Testing

OTELA (Ohio Test of English Language Acquisition) is wrapping up. Students in grades 3-12 have taken the assessment and were prepared, focused, and given the confidence they needed to do their best. ELLs (English Language Learners) in grades K-2 were evaluated by their teachers and tutor, Ms. Nemer, to assess their English language proficiency level. OTELA scores will be released by May 14, 2015. 

Students must meet the following criteria to exit the ESL program (from the ODE LEP Guidelines) : To be exited from LEP [Limited English Proficiency] programs in Ohio, students need to demonstrate the ability to understand, speak, read and write the English language at a level in which they are able to: 
1.    Achieve successfully in classrooms where the language of instruction is in English; 
2.    Meaningfully participate in academic assessments in English; and 
3.    Participate fully in society in the United States. A student has attained the required level of 

English proficiency to be exited from a district’s LEP program when the student: 

• Obtains a composite score of 5 on the Ohio Test of English Language Acquisition (OTELA); or 
  
• Obtains a composite score of 4 on the OTELA, subsequently completes a trial period of mainstream instruction and obtains a composite score of 4 or above on the OTELA during the trial period of mainstream instruction.

Students in grades 3-9 have also taken the PARCC and AIR assessments and the appropriate accommodations were made for our English Learners (ELs). Since OTELA, PARCC and AIR testing is ending, regular scheduled tutoring sessions will reoccur on March 9, 2015.

As always, I welcome you to contact me if you have any questions regarding testing and the ESL program at Barberton City Schools.

All my best,
Ms. Nemer
[email protected]