DISTRICT POLICY
FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF AND
SERVICES FOR
STUDENTS WHO ARE GIFTED
Information for Parents
JOHNSTOWN-MONROE
LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT
May, 2012
IDENTIFICATION
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Whole grade screening occurs in 2nd Grade using the Inview Ability
Test and the Terra Nova Achievement Test; Students meeting the
criteria are identified as gifted. Additional testing is available for
students meeting the screening score. Students in other grades can
be referred for testing.
Referral forms are available from the office at each building and
may be completed and submitted to the principal or gifted
intervention specialist who will then contact the gifted coordinator.
Two windows of opportunity will be made available for assessment.
Johnstown-Monroe provides opportunities for all children—
culturally diverse, economically disadvantage, with disabilities or
limited English proficiency--to participate in
screening/identification.
Whenever possible, tests are administered in the student’s native
language.
Students with impairments will be provided the accommodations
acceptable in the technical manual of the tests.
A variety of testing instruments ensures that special populations of
students will have accommodations.
Tests are administered by qualified personnel
Parents are notified of the results of the testing within 30 days of
analyzing the test data and identifying gifted students.
Students transferring into the district will be evaluated within 90
days of the request for assessment.
Scores on ODE approved testing instruments administered by
qualified individuals from outside the district will be accepted.
Parents may appeal the gifted identification, placement, and/or
services by submitting the request in writing to the superintendent
within 30 days of the identification or placement decision.
SERVICES
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For high school subject-specific service, students must be identified
as gifted in superior cognitive ability and/or that subject area. For
middle school subject-specific service, students must be identified
as gifted in superior cognitive ability and/or that subject area AND
earn a sufficient score on the Ohio Achievement Test in that area or
a locally developed placement test. Students in grades 3 through 5
identified as gifted in superior cognitive ability or reading will be
receive services from the gifted intervention specialist within the
regular classroom. A tiered criteria system will be used to prioritize
student placements in the event that the number of identified
students exceeds the number of openings in a given placement.
Those criteria can be obtained from the gifted coordinator or district
office.
Any student qualifying for service will have equal access.
Gifted services are provided in superior cognitive ability and
reading in grades 3 through 5, reading and math in grades 6 through
12, and science and social studies in grades 9 through 12. Post
secondary option is also available.
Students may withdraw from any gifted service following a written
parental request.
Parents may appeal the gifted identification, placement, and/or
services by submitting the request in writing to the superintendent
within 30 days of the identification or placement decision.
WRITTEN EDUCATION PLANS
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Curriculum and instruction for students receiving services will be
guided by a written education plan.
The plan will include a description of the services with goals listed.
Students’ progress towards goals will be communicated to parents 4
times a year via a progress report (grades 3-5), with comments on
Progress Book (grades 6-12), and at parent/teacher conferences.
The gifted intervention specialist will deliver services for
elementary students identified in superior cognitive ability and /or
reading listed above. The regular classroom teacher will deliver
subject-specific services.
Students receiving gifted services outside of the regular classroom
will not be responsible for homework assigned during regular
education class. Teachers are encouraged to avoid testing during
times students are in the gifted class.
WEPs will be reevaluated in October of each year. Parents and
staff providing services will be given copies of the WEP.
District Contact Information
Lynnea Knobel, Gifted Intervention Specialist
Searfoss Elementary School
967-5456
[email protected]
Colleen Boyle, Gifted Coordinator
Licking County Educational Service Center
349-6094
[email protected]