Like all public school districts in Ohio, Sidney City Schools will experience changes in testing for this school year. American Institute of Research (AIR), the vendor responsible for the new science and social studies tests, is creating new ELA and math tests for this year as well. Our district will utilize both the online and paper/pencil formats for testing this year with grades 6, 7 and 8 and grade 10 going online. The goal is to transition to all online testing by 2018-19.

Unlike last year, our students in the graduating classes of 2018 and beyond will now take each test during one window of time in April. So, all end-of-course state tests will be taken in April. An exception to this is evident with our third-grade students. Our third-grade students will be the first to experience the new tests this December when they take the paper/pencil ELA test. This test, given again in April, is meant to evaluate students’ reading to determine if they are on-track or not on-track for their grade level.

Though our students who are in the graduating classes of 2015-2017 are still responsible for passing all five parts of the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) to graduate, they will take the new tests in American history and American government.

Despite the continuous changes in state testing, Sidney City School’s teachers continue to focus on teaching and learning for our students. A more detailed testing schedule will be shared this fall and be available on the building and district websites. However, here are a couple of tables to reference for grade levels and content areas tested in addition to the testing format used.