Gifted
Education in Perrysburg Schools
Gifted students are defined in the Ohio Revised Code as those who perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience or environment.
The Mission of Perrysburg's gifted services are to:
? Enhance the academic achievement and motivation of the gifted student by engaging them in an academically enriched and accelerated curriculum structured to meet their needs.
? Facilitate the development of the gifted child by addressing their unique needs both academically, socially and emotionally.
? Give the gifted student the necessary tools to understand and use effective problem solving and decision making strategies to prepare them for a meaningful participation in future endeavors and a global society.
? Allow them the opportunity to interact and learn from their academically and socially similar peers.
Current Gifted Services Continuum
1. Early Entrance to Grades K-1
a. Description: entrance to Kindergarten or 1st grade before a student meets the age requirement is considered a gifted service for the initial year.
b. Entrance Requirements: both cognitive and achievement testing is given to a student. A score of 115 or higher (120 or higher preferred) on the cognitive assessment is needed in order to proceed to the achievement testing in reading and math. A modified version of the Iowa Acceleration Scale is used to determine final eligibility.
c. Service Setting: regular classroom.
d. Service Requirement: both a Written Acceleration Plan (WAP) and a Written Education Plan (WEP) are required.
2. Whole Grade Acceleration (Grades K-12)
a. Description: accelerating or skipping a year is considered a gifted service for the initial year.
b. Entrance Requirements: both cognitive and achievement testing is given to a student. A score of 115 or higher (120 or higher preferred) on the cognitive assessment is needed in order to proceed to the achievement testing in reading and math. A modified version of the Iowa Acceleration Scale is used to determine final eligibility.
c. Service Setting: regular classroom.
d. Service Requirement: both a Written Acceleration Plan (WAP) and a Written Education Plan (WEP) are required.
3. Subject Acceleration (Grades K-12)
a. Description: accelerating or skipping a year in a specific subject (typically math) is considered a gifted service for the initial year.
b. Entrance Requirements: academic testing in a specific subject area is completed using either the Iowa Assessment or Woodcock-Johnson. A score of 95% or higher on an above level Iowa or a 75% or higher two grades up on the Woodcock-Johnson is needed.
c. Service Setting: regular classroom.
d. Service Requirement: both a Written Acceleration Plan (WAP) and a Written Education Plan (WEP) are required.
Perrysburg Screening System
Parents (or students) have the right to request that their child (or themselves) be screened for possible gifted identification up to twice a year. This request is known as a referral and can be made using this link. All requests including students who are new to Perrysburg Schools will be tested within 30 days of referral.
Tests are selected from the state list of approved gifted identification instruments and are administered by qualified personnel. For gifted identification purposes, Perrysburg will honor qualifying scores on approved tests administered within the last 24 months by a licensed school psychologist or psychologist in private practice.
For more information on approved tests, click here.
How are Parents Informed About Testing Results?
After the online consent form is completed by the parent or student, testing is completed by qualified personnel within 30 days. Upon completion of test scoring, parents will be notified of the results and eligibility if applicable.
Identification
All public schools in Ohio, with the exception of “community schools,” are required to identify gifted students in kindergarten through grade 12. Students are identified as gifted in one or more of four major categories: superior cognitive ability; specific academic ability; creative thinking ability; and visual or performing arts ability. There are four fields included in specific academic ability: mathematics; science; social studies; and reading or writing, or a combination of these two skills. Identification is accomplished by using scores on approved performance assessments and nationally normed tests. More information regarding Ohio’s policies and rules can be found here.
The identification requirements as defined in state statute for each category are listed below:
Superior Cognitive Ability:
• 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 or 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.
How are my child’s needs met in the gifted program?
1. An individualized Written Education Plan (WEP) is written in conjunction with parents to meet the diverse needs of the gifted child. The WEP describes the services that are provided to the student, identifies who will provide these services, and establishes learning goals and evaluation methods, and a date by which the WEP will be reviewed for possible revision.
2. Perrysburg also provides opportunities for academic acceleration, including early entrance to kindergarten, whole grade acceleration, acceleration in individual subject areas and early high school graduation. Parents considering acceleration should contact the Director of Gifted Services or their child’s principal for information about referring the child for evaluation. Parents have the right to request screening and to participate in the evaluation process.
3. Gifted high school students might benefit from Advanced Placement (AP) course work or College Credit Plus (CCP), which allows high school students to take courses from community colleges, colleges and universities. Often, these students can simultaneously earn high school and college credit. School guidance counselors can provide more information about CCP.