ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE (OTELA)
State and federal law requires an annual assessment of LEP students’ English language proficiency. Ohio uses the OTELA test (Ohio Test of English Language Achievement). Students are assessed each spring in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are given a score in each area, as well as a total composite score.
The OTELA scores are used:
To determine the appropriate support to be provided for those students identified as LEP.
To help inform instructional decisions relating to the education of LEP students.
To determine if a student who has been enrolled in United States schools for less than three full school years is eligible for additional accommodations when taking certain Ohio statewide assessments.
To evaluate the progress of LEP students in developing English language proficiency.
To help determine when a student is no longer LEP and is ready to be exited from the district’s LEP program.
To help evaluate the effectiveness of the district’s LEP program.
Each year, the parent/guardian will be notified of the results of the OTELA test and will need to give permission for continued participation in the ELL program.
Once a student attains a composite score of five (5), he or she is no longer considered to be LEP and is exited from the EL program. If a student attains a composite score of four (4), he or she is considered to be proficient enough in English and may no longer need direct EL services. These students enter into a transition year and are in proficient-trial-mainstream status (PTM) for the following school year. During this year, the student must show evidence of academic success and score a four (4) or five (5) on the OTELA test during the PTM year. If a student is able to do this, he or she will be exited from the program and is no longer considered to be LEP.