The Board endorses the concept of providing alternative programs and services to meet the unique educational needs of academically gifted students. Therefore, it is the policy of the Board of Education that those students who are defined as gifted and who are enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve be identified and provided services in accordance with the School District's plan developed pursuant to O.R.C. §§3324.04 and 3324.07.
For purposes of this policy, "gifted" means students who perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment and who are identified under O.R.C. §3324.03.
Regulations and procedures shall meet the requirements of the State Department of Education and shall be on file in the Superintendent's office and available to the public.
Screening and Identification
It is the policy of this Board of Education to screen and identify gifted students in accordance with the following procedures:
A. Students shall be screened, selected for further assessment and identified using the assessment instruments from the list approved by the State Department of Education that are determined to be appropriate for the particular student by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
B. Students shall be identified as gifted based upon the following criteria:
1. A student shall be identified as exhibiting "superior cognitive ability" if he/she did either of the following within the preceding twenty-four months:
a. Scored two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual standardized intelligence test administered by a licensed school psychologist or licensed psychologist;
b. Scored at least two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved standardized group intelligence test;
c. Performed at or above the ninety-fifth percentile on an approved individual or group standardized basic or composite battery of a nationally normed achievement test;
d. Attained an approved score on one or more above-grade level standardized nationally normed approved tests.
2. A student shall be identified as exhibiting "specific academic ability" superior to children of similar age in a specific academic ability field if, within the preceding twenty-four months, he/she performs at or above the ninety-fifth percentile at the national level on an approved individual or group standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field. A student may be identified as gifted in more than one specific academic ability field.
3. A student shall be identified as exhibiting "creative thinking ability" superior to children of a similar age if, within the previous twenty-four months, the student scored one standard deviation above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual or group intelligence test and also did either of the following:
a. Attained a sufficient score, as established by the Department of Education, on an approved individual or group test of creative ability;
b. Exhibited sufficient performance, as established by the Department of Education, on an approved checklist of creative behaviors.
4. A student shall be identified as exhibiting "visual or performing arts ability" superior to that of children of similar age if the student has done both of the following:
a. Demonstrated through a display of work, an audition, or other performance or exhibition, superior ability in a visual or performing arts area;
b. Exhibited sufficient performance, as established by the Department of Education, on an approved checklist of behaviors related to a specific arts area.
C. All District students, including minority or disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and students for whom English is a second language shall have equal access to screening and further assessment.
D. All District students identified as gifted shall have an equal opportunity to receive any services offered by the District.
E. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop procedures for students to withdraw from gifted programs or services, for reassessment of students, and for assessment of students transferring into the District.
F. Disagreements between parents and the District concerning the identification and placement of gifted students shall be referred to the Superintendent or his/her designee, who will meet with the interested parties and render a written decision that shall be final.
Plan for Identification
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop a plan for identifying gifted students. The plan shall be adopted by the Board of Education and, together with this policy, be submitted to the Department of Education for approval. The plan shall contain all of the following:
A. A description of the assessment instruments from the list adopted by the Department of Education that the District will use to screen and identify gifted students;
B. Acceptable scheduling procedures for screening and for administering assessment instruments for identifying gifted students which provide:
1. At least two opportunities a year for assessment in the case of students requesting assessment or recommended for assessment by teachers, parents, or other students;
2. Assurance of inclusion in screening and assessment procedures for minority and disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and students for whom English is a second language;
3. Assurance that any student transferring into the District will be assessed within ninety days of the transfer if requested by the parent.
C. Procedures for notification of parents within thirty days of the results of any screening procedure or assessment instrument and the provision of an opportunity for parents to appeal any decision about the results of any screening procedure or assessment, the scheduling of children for assessment, or the placement of a student in any program or for receipt of services;
D. A commitment that the District will accept scores on assessment instruments provided by other School Districts or trained personnel outside the School District, if the assessment instruments are on the list approved by the State Department of Education.
E. The plan may provide for the District to contract with any qualified public or private service provider to provide for screening or assessment services.
Plan for Service
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop, in accordance with Department of Education guidelines, a plan for the service of identified gifted students enrolled in the District. The plan shall be filed with the Department of Education. However, the Board of Education shall not be required to implement the plan until further action by the General Assembly or the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Services included in the plan may include such options as the following:
A. A differentiated curriculum;
B. Cluster grouping;
C. Mentorships;
D. Accelerated course work;
E. The post-secondary enrollment option program;
F. Advanced placement;
G. Honors classes;
H. Magnet schools;
I. Self-contained classrooms;
J. Independent study;
K. Other options identified in the guidelines of the Department of Education.
Annual Report
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall submit an annual report to the Department of Education specifying the number of students in each of grades kindergarten through twelfth screened, the number assessed, and the number identified as gifted in each category specified in O.R.C. §3324.03. The Superintendent or designee shall also prepare and submit to the Department of Education by July fifteenth of each year an annual written report on the effectiveness of the identification of, and services to, children who are gifted.
Distribution of Policy
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall take steps to ensure that this policy is distributed to parents.