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Board hears recommendation to set ESOL cut score at 51 of 80 (scaled 220); final vote expected next month
Summary
The State Board of Education heard a Pearson presentation and the Educator Standards Board recommendation to set the passing score for the new Ohio Assessment for Educators ESOL form at 51 of 80 (a scaled score of 220). Board members asked about comparability, pass rates and data review; vote is expected next month.
The State Board of Education on Monday heard a recommendation to set the passing score for the new Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) form for English to speakers of other languages at 51 correct answers out of 80 scored items, which Pearson said maps to a scaled score of 220 on the 100–300 reporting scale.
Pearson psychometrician Eric Steinauer, the testing partner for the OAE, told members the test development process included a framework, item development, piloting and a standard‑setting panel of practicing ESOL educators that met in February to recommend the passing point. "The standard‑setting panel got together in February ... and the result is a recommended passing score," Steinauer said.
Why it matters: the board must set licensure requirements that determine who is eligible to teach ESOL in Ohio schools. Board members asked whether the new form is comparable to the retired OAE 021 and what the pass rate might be; Steinauer said the old 021 had roughly 300 takers annually with about a 90% pass rate, but cautioned that the new form is not directly comparable to prior forms. "The OAE tests are Ohio tests," he said, urging caution in cross‑state comparisons.
Board members also pressed how the department and Pearson will monitor item performance after launch. Steinauer described use of non‑scored pilot items and annual reviews: when about 100 responses are available for an item, the team looks for signals that could trigger removal or reclassification of an item. The department representative added that the Educator Standards Panel (ESP) and Pearson review standard‑error ranges before recommending a fixed point to the board.
Cost and timeline: the fee for the assessment was confirmed as $109. The vendor indicated the department plans implementation for mid‑September, and the matter will return to the board next month for a possible vote, followed by Pearson’s operational rollout if approved.
What’s next: the board did not vote on the cut score at this meeting. The Educator Standards Board recommended the 51/80 cut score; the State Board may act when the item returns on next month’s agenda.
