Results of the grades 4 and 9 exams make schools eligible for competitive grant funds targeted for school improvement. With high stakes and mostly multiple-choice, Ohio needs major improvement. Extended time for response on the writing sample is positive, as is the inclusion of constructed-response items. However, writing to a prompt is a limited measure of writing. While use of SAT or ACT test scores are an option for high school graduation, this is an inappropriate use of those exams.
Print materials are available to prepare students for the exams.
Data disaggregated by race and gender are released at the school, district and state levels. For IEP, some accommodations in test format and procedure, but not content, are available. LEP seniors who have not passed all parts of the grade 9 exam may have an oral administration, except for writing, and may have the assistance of an interpreter for math and citizenship. For IEP students, inclusion or disaggregation in reports depends on accommodations they have had. LEP students' results are included and not disaggregated.