Talent Development Program

 

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GIFTED STUDENTS

 

In the summer of 1999 the Ohio Legislature passed a law requiring all school districts to identify gifted students. This was the first major law for gifted education since 1984. The new law is meant to ensure that all school districts in Ohio identify their gifted students using the same standards and procedures.

In the Spring of 2000 each school district in Ohio was required to create a set of policies and procedures for the identification of gifted students. The Oberlin City Schools Identification Plan was submitted and approved by the State Department of Education. Teachers and parents must be notified regarding identification procedures. Students are to be identified using only nationally normed tests that are on an approved list created by the State Department of Education.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade are given the opportunity twice a year to be identified in the following categories:

Superior Cognitive (IQ)

Specific Academic Areas (Achievement) - Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies

Creativity

Visual and/or Performing Arts

Students are identified in three steps: (1) pre-assessment - where student's academic performance is reviewed, (2) screening - which is usually group testing, and (3) assessment/identification - which is individual testing. Students may be identified at the screening level if they obtain qualifying test scores. Teachers, parents, and students can refer students for evaluation. Referral forms and a Permission to Test form may be obtained by parents at the Oberlin Administrative Office, 153 North Main St., from the Assistant Superintendent's office, or from the links below. Group testing usually occurs in March or April. Individual testing for screening or identification usually is done in May. Oberlin City Schools uses a variety of group and individual tests.

Permission from parents must be obtained if students are being tested individually at the screening or assessment levels. However, if a whole grade is being given a test, permission does not have to be obtained. Whole grade testing usually occurs once every two years in the Spring and involves a series of achievement tests measuring reading, math, writing, science, and social studies skills, and an ability test measuring thinking and problem solving skills. Students also complete proficiency and off-year proficiency tests during the years when students are not being given the whole group achievement and ability tests. Parents should receive test results used for gifted identification within 30 days after the school has received those results.

After the evaluation procedure is complete parents must be notified if a student has been identified as gifted in one or more areas as listed above. If a parent has concerns with the identification or testing results, they may appeal the process. Please contact the Superintendent's office to discuss the appeal process.

Please remember that having a student identified does not mean he or she will be receiving gifted services. Most school districts have only one certified gifted teacher position that is State funded. It is impossible for one teacher to serve all identified students. At present, the only State funded service in Oberlin City Schools is provided in 3rd-6th grade resource rooms located at Prospect and Langston Middle School for students at those grade levels identified as Superior Academic Reading.

In January 2001, school districts were required to submit to the State Department of Education a potential plan of service for all identified gifted students, grades K-12. Oberlin's plan, begun during the summer of 2000, was written by a committee of parents, teachers, and administrators. It has been submitted to the State and will be considered as a possible part of a state-wide funding plan for education. Again, at present no additional implementation funding is being provided or promised by the State. Parents who desire more gifted services are encouraged to write their State legislator with that request. Gifted education is at the mercy of the legislators for funding and any advocacy from parents is very much appreciated.

The Oberlin City Schools Administrative Office phone number is: 440-774-1458.

 

Forms required to initiate identification process:

Referral Pre-Assessment - (completed by Teacher or Parent)

Referral Pre-Assessment Data - (completed by Teacher)

Cognitive/Achievement Skills Checklist - (completed by Teacher or Parent)

Creativity Characteristics Checklist - (completed by Teacher or Parent)

Permission for Testing - (completed by Parent)

The above files are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
To view PDF files you may need to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader software (free) on your computer.
Click to go to the download site.

 

 

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