Project Excel
The Gifted and Talented Program of the Cuyahoga
Falls City School District has been known as “Project
Excel” from its inception. The district program provides
enrichment and acceleration services in keeping with
the requirements set forth by the Ohio Department of
Education.
Karen Rumley
Coordinator of Gifted Services
Grades 3 – 5 Enrichment:
Enrichment experiences in reading and math are
provided in grades 3-5 through topical units of
instruction which are correlated to the Common Core
State Standards. Gifted Intervention Specialists provide
instruction to students identified as gifted in reading
and/or math through in-class, small-group, and other
special activities.
Gifted Intervention Specialists (GIS)
and Qualified Teachers (QT)
Grades 3 – 5 Services for Superior Cognitive:
The superior cognitive students in grades 3-5
participate each week in a full day of pull-out projectbased instruction correlated to the New Learning
Standards. These students are bused to DeWitt (3rd) or
Lincoln (4th, 5th) Elementary School one day per week
to work collaboratively with the Gifted Intervention
Specialist and students from each of the six elementary
schools.
Grades 6 – 8 Enrichment:
Special opportunities may be available for gifted middle
school students (specific academic and superior
cognitive) throughout the year, such as Learning
Seminars that center on interdisciplinary learning
experiences and culminate with projects or writing
activities.
Grades 6 – 8 Services for Superior Cognitive:
The superior cognitive students at the middle school
are clustered into a daily 90-minute gifted language arts
block with a Gifted Intervention Specialist or Highly
Qualified Teacher as the teacher of record. These
classes utilize Socratic Methods, inquiry approaches,
literature circle models, and accelerated reading lists to
provide higher expectations for advanced learners.
High School Level:
In most content areas, enriched and AP courses are
offered. Post-secondary options are available as well.
Students may utilize Credit Flexibility options to
complete courses that enable advancement.
Each gifted student receiving services will have a
Written Education Plan that includes a description
of services, goals, and progress monitoring plans.
A copy of the plan, as well as periodic progress
reports, will be provided for parents.
Cuyahoga Falls City School District
Summit County ESC Consultant
330-945-5600 x 511237
[email protected]
Cheryl Beisel: GIS
Grade 4 &5 pull-out
Enrichment: Lincoln and Preston
x 502673 [email protected]
Assessment
Instruments
Used for Gifted
Identification
Leslie Dougherty: GIS
Grade 3 pull-out
Enrichment:
Dewitt, Price, Richardson, and Silver Lake
x 502872 [email protected]
Bolich:
Lori Jordan: GIS/ 6th grade
x 502421 [email protected]
Debi Hackley: QT/ 7th grade
x 502342 [email protected]
Melanie Wilkins: GIS/ 8th grade
x 502302 [email protected]
Roberts:
Courtney Rubino: GIS/ 6th & 7th grades
x 502415 [email protected]
Department of
College and Career
Readiness
Information for Parents
2013-14
Julie Dudones: GIS/ 8th grade
x 502427 [email protected]
The Cuyahoga Falls City School District uses the following assessment instruments for screening and identification pursuant to ORC 3324.01-07
Superior Cognitive Ability *
Specific Academic Ability *
Second Grade Screening Instrument:
Cognitive Abilities Test Form 7 Screening Form Grades K-12
Screen @ 95%ile
Second Grade Screening Instrument:
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), Form A, Survey Battery
Screen @ 95%ile
Identification Instruments:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), 4th Ed.
Screen @ 125, ID @ 127
Identification Instruments
Woodcock Johnson - III (Cog-NU)
Screen @ 125, ID @ 127
Creative Thinking Ability *
(Screen at 93%ile, Identify at 95%ile)
Woodcock Johnson– III (Ach-NU)
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement
Weschler Individual Achievement Test, 3rd Ed.
Visual & Performing Arts *
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), 4th Ed
Screen @ 108, ID @ 112
Ohio Department of Education Rubric for Visual Art Screen
@ 54, ID @ 57
Woodcock Johnson - III (Cog-NU)
Screen @ 108, ID @ 112
Ohio Department of Education Rubric for Music
Performance Screen @ 14, ID @ 18
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test
Screen @ 107, ID @ 110
Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scales (GATES)
Screen @ 57, ID @ 78
Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scales
Screen @ 57-77, ID @ 78)
* Ohio does not mandate services for gifted students. Each district must determine that services will be provided as well as
the criteria for qualifying for such services and programs. Please refer to “Cuyahoga Falls District Policy for the Identification
of and Services for Students Who Are Gifted” brochure for more information about district service options and placement.