Update on K-3 Reading and Math Diagnostic Assessment Approved Lists

Three Assessments Approved for the Department’s 2026-2027 List of K-3 Reading Diagnostics

Under a recent change to Ohio law, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce must revise its current approved list of K-3 reading diagnostic assessments to include no more than five reading diagnostic assessments by June 30, 2026. The updated list will be effective beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

The revised list must include three currently approved K-3 reading diagnostic assessments that were the most used statewide prior to Sept. 30, 2025. Accordingly, the Department has determined that the following approved K-3 reading diagnostic assessments were the three most used statewide prior to Sept. 30, 2025:

• I-Ready Assessment

• NWEA MAP Growth

• Acadience Reading K-6/Acadience Reading K-6 (formerly DIBELS Next)

As a result, the three assessments above will remain on the Department’s revised approved list of K-3 reading diagnostic assessments for the 2026-2027 school year.

Two additional assessments will be added to the Department’s revised approved list of K-3 Reading Diagnostics through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. The Department will begin accepting vendor applications for its RFQ process on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, and expects the process to conclude in early 2026.

Frequent updates will be shared with district leaders statewide and posted on the Department’s approved assessment webpage.

Please direct questions to ThirdGradeGuarantee@education.ohio.gov.

The Department is Seeking Vendor Proposals for K-3 Mathematics Diagnostic Assessments

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is seeking vendor qualifications in response to the Department’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a list of up to five K-3 Mathematics Diagnostic Assessments for use by Ohio school districts for the 2026-2027 school year.

Districts may choose to inform any assessment vendors they wish to be considered that the RFQ has been posted to http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Common-Application-for-Requests-for-Qualifications.

The Department will begin accepting vendor applications for its RFQ process on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, and expects the process to conclude in early 2026.

Please direct questions to Mathematics@Education.ohio.gov.