ODE Educational Standards and Accountability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Ohio's accountability system, what is the primary purpose of the 'Value-Added' measure on a school's report card?
- To measure a school's average proficiency rate
- To assess the academic growth students make over time beyond expected levels (Correct answer)
- To rank schools against national averages
- To calculate teacher retention rates
Correct answer: To assess the academic growth students make over time beyond expected levels
Value-Added measures the academic progress students make in a given year compared to expected growth, indicating a school's effectiveness independent of incoming achievement levels.
Question 2: Which Ohio legislation established the current framework for the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES)?
- Ohio Revised Code 3319.111 (Correct answer)
- Senate Bill 1
- House Bill 153
- Ohio Revised Code 3301.07
Correct answer: Ohio Revised Code 3319.111
Ohio Revised Code 3319.111 established the framework for teacher evaluations, requiring districts to use a state-approved evaluation system that includes student growth measures.
Question 3: What does the Ohio 'Cupp Report' primarily examine in relation to educational accountability?
- Teacher certification requirements
- School funding equity and its relationship to student outcomes (Correct answer)
- State graduation rate calculations
- Special education compliance
Correct answer: School funding equity and its relationship to student outcomes
The Cupp Report examined Ohio's school funding formula, finding it inadequate and inequitable, leading to the DeRolph decisions and subsequent funding reform efforts.
Question 4: Under Ohio law, what must happen when a school district is placed in 'Academic Distress'?
- The district is immediately dissolved
- A commission is appointed with authority to take corrective action including replacing leadership (Correct answer)
- State aid is suspended until improvement is shown
- All teachers must be re-evaluated within 30 days
Correct answer: A commission is appointed with authority to take corrective action including replacing leadership
When a district enters Academic Distress, Ohio law requires appointment of a CEO or commission with broad authority to restructure operations and personnel to improve outcomes.
Question 5: What is the minimum number of performance indicators a school must meet to avoid an 'F' on the Overall Grade component of Ohio's Local Report Card?
- One
- Three (Correct answer)
- Five
- All indicators must show improvement
Correct answer: Three
Ohio's grading rubric assigns letter grades based on points earned across multiple performance components, with at least three components needing passing scores to avoid an overall failing grade.
Question 6: Which Ohio standard-setting body is responsible for approving academic content standards before they are adopted statewide?
- The Ohio General Assembly
- The State Board of Education (Correct answer)
- The Governor's Office of Education Reform
- The Ohio Department of Higher Education
Correct answer: The State Board of Education
The State Board of Education has statutory authority to adopt academic content standards for all public schools in Ohio under Ohio Revised Code 3301.079.
Question 7: Ohio's 'Third Grade Reading Guarantee' requires students who score below proficient on the English Language Arts assessment to do what, by default?
- Attend summer reading camps only
- Be retained in third grade unless they meet a good-cause exemption (Correct answer)
- Receive tutoring in fourth grade while advancing
- Complete an online remediation program over the summer
Correct answer: Be retained in third grade unless they meet a good-cause exemption
Ohio law requires third graders reading below grade level to be retained unless they qualify for a good-cause exemption, such as an IEP provision, English learner status, or portfolio evidence.
ODE Educational Standards and Accountability 2
Under Ohio's accountability system, what is the primary purpose of the 'Value-Added' measure on a school's report card?