the official tests. Committees of Ohio educators review all test questions and materials before and after the field test. An additional panel of experts reflecting Ohios cultural diversity scrutinizes each question for content that may be offensive or put any group at a disadvantage when answering the question. These panels recommend which questions from the field test should be included on statewide tests and which should be discarded. Only reviewed, field-tested and approved items are used on any of the statewide tests or the practice tests.

7. Can I see the actual test questions?
   

   Yes! The Student Success Web site at http://portal.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/ contains the questions asked on the spring achievement tests. The Web site gives a detailed explanation of the skills and knowledge assessed by each question and discusses why students may have selected incorrect answers.

   The Web site also includes descriptive statistics on the percentage of students in the state that answered each question correctly. The score report that you received gives the percentage of students in your class, school or district that answered each item correctly.

   To see items from tests at other grade levels go to the Instructional Management System at http://ims.ode.state.oh.us/ODE/IMS/Assessment/Default.asp

8. What resources are available to help students improve their performance on the tests? Are practice tests available?
   

   Practice tests are available online at:
   http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=240&ContentID=4348&Content=52063
   Also, consult the Online Resources section of this Web site for more links to instructional tools.

9. Which grades and subjects will I receive the new score reports for?
   

   For the 20042005 school year, educators will receive score reports in reading and mathematics for grades 3 and 8. Plans are underway to expand the number of grade levels receiving the new reports for the 2005-2006 school year.
   

10. How are the questions on the test scored?
    

    You can see how different questions on the test are scored by going to the Scorer Training section of this website. This section will explain the following:

    • There are different types of questions on your students tests - multiple choice, short answer, extended response or writing prompt. Each of these is scored differently.
    • Multiple choice questions are given a score of 0 or 1, depending to whether the answer is incorrect or correct.
    • Short answer questions are given a score that could range from 0 - 2 points, depending on your students performance.
    • Extended response questions are given a score that ranges from 0-5 depending on your students responses. For Writing, your students responses on the writing prompt can receive scores of 0, 3, 6, 9 or 12.
    
    
11. What are my students expected to know and be able to do at the end of each grade?
    

    You can see what your students are expected to know by the end of each grade by going to the Whats Expected section of this website. In this section you will find:

    • By the end of each grade, your students are expected to know and be able to do what is described in the Ohio Content Standards. By meeting grade-level expectations, your students will be on track for continued success beyond the current grade.
    
    

12. What does the Online Reporting System allow me to do?
    

    NOTE: Only Superintendents, District Test Coordinators, and Principals can access the Online Reporting System. Once Principals give access to teachers, teachers will also be able to access the System.

    Through this site, Superintendents will be able to:

    • View test score data for students in your district who took the Grades 3-8 Achievement Tests in 2005-2006;
    • View aggregate scores for the classes and schools within your district;
    • Re-roster the students in your district and transfer them to schools within your district;
    • Add or delete teachers found in the rosters;
    • Add classes within your district and assign students to those classes;
    • Analyze your districts data by using online tools.

    
    District Test Coordinators will be able to:

    • View test score data for students in your district who took the Grades 3-8 Achievement Tests in 2005-2006;
    • View aggregate scores for the classes and schools within your district;
    • Analyze your districts data by using online tools;
    • Re-roster the students in your district and transfer them to schools within the district;
    • Add or delete teachers found in the rosters;
    • Add classes within your district and assign students to those classes.

    
    Principals will be able to:

    • View test score data for students in your school who took the Grades 3-8 Achievement Tests in 2005-2006;
    • View aggregate scores for the classes in your school;
    • Re-roster the students in your school;
    • Add or delete teachers found in the rosters for your school;
    • Add classes within your school and assign students to those classes;
    • Analyze your schools data by using online tools.
    • Generate and print copies of Family Reports.

    
    Once Principals have given their teachers access to the site, teachers will be able to:

    • Add classes within their school;
    • Assign students to different classes within their school.
    
    
13. How do I access the Online Reporting System? Where can I get my password?
    

    All Superintendents, District Test Coordinators and Principals received letters containing passwords to the Online Reporting System. If you have misplaced this letter, please call: 1-(888)-944-5001 to obtain your password..
    

14. My teachers do not have passwords to access the Online Reporting System. How do I obtain these?
    

    To provide access to the teachers in your school, you must log onto the Online Reporting System and add them to it. The system will automatically generate a username and password for each teacher added.
    

15. The student rosters do not match the current roster of my school. Is there a problem?
    

    The rosters on the Online Reporting System are based on the pre-ID entries for the Spring 2006 Achievement Tests. The students shown have not been re-rostered. To change a roster (depending on the level of access you have), please log on to the site and follow the instructions to add or delete a student.

16. How do I exit this website?
    

    To exit this website, click the 'x' in the upper right-hand side of your screen if you are using a Windows machine, or click the red circle in the upper left-hand side of your screen if you are using a Mac.
    

17. How do I contact support for this website?
    

    For additional support with the Ohio Portal, please dial our toll-free number, 1-(888)-944-5001
    

Glossary of Terms