Welcome back to a new preschool year! This message includes updates and information about the Early Learning Assessment.
EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENT MATERIALS
The Department is excited to announce that printed copies of Ohio’s Comprehensive Early Learning Assessment (ELA) and/or Ohio’s ELA Ten Required Learning Progressions are available to any licensed ODJFS and ODE programs serving preschool age children. The Comprehensive ELA is a spiral bound, full version of the ELA tool, including seven domains of growth and development, 32 learning progressions, 72 skills, knowledge and behaviors (SKBs); this version also includes the embedded adaptations. The ELA Ten Required Learning Progressions is the version that includes four domains of growth and development, 10 learning progressions, and 24 SKBs; it is required for Early Childhood Education grantees and Preschool Special Education programs. Please visit ELA Order Form to request copies.
READY FOR KINDERGARTEN ONLINE SYSTEM
Access to the Ready for Kindergarten Online system (also known as KReady) is available for any licensed ODJFS and ODE program. KReady is a comprehensive assessment system that contains the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Revised (KRA-R) and the Early Learning Assessment (ELA). This database stores student demographic and assessment information and professional development resources on the ELA. Programs use this system to collect data, score learning progressions, and pull data and reports. The KReady system also has the two required assessments for teacher training. Participants in the current ELA Virtual Initial Training will need to have an account in the KReady system, regardless of the program’s use of the system for assessment and data purposes.
DATA MANAGER TRAINING
ELA Implementation Webinar for Building Administrators
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 10:00-11:00am
Designed for building administrators who will be involved in coordinating or supporting the implementation of the Early Learning Assessment (ELA), this webinar will provide details about your role in ELA implementation and how you can support teachers as they administer the assessment. The webinar will also provide guidance on how to access and utilize ELA reports and data. Registration Link
TEACHER TRAINING INFORMATION
Early Learning Assessment (ELA) Virtual Initial Training
Registration for the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) Virtual Initial Training is now open through the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) at www.registry.occrra.org. This 100% virtual training is for new users of the Early Learning Assessment. If a teacher has previously completed an in-person or hybrid ELA training, he or she does not need to complete the new training. The ELA Fall 2021 Training Schedule list dates, times, and ST numbers needed to register. Participants will need an account in the Ready for Kindergarten Online system (also known as KReady). Contact ELAHelp@education.ohio.gov if you have questions or need additional support.
Early Learning Assessment Technology Mini Training
Registration for the Early Learning Assessment Technology Mini Training is open through the Ohio professional Registry at www.registry.occrra.org. This 100% virtual training is for individuals who have completed the 9-hour Early Learning Assessment training that did not include information about how to use the Ready for Kindergarten Online system and have not completed the reliability assessment (Simulation Assessment). The ELA 2021 Technology Mini Training Schedule lists dates, times, and ST numbers needed to register. An individual KReady account is required to participate in this training. Contact your program data manager or administrator for information about how to obtain your own account prior to registering for this training.
COMING SOON! Early Learning Assessment Training for Support Professionals
This 100% online training will be for anyone who will be supporting a fully ELA-trained teacher with using the ELA. This training provides an overview of the Early Learning Assessment and focuses on observational assessment concepts including how to document observational evidence. Registration for this training will be through the Ohio Professional Registry but is not yet available.
Thank you for continuing to support the early care and education of Ohio’s youngest learners!
Contact ELAHelp@education.ohio.gov with any questions.
The following message contains important information regarding the Spring Data Collection window and the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) score reporting. It also contains information about the ELA Virtual Initial Training dates and ELA Technology Mini Training dates.
Spring Early Learning Assessment Score Reporting
Programs serving children funded by Early Childhood Education Grant or Preschool Special Education are required to complete the ELA and report scores for fall and spring administration windows. For the 2020-21 school year only, the minimum requirement is to report on the same 10 Learning Progressions for funded children, but the scores will represent one item in each progression only. Please see this guidance document on requirements.
The ELA spring data collection closes on 05/14/2021 at 11:59 PM. Teachers will not be able to enter assessment data after this time. Data Managers will be able to approve transfers and clean up the student demographic data through 05/21/2021 at 11:59 PM. Please use the Learning Progression Score Report generated from the Ready for Kindergarten Online (KReady) system which will be available for download starting 05/26/2021 for the spring data collection for reporting scores in EMIS or EAS. If your program is not able to enter scores into the KReady system you may use the Early Learning Assessment for Bridge Form 2020-21 for reporting.
Early Learning Assessment (ELA) Virtual Initial Training
Registration for the Early Learning Assessment Virtual Initial Training is open through the Ohio Professional Registry at www.registry.occrra.org. The ELA 2021 Training Schedule lists dates, times, and ST numbers needed to register for trainings through October.
This 100% online training is for new users of the Early Learning Assessment. It is an online hybrid format meaning there are self-paced modules that must be completed prior to each schedule webinar training.
An individual Ready for Kindergarten (KReady) Online account is required to participate in this training. Contact your program data manager or administrator for information about how to set up your account prior to registering for this training. It is a professional conduct violation to share KReady system login credentials. Each teacher/training participant must have an individual account.
Early Learning Assessment Technology Mini Training
Registration for the Early Learning Assessment Technology Mini Training is open through the Ohio professional Registry at www.registry.occrra.org. This 100% virtual training is for individuals who have completed the 9-hour Early Learning Assessment training that did not include information about how to use the Ready for Kindergarten Online system and have not completed the reliability assessment (Simulation Assessment). The ELA 2021 Technology Mini Training Schedule lists dates, times, and ST numbers needed to register. An individual KReady account is required to participate in this training. Contact your program data manager or administrator for information about how to obtain your own account prior to registering for this training.
NEW! Early Learning Assessment Training for Support Professionals
Coming Soon: Starting this summer, we will offer an ELA training designed specifically for assistant teachers, paraprofessionals, and educational aides. This 100% online training will be for anyone who will be supporting a fully ELA-trained teacher with using the ELA. This training provides an overview of the Early Learning Assessment and focuses on observational assessment concepts including how to document observational evidence. Registration for this training will be through the Ohio Professional Registry but is not yet available.
Thank you for continuing to support the early care and education of Ohio’s youngest learners.
If you have any questions about the Early Learning Assessment, please contact us at ELAHelp@education.ohio.govor reach out to Ohio K12 Help for technical questions at 1-844-512-6446.