Early Learning Assessment (Preschool)

Purpose of Assessment 

The Early Learning Assessment (ELA) is designed to aid teachers in determining where preschool children are in their readiness for kindergarten. 

The Ohio Early Learning and Development standards are the basis for the ELA. The assessment focuses on seven areas of a child's growth and development: social foundations, mathematics, science, social studies, language and literacy, physical well-being and motor development, and fine arts. 

The ELA is not a test. Teachers do not remove children from the classroom to assess. Teachers use the tool to determine a child's current development level based on observation and use the information they collect to plan activities for the growth of each individual child.