| Defiance City School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2464 - GIFTED EDUCATION AND IDENTIFICATION
The Board of Education shall ensure that procedures are established to identify all gifted students enrolled as of January 1, 2000 in grades Kindergarten through twelve and shall ensure that this identification is done annually thereafter.
"Gifted" students perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. Through valid assessment, gifted students must show one (1) or more of the following abilities:
| A. | Superior cognitive ability, as demonstrated, within the preceding twenty-four (24) months, by the following: |
| 1. | scoring two (2) standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual standardized intelligence test administered by a licensed psychologist; | ||
| 2. | scoring two (2) standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved standardized group intelligence test; | ||
| 3. | performing at or above the 95th percentile on an approved individual or group, standardized basic or composite battery of a nationally normed achievement test; or | ||
| 4. | attaining an approved score on one (1) or more above-grade level standardized nationally normed approved tests. |
| B. | Specific academic ability, as demonstrated by performing, within the preceding twenty-four (24) months, at or above the 95th percentile at the national level on an approved individual or group standardized achievement test of a specific academic ability in that field. A "specific academic ability field" means one (1) or more of the following areas of instruction: (a) mathematics; (b) science; (c) reading, writing, or a combination of these skills; (d) social studies. | |
| C. | Creative thinking ability, as demonstrated by scoring, within the preceding twenty-four (24) months, one (1) standard deviation above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual or group intelligence test and by either (a) attaining a sufficient score, established by the Department of Education, on an approved individual or group test of creative ability, or (b) exhibiting sufficient performance, as established by the Department of Education, on an approved checklist of creative behaviors. | |
| D. | Visual or performing arts abilities, as demonstrated by both of the following: |
| 1. | demonstrating superior ability through audition or exhibition in a visual or performing arts area; | ||
| 2. | exhibiting sufficient performance, as established by the Department of Education, on an approved checklist of behaviors related to a specific area. |
The Superintendent shall submit on an annual basis a report to the Department specifying the number of students screened, assessed, and identified as gifted in each category.
The Superintendent shall develop a plan for the identification of gifted students for the Board’s approval. The plan, which shall be adopted by January 1, 2000, shall include all of the following:
| A. | a description of the assessment instruments from the list adopted by the Department 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. These procedures shall provide: |
| 1. | at least two (2) 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 (90) days of the transfer at the request of a parent; |
| C. | procedures for notification of parents within thirty (30) days about 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, provided the assessment instruments are on the list approved by the Department of Education under R.C. 3324.02. |
The Superintendent shall develop a plan for the service of gifted students enrolled in the District identified under this policy. The Board shall adopt the plan and file it with the Department of Education by December 15, 2000. Services specified in the plan may include such options as the following:
| A. | a differentiated curriculum | |
| B. | cluster groupings | |
| C. | mentorships | |
| D. | accelerated course work | |
| E. | the postsecondary 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 rules adopted by the Department of Education. |
The Board shall adopt a statement of its policy for screening and identification of gifted students and shall distribute the policy statement to parents. The policy statement shall specify:
| A. | the criteria and methods the Board uses to screen students and to select students for further assessment who perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment in one (1) of the gifted areas specified in this policy; | |
| B. | the sources of assessment data the Board uses to select students for further testing and an explanation for parents of the multiple assessment instruments required to identify gifted students under this policy; | |
| C. | an explanation for parents of the methods the Board uses to ensure equal access to screening and further assessment by all District students, including minority or disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and students for whom 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 Board; | |
| E. | provisions for students to withdraw from gifted programs or services, for reassessment of students, and for assessment of students transferring into the District; | |
| F. | methods for resolving disagreements between parents and the Board concerning identification and placement decisions. |
A copy of the policy statement shall accompany the Board’s policy plan submitted to the Department of Education pursuant to the above policy.
R.C. 3301.07(K), 3324.01 - 3324.07,
3315.09, 3317.024(O)Revised 4/17/00