Gifted Identification and Services
Gifted Defined
Although all children are special and have unique abilities, not all children are gifted. Gifted children thrive on challenge and innovation. They have special educational needs that must be met in order for them to fully develop their intellectual, creative, artistic and academic capabilities or to excel in a specific content area. The following are definitions for the term gifted.
- The National Association for Gifted Children defines gifted as: someone who shows, or has the potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression.
- The Ohio Department of Education defines gifted children as: students who perform, or show the potential to perform, at a higher level than other children of their age, experience, or environment.
Identification
The state of Ohio requires all school districts to identify students under Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15, which are gifted in superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability, creative thinking ability, and visual and/or performing arts ability. Nationally, the number of students identified represents the top 3-5 percent of the population. There are four areas of identification:
Superior Cognitive
Score two standard deviations above the mean minus the standard error of measurement on an intelligence test, perform at or above the 95th percentile on a basic or composite battery of a nationally normed achievement test; or attain an approved score on an above grade-level standardized, nationally normed test.
Specific Academic Ability
Perform at or above the 95th percentile at the national level on a standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field. A child may be identified as gifted in more than one specific academic ability field.
Creative Thinking Ability
Score one standard deviation above the mean minus the standard error of measurement on an intelligence test and attain a sufficient score, as established by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), on a test of creative ability or a checklist of creative behavior.
Visual or Performing Arts Ability
Demonstrate to a trained individual through a display of work, an audition, or other performance or exhibition superior ability in a visual or performing arts area and attain a sufficient score, as established by ODE, on a checklist of behaviors related to a specific arts area.
Gifted Operating Standards and Revised Code
Revised Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students, Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3301-51-15, were approved by the State Board of Education in July 2018.
Ohio Revised Code 3324.01-.07 (The Law)
Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15, July 2018 (The Rule)