Revere board adopts paper option for third-grade state ELA and math tests for 2025–26

The Revere Local School District Board of Education on Jan. 21 approved a resolution allowing third-grade English language arts and math state tests to be administered in paper format for the 2025–26 school year rather than online. The resolution, as described by district staff, excludes the alternate assessment (AASCD) and leaves individualized education program (IEP) decisions for alternate-assessed students unchanged.

District staff told the board the paper option is intended to remove a potential technology barrier for students taking their first state test in third grade and to be developmentally appropriate for those entering third grade. "It eliminates a potential technology barrier for our youngest students," the presenter said, and staff noted teachers can use the state's testing platform throughout grades 3–12 to familiarize students with online testing later in their school careers.

During the discussion, a staff presenter said it is difficult to isolate test-delivery format as the single cause of score changes: "It's hard to isolate that as a variable," the presenter said when asked whether scores changed after the district moved some testing to paper. The district also reported that it will continue to use the state platform for classroom formative assessments to scaffold students toward eventual online testing in later grades.

Board members asked about the alternate (computer-adaptive) assessment used for students with the highest learning needs. Staff clarified that the alternate assessment is adaptive and that decisions about paper or online formats for those students remain tied to IEP determinations; the district will not include AASCD students in this paper-testing resolution. Staff also said the district has requested this paper-testing option in prior years and described the current filing as a request for the 2025–26 school year. (Staff made both a reference to having requested it previously and to their current multi-year practice in the meeting record.)

The motion to adopt the resolution was presented during the meeting and, after a second, passed on a roll call in which board members who voted "yes" included Mister Verdin, Mister Miller, Missus Brackett, Mister Heiden, Missus Rainey and Missus Stein. The board did not adopt any change for alternate-assessed students beyond existing IEP procedures.

What the resolution covers and does not cover - Applies to third-grade English language arts and math Ohio state tests for the 2025–26 school year. - Does not include the AASCD/alternate assessment; IEP teams determine format for alternate-assessed students. - Staff will continue to use state-provided practice tools and formative assessments to prepare students for online testing in higher grades.

The board did not attach a separate implementation date beyond the 2025–26 designation, and staff said they will continue annual review and district analysis of test and progress data.

Votes and next steps - Outcome: Approved (roll-call votes recorded as yes from: Mister Verdin, Mister Miller, Missus Brackett, Mister Heiden, Missus Rainey, Missus Stein). - Staff said they will finalize and submit the district's resolution for the 2025–26 school year and continue the district's regular review of testing choices and instructional alignment.