In preparing to transition to the superintendent position, I hope to use this Blog as a means to communicate necessary information that impacts next school year and the individual that will follow in the Office of Teaching and Learning.  

New Way to Determine Kindergarten Readiness Coming Fall 2014

Understanding a child’s learning and development is critical to both families and educators. In this and previous school years, children took the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment - Literacy (KRA-L) when entering school. In fall 2014, a new kindergarten readiness assessment called Start Strong is replacing the KRA-L. 

Start Strong will give kindergarten teachers a comprehensive picture of a child’s learning and development at kindergarten entry, pinpointing where each child is in physical well-being and motor development, language and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and social skills.

Teachers will have from the first day of school until Nov. 1, 2014, to complete the Start Strong assessment.

The language and literacy portion of the Start Strong assessment may be used to meet the reading diagnostic assessment requirement of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee for kindergarten if the language and literacy items are administered bySept. 30.

Between April and September 2014, all kindergarten teachers will receive training on Start Strong, including score reporting and using the data. The Ohio Department of Education will make the training schedule available in January.

Please check education.ohio.gov (search Start Strong) in the coming months for further updates on Start Strong. Contact the department’s Office of Early Learning and School Readiness at614-995-9974 or ELSR@education.ohio.gov if you have questions.