2464 - IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICES FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS

Conneaut Area City School District

Bylaws & Policies

2464 - IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICES FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS

In accordance with the belief that all students are entitled to education commensurate with their particular needs, gifted and talented students in the District must be provided opportunities to progress as their abilities permit. The Board believes that these students require programs and/or services beyond those offered in regular school programs in order to realize their potential contribution to themselves and society.

Annually, gifted and talented students are identified by professionally qualified persons using a variety of assessment procedures from the Ohio Department of Education approved list.

The Board encourages efforts to make programs, services and activities for the gifted and talented an integral part of the total kindergarten – grade 12 program.

The gifted and talented identification plan includes the following:

	A.	The criteria and methods the District uses to screen and select students for further assessment who perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment in one of the gifted areas.
	B.	The sources of assessment data the District uses to select students for further testing and an explanation to parents of the multiple assessment instruments required to identity gifted students.
	C.	An explanation to parents of the methods the District uses to ensure equal access to screening and further assessment by all District students, including minority or disadvantaged students, students with disabilities and students for who English is a second language.
	D.	Provisions to ensure equal opportunity for all District students identified as gifted to receive any services offered by the District.
	E.	Provisions for students to withdraw from gifted programs or services, for reassessment of students and assessment for students transferring into the District.
	F.	Methods for resolving disagreements between parents and the District concerning identification and placement decisions.

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Board Policy

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.06

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	The Board of Education has a policy for identifying children who are gifted in accordance with Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC)				Board policy	Superintendent	date adopted

	1.	The District has a plan and specific procedures for the implementation of Board policy. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent to implement Board policy through the plan and procedures.			District plan	Superintendent	date adopted

	2.	The District’s written policy for the identification of children who are gifted shall be provided to all parents of students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.			Parent Brochures: PB-1-3 or	Superintendent or Child Identification System Coordinator	annually
					specified information included in Child Handbook or District Newsletter or other means


	3.	The District’s written plan and procedures for the identification of children who are gifted shall be available to the general public.			Board office	Superintendent	date adopted

Section: Topic:				Identification of Children Who are Gifted General

Ohio Revised Code:						3324.03 3324.04 (D)

PROCEDURES							DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	Dissemination of Information							Superintendent or Child Identification System Coordinator	Annually
	1.	The School District ensures that all activities of the gifted identification system are planned, coordinated, and implemented.

	2.	A letter will be distributed to District staff members explaining the gifted identification system and identifying the individual responsible for implementing the system; or meetings will be conducted with School District staff to disseminate information concerning the identification system.					Parent Brochures: PB-1-3 or District created brochures
							Form GI-1 or District created form

	3.	A notice will be sent explaining the gifted identification system to parents. The District uses the following:						Superintendent or designee

		a.	Board policy, Information for Parents (PB-1); and Identification of Children Who are Gifted (PB-2)				District newsletter/ publication
			or District developed notice which includes:				Parent Brochures: PB-1-3 or District created brochures
		b.
			1)		Board policy
			2)		requirements of gifted plan

PROCEDURES			DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	4.	Persons making referrals shall follow identification procedures as listed in this plan.
			other publications
B.	The District may contract with any qualified public or private service provider to provide screening or assessment services in accordance with ORC.
			Form GI-1 or District created form Assessment Instruments for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted
C.	The District accepts scores on assessment instruments provided by other school districts or trained personnel outside the District provided the assessment instruments are used in accordance with Assessment Instruments for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted.			Superintendent or designee	ninety (90) days from request


D.	The District selects screening and identification assessment instruments from the Assessment Instruments for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted for inclusion in the District’s plan. Assessments must measure the specific area of gifted ability. The District updates the list as revisions are made by the Ohio Department of Education.		Form II Form SI	Superintendent or designee	ongoing

E.	The District ensures that the use of assessment instruments;

	1.	are provided and administered in the child’s native language or other mode of communication, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so;

	2.	have been validated for the specific purpose for which they are used;

	3.	are administered by qualified personnel in conformance with the instructions provided by the publisher of the assessment instrument.

PROCEDURES				DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

F.	The District selects instruments, from Assessment Instrument for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted, that will allow for appropriate screening and identification of children who are culturally and linguistic diverse, children from low socio-economic status, children with disabilities, and children for whom English is a second language.			Form II Form SI	Superintendent or designee

G.	Tests are selected and administered so as to best ensure that when a test is administered to a child with impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills, the test results accurately reflect the child’s aptitude or achievement level or whatever other factors the test purports to measure, rather than reflecting the child’s impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills except where those skills are factors which the test purports to measure.			child records	Superintendent and/or designee	ongoing

	The District follows the Assessment Instruments for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted and specific cautions and caveats.			assessment instruments for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted

H.	Children shall be identified in the following areas:			Board resolution	Superintendent	adoption date

	1.	Superior Cognitive Ability

	2.	Specific Academic Ability including:

		a.	mathematics

		b.	science

		c.	reading, writing, or a combination of these skills

		d.	social studies

	2.	Creative Thinking Ability

PROCEDURES				DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	3.	Visual or performing arts ability such as:

		a.	drawing

		b.	painting

		c.	sculpting

		d.	music

		e.	dance

		f.	drama

I.	The District criteria for identifying children that are consistent with Section 3324.03 of ORC and is specified in this plan.			child records	Superintendent

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Assessment for Screening

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.04

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	The screening stage examines the data gathered from the pre-assessment stage and determines if additional assessment is necessary.				student records	Superintendent or designee Director of Pupil Personnel Gifted Identification System Coordinator

B.	Students will need additional assessment to enable an identification decision to be made.

C.	In making decisions about additional assessment, existing test data for students is not the sole determining criteria.

D.	All available information about a student is examined to determine if any evidence of possible giftedness exists for that student and conduct necessary additional assessment.

E.	Parental consent must be obtained for screening (unless the screening process involves all students).				Form GI-3 or District created form

	If the District does screen all students, then all parents must be notified of the results. (See #G)

F.	The available data for each student from the screening phase is then reviewed to determine if the information is sufficient and appropriate for an identification decision according to Sections 3324.01-3324.07 of ORC.				child records

	a.	District-determined cut-off scores to move students from the screening stage to the assessment stage are lower than the scores necessary for identification in Section 3324.03 of ORC and are identified in the Parent Brochure.			Parent Brochures: PB-1-3 or District created brochure

PROCEDURES			DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	b.	If the information is sufficient and appropriate, the identification decision is made, and the student’s educational needs are determined.

	c.	Only in situations in which there is clearly no evidence of potential giftedness in any of the four (4) areas of giftedness in Sections 3324.01-3324.07 of ORC should a student be "screened out" of further assessment.

G.	Parents must be notified within thirty (30) days of the results of the screening.		Form GI-4 or District created form	Child Identification System Coordinator or building principal	thirty (30) days after results

	1.	If the child is not recommended for further assessment, a letter is sent to the parents informing them of the results and the right to appeal and the appeal process.

	2.	If the child is recommended for further assessment for identification, the parents are sent a letter to indicate the need for further assessment and the appeal process.

	3.	The parent is notified if the child is identified.

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Assessment for Identification

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.04

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	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 related to the requirements of Section 3324.01-3324.07 of ORC.				Form II PB-1-3 or District created brochure	Superintendent or designee Director of Pupil Personnel Gifted Identification System Coordinator

B.	Parental consent must be obtained.				Form GI-3 or District created form

C.	Once additional assessment has been completed, the data obtained throughout the stages of identification are evaluated, the identification decision is made.

	1.	student’s educational needs are determined

	2.	the student’s parents receive notification

D.	Parents must be notified within thirty (30) days of the results of the assessment process:				Form GI-4 or District created form and brochure		within thirty (30) days

	1.	If the child is not recommended for identification, the parents will be informed as to the appeal process via the parent brochure.

	2.	If the child is recommended for identification, the parents are sent a letter to indicate the results.

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Scheduling/Referral/Reassessment

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.04 (B)(1)

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	The District ensures that there are ample and appropriate scheduling opportunities for screening and for administering assessment instruments.					Superintendent or designee

	1.	group tests

	2.	individually administered tests

	3.	checklists

	4.	display of work, an audition, or other performance or exhibition

B.	Children may be referred on an ongoing basis, based on the following:				Form GI-1 or District created form	Superintendent or designee	ongoing
					parent request
	1.	child request (self-referral)				child identification system coordinator

	2.	teacher recommendation

	3.	parent/guardian request

	4.	child referral of peer

	5.	others (e.g., psychologist, community members, principal, gifted coordinator, etc.)

C.	upon receipt of a referral, the District will:

	1.	follow District procedures for consent for testing;			Form GI-3 or District created form see Screening and Identification Section

	2.	provide assessment for screening;					within ninety (90) days of referral

PROCEDURES			DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	3.	notify parents of the results.			within thirty (30) days of assessment
			Form GI-4 or District created form
D.	The District has ensured that there are opportunities for a child to be reassessed

Section: Topic:				Identification of Children Who are Gifted Special Populations

Ohio Revised Code:					3324.04 (B)(2)

PROCEDURES						DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	The District ensures that special populations are included in screening and assessment procedures.						Superintendent

B.	The District shall use appropriate instruments from the list approved by Ohio Department of Education, entitled Assessment Instruments for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted, by considering the caveats and cautions for assessment. The Technical Assistance Manual is used for guidance in the selection and administration of a variety of instruments to ensure students are identified. Special populations include children who are culturally and linguistically diverse (minority and/or children who are limited English proficient); children from low socio-economic status; and children with disabilities.					Form SI Form II	Superintendent or designee	ongoing

	1.	District demographics are reviewed to ascertain the diversity of students.

	2.	Pre-assessment and screening activities ensure that students representing the various diverse student populations of the building/District are referred as gifted.

		a.	Staff development is also provided.

		b.	The District uses the Identification of children Who are Gifted: A Technical Assistance Manual as a resource.

Section: Topic:				Identification of Children Who are Gifted Superior Cognitive Ability - Eligibility

Ohio Revised Code:					3324.01 (A) 3324.02 (D) 3324.03 (A) 3324.04

PROCEDURES						DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	"Gifted" means children 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 division (A), (B), (C), or (D) of Section 3324.03 of the Revised Code.

B.	The District ensures that a child is identified as exhibiting "superior cognitive ability" if the child has accomplished either of the following within the preceding twenty-four (24) months:

	1.	scored two (2) standard deviations above the means, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual standardized intelligence test administered by a licensed psychologist.				individual child records child count	psychologist or other trained personnel	ongoing

	2.	accomplished any one of the following:

		a.	scored at least two (2) standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved standardized group intelligence test

		b.	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

PROCEDURES				DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

		c.	attained an approved score on one or more above-grade level standardized, nationally normed approved tests

C.	The District utilizes only approve assessment instruments from the list provided by the Ohio Department of Education.			Form SI and Form II submitted to ODE for approval		February 1, 2000 in transition

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Specified Academic Ability - Eligibility

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.01 (A) 3324.02 (D) 3324.03 (B) 3324.04

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	"Gifted" means children who perform or show potential of performing at remarkably 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.

B.	The District ensures that a child is identified as exhibiting "specific academic ability" superior to that of children of similar age in a specific academic ability field if within the preceding twenty-four (24) months the child:				individual child records child count	psychologist or other trained personnel	ongoing

	1.	performs at or above the ninety-fifth percentile at the national level on an approved individual standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field (mathematics, science, reading, writing or a combination of both, social studies);

	2.	performs at or above the ninety-fifth percentile at the national level on an approved group standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field.

C.	The District conducts the screening and assessment process for children who may be identified as having specific academic ability in any one of the following areas:				Form SI and Form II	Superintendent or designee

	1.	mathematics

	2.	science

PROCEDURES			DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	3.	reading, writing, or a combination of these skills

	4.	social studies

D.	The District utilizes only approved assessment instruments from the list provided by the Ohio Department of Education.		Form SI and Form II	Superintendent or designee	February 1, 2000

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Creative Thinking Ability - Eligibility

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.01 (A) 3324.02 (D) 3324.03 (C) 3324.04

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	"Gifted" means children 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 division (A), (B), (C), or (D) of section 3324.03 of the revised code.
					individual child records child count	Superintendent trained person/trained observer	ongoing
B.	The District ensures that a child is identified as exhibiting "creative thinking ability" superior to that of children of similar age, if within the previous twenty-four (24) months, the child scored one standard deviation above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual intelligence test or group intelligence test and also did either of the following:

	1.	attained a sufficient score, as established by the Ohio Department of Education, on an approved individual or group test of creative ability

	2.	exhibited sufficient performance, as established by the Ohio Department of Education, on an approved checklist of creative behaviors
					Form SI and Form II	Superintendent or designee	February 1, 2000
C.	The District utilizes only approved assessment instruments from the list provided by the Ohio Department of Education.

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Visual or Performing Arts Ability - Eligibility

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.01 (A) 3324.02 (D) 3324.03 (D) 3324.04

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	"Gifted" means children 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 division (A), (B), (C), or (D) of section 3324.03 of the revised code.

B.	The District ensures that a child shall be identified as exhibiting "visual or performing arts ability" superior to that of children of similar age, if the child has done both of the following:					trained person/trained observer	ongoing

	1.	demonstrated through a display of work, an audition, or other performance or exhibition, superior ability in a visual or performing arts area

	2.	exhibited sufficient performance, as established by the Ohio Department of Education, on an approved checklist of behaviors related to a specific arts area

C.	The District conducts the screening and assessment process for children who may be identified as having visual or performing arts ability such as:

	1.	drawing;

	2.	painting;

PROCEDURES			DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	3.	sculpting;

	4.	music;

	5.	dance;

	6.	drama.

D.	The District utilizes only approved assessments from the list provided by the Ohio Department of Education.		Form SI and Form II	Superintendent or designee	February 1, 2000

Section: Topic:			Identification of Children Who are Gifted Resolving Disagreements/Appeal Procedure

Ohio Revised Code:				3324.04 (C)

PROCEDURES					DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

A.	An appeal by the parent is the reconsideration of the decision of any part of the identification process which would include:						thirty (30) days from request

	1.	any screening procedure or assessments;

	2.	scheduling of children for assessment or the placement of a student in any program or for receipt of services.

B.	Most of these appeals/disagreements can and should be resolved informally at the building level, such as a conference with the child’s teacher, principal, or gifted personnel.

C.	If the issue is not resolve, an appeal must be submitted in writing to the Superintendent.				parent letter	parent

D.	The steps in the appeal process are as follows:

	1.	Submit a letter to the Superintendent or designee outlining the nature of the concern (note: if the native language of the parent is other than the written language or language other than English, the District will provide assistance to put this matter in writing and provide a copy to parents).			parent letter	Superintendent or designee	reasonable advance notification so all can attend

PROCEDURES				DOCUMENTATION	RESPONSIBILITY	TIME LINE

	2.	The Superintendent or designee will convene a meeting which will include the parent/guardian and may include any of the following:

		a.	Administrator

		b.	Intervention Specialist for Gifted