January 9, 2026
New Information about the Department’s Science of Reading Refresher Course
Under Ohio law, teachers, administrators, school psychologists, and speech language pathologists are required to take the Department’s forthcoming Refresher Course in the Science of Reading. Please see the Department’s Science of Reading Professional Development webpage for completion timelines.
The Department’s Science of Reading Refresher Course will consist of two modules. Module One will provide a grade-band specific review of the major components of the Science of Reading and Simple View of Reading. Module One will also contain options for either grades K-5 or 6-12. Participants must choose one of these Module One options.
Participants will then be able to select from several options in Module Two. The options in Module Two will focus on literacy instruction for specific student populations and content areas. Some of these options will include Literacy for English Learners, Students with Reading Difficulties, Math, Science, Social Studies, the Arts, and Career Technical Education. Participants must complete at least one option in Module Two.
The options for Module Two will continue to be developed throughout 2026 and 2027. The Department will announce when they are available. The Department anticipates that Module One and a small batch of Module Two options will be available in late spring of 2026. Information about Refresher Course options for Birth-K entry educators is forthcoming.
For more information about Ohio’s Science of Reading Professional Development requirements, please see the Department’s Science of Reading Professional Development webpage. Please direct questions to ReadOhio@education.ohio.gov.
December 8, 2025
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.