Identification

 

District Policy and Plan

for the Identification of  Children Who Are Gifted

 

 Alexander Local School District

 

DEFINITION

 “Gifted” means students who perform or show potential for performing at remark-ably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment and who are identified under division (A), (B), (C), or (D) of section 3324.03 of the Revised Code.  The areas of identification are:

Ø       Superior Cognitive Ability

Ø       Specific Academic Ability (Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Social Studies)

Ø       Creative Thinking Ability

Ø       Visual or Performing Arts (Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Music, Dance, Drama)

 

SCREENING AND ASSESSING

Alexander Local School District uses a three-part approach to screen students who perform or show potential for performing at high levels of accomplishment in the areas of superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability, creativity, and visual and/or performing arts.

 

Stage I:

PRE-ASSESSMENT

The pre-assessment part of the process involves gathering student data from a variety of sources including teacher, parent, and peer nominations, grades, portfolios, observations, review of student records, and outstanding products or performances, etc. All students are involved in the pre-assessment pool.

 

By using the pre-assessment process, the district ensures equal access to screening and further assessment by all district children, including culturally or linguistically diverse children, children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children for whom English is a second language.

 

REFERRAL 

The district ensures there are ample and appropriate scheduling procedures for assessments and reassessment using.

·    Group tests;

·    Individually-administered tests;

·    Audition, Performance;

·    Display of work;

·    Exhibition; and

·    Checklists.

 

Children may be referred on an ongoing basis, based on the following:

·    Child request (self-referral);

·    Teacher recommendation;

·    Parent/guardian request;

·    Child referral of peer; and

·    Other (e.g., psychologist, community members, principal, gifted coordinator, etc.)

 

Upon receipt of a referral, Alexander School District will

·    Follow the process as outlined in this document; and

·    Notify parents of results of screening or assessment and identification.

 

Alexander Local School District shall provide at least two opportunities a year for assessment in the case of children requesting assessment or recommended for assessment by teachers, parents, or other children. These opportunities will occur in September and April or May.

 

Scores from group and individually administered assessments are reviewed.  Scores from students who move into the district are also reviewed.  Students who have scores indicative of possible giftedness move into the assessment for screening stage.

 

Stage II:

ASSESSMENT FOR SCREENING

The screening stage examines the data gathered from the pre-assessment stage and determines if additional assessment is necessary.

 

In making decisions about additional assessment, existing test data for students is not the sole determining criteria.  School personnel examine all available information about a student to determine if an evidence of possible giftedness exists for that student and conduct necessary additional assessment.

 

District-determined cut-off scores, to move students from screening stage to the assessment stage, are lower than the scores necessary for identification.  Parents must be notified within thirty days of the results of screening.

 

Stage III:

ASSESSMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION

Assessment strategies provide additional data necessary for an identification decision and the delivery of services.  Strategies for additional assessment include the individual and group testing requirements of Sections 3324.01-3324.07 of the Ohio Revised Code.  If additional assessments are warranted, parents will be asked to give permission for these assessments to occur.

 

Once additional assessment has been completed, the data obtained throughout the stages of identification are evaluated, the identification decision is made and student’s educational needs are determined.

 

State determined cutoff scores (specified in PB3 and listed below) determine whether a student is identified as gifted according to state standards.

 

Parents will be notified within 30 days of the completion of the assessments regarding the outcome.  Students who are identified as gifted will be notified of the available services.

 

IDENTIFICATION

Superior Cognitive Ability

§         127 or higher on an approved, standardized individual or group intelligence test,

                                                            or

§         95%ile or higher on an approved, standardized individual or group basic or composite battery of a nationally normed achievement test.

Specific Academic Ability

§         95%ile or higher on an approved, standardized individual or group achievement test of specific academic ability in that field.

Creative Thinking Ability

§         112 or higher on an approved individual or group intelligence test and also did one   

          of the following:

§         score of 83 or higher on Gifted and Talented Evaluation Survey (GATES)         

                                                or

§         score of 43 or higher on Scales for Rating the Behavior Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS)

 

 

 

 

Visual Arts

§         score of 78 or higher on GATES or  score of 53 or higher on SRBCSS

                                                              and

§         score of 21 or higher on the O.D.E. Rubric for Scoring Visual Art Display of Work for Grades K-12 on a submitted  Display of Work portfolio consisting of specific requirements. (assessed by a trained individual)

Performing Arts

§         score of 78 or higher on GATES or score of  34 (music) or 48 (drama) on SRBCSS

                                                              and

§         score of 26 (dance),20 (drama), or 18 (music) on the O.D.E. Rubric for Scoring Dance/ Drama/ Music on a solo or small group performance or activity.

 

APPEAL PROCEDURE

An appeal by the parent is the reconsideration of the results of any part of the identification process which would include

·     Screening procedure or assessment instrument (which results in identification);

·     The scheduling of children for assessment;

·     The placement of a student in any program; and

·     Receipt of services.

 

Parents should submit a letter to the superintendent or designee outlining the nature of the concern.

 

The superintendent or designee will convene a meeting with the parent/guardian, which may include other school personnel.

 

The superintendent or designee will issue a written final decision with 30 days of the appeal.  This written notice should include the reason for the decision(s).

 

 

GENERAL

Alexander Local School District accepts scores on assessment instruments approved for use by the Ohio Department of Education provided by other school districts and/or trained personnel outside the school district.

 

TRANSFER

Alexander Local School District ensures that any child transferring into the district will be assessed within 90 days of the transfer at the request of the parent.  Parents shall contact the building principal to complete a nomination form.

 

SERVICES

Alexander Local School District ensures equal opportunity for all district students identified as gifted to receive and services offered by the district. (See related information under “Service”.)

 

WITHDRAWAL

If at anytime, a student wishes to withdraw from gifted programs or services, the request should be written by the parent or child to the building administrator.  If children request to withdraw, parents will be notified.