Hamilton City Schools
ESL Newsbrief - January 2016
In previous years, Ohio's annual English language proficiency test (OTELA) was administered between mid-January and early March. The OTELA assessment has been replaced with the Ohio's English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA), which is based on the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century Consortium's ELPA 21 Standards. Ohio is a member of this consortium, and the ELPA 21 Standards are known as the Ohio English Language Proficiency Standards in Ohio. The new testing window for the OELPA Assessment will be between February 29 - April 22, 2016. The OTELA (old tests) was a paper-based assessment, but almost all of the OELPA (new tests) will give online through the AIR or OCBA Assessment Portal and will require headsets. The writing component of OELPA Assessments for Grades K-1 will be administered with a paper test. Like the OTELA, the new OELPA tests (Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing) are a suite of 4 assessments. ODE estimates each individual OLEPA Assessment will take students 90 minutes to take, but some will finish early and others will take more time.
ODE reports that the new OELPA Assessment is interactive for students; reduces turnaround time on reporting results; improves efficiency of data collection and management; increases security of test content and student data; and reduces administrative burdens on school and district staff members.
In August 2016 there will be a screener to identify students as English language learners. More information will be forthcoming.
Please visit the OELPA FAQ for information on:
The Pre-ID file layout and Pre-ID Guidance Document are posted on the Portal under theOELPA folder. Please use the Pre-ID layout to register students.
Contacts
For more information on the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment, contact Paula Mahaley at paula.mahaley@education.ohio.gov or (614) 466-0217. For information on technology for the OELPA, contact Kirk Ross at kirk.ross@education.ohio.gov or (614) 995-4144. For information on accessibility and linguistic supports, contact Andrew Hinkle at andrew.hinkle@education.ohio.gov or (614) 644-7304.
Interpreter Services
If your building needs interpreter services for upcoming Parent / Teacher Conferences, please work with your building's ESL Teacher and/or contact Corbin Moore to schedule times. We typically cover Spanish translation with district staff and contract for other languages with Global 2 Local. The earlier we get requests from the building, the better we can serve your interpreter needs.
- February 22 - OPELA Assessment Training by HCESC (Date could change)
- May 16 - ESL Department End-of-Year Meeting and ELLevation Training
Contact Information
Email: cmoore@hcsdoh.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/hcsdoh.org/esl/home
Location: 533 Dayton Street, Hamilton, OH, United States
Phone: 513-868-4428
Twitter: @corbinmoore1