Gifted FAQs

If your child is identified as gifted, it means that he/she has met the criteria set out by the state for a specific area; your child could be identified in multiple areas. Ohio recognizes seven different areas of giftedness:

• Superior Cognitive
• Specific Academic-Reading
• Specific Academic-Math
• Specific Academic-Science
• Specific Academic-Social Studies
• Creative Thinking
• Visual and Performing Arts

Families can see the gifted identification by logging into HAC. Additionally, a state requirement mandates that districts send a yearly notification to families of students identified as gifted and not receiving service. The letter clearly communicates the area of gifted identification and if the student is or is not receiving services for the current school year.

When you receive the notification of gifted identification around October, it will state directly the area(s) in which your child is identified along with the date of identification. 

No, gifted identification does not automatically equal a gifted service.  Currently, service is through Math Plus or ELA Plus courses in grades 3, 4, and 5 To be eligible for this course, students must be identified as Superior Cognitive OR have a gifted identification in reading or math. The 6th grade offerings are advanced ELA, math, science and social studies. Entry into 6th grade advanced courses is determined by a matrix. 

On Home Access Center (HAC), parents can access their child’s scores. For the Specific Academic areas (Reading, Math, Science, or Social Studies), a student had to receive a score that placed them at or above the 95th percentile.  For Superior Cognitive, a student has to have scored at or above 128 on the InView assessment.  

The classroom teachers do have access to identification and student scores on the Teacher Access Center (TAC). 

To be considered gifted, a child only needs to meet the set criteria one time. No matter when the criteria was met to be identified, a child will continue to be identified as gifted until he/she graduates high school regardless of how they score on future assessments. The state rule is “once gifted, always gifted.”

Approximately 25% of Lakota’s students are considered gifted in one or more areas. That equates to about 4,500 students.

To be considered a service by the state’s requirements, the service must be provided by a Gifted Intervention Specialist (GIS) or by a teacher with 60 documented hours of professional development in the area of gifted intervention specifically. Lakota is committed to providing professional learning to all teachers. Lakota provides gifted service through Math Plus and ELA Plus in grades 3-5, 6th grade advanced ELA or Math and in grades 7-12 it is provided through Advanced, Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and College Credit Plus (CCP) courses.
 

In short, the state requires identification of all gifted students, but it does not require service. Lakota is committed to providing a continuum of service as mentioned above. Students do have to take an advanced course in their area of gifted identification to receive a service.

These courses typically meet the accelerated needs of the gifted learner,and are considered services by the state.  All Lakota teachers instructing these courses are working towards the required 60 hours of professional development. The journey towards 60 hours began in school year 2021-2022. 

No, gifted identification is not part of the criteria for advanced or honors courses.  The criteria for these courses include grades, scores on state tests, etc.  The criteria for advanced and honors courses can be found in the Junior High and High School Programs of Study on our district website.  If you have more questions about advanced or honors courses, please contact your child’s school counselor.

A WEP is an individual student document that outlines the student’s goals and services provided by the district.  To receive a WEP, a student must be receiving a service provided by a Gifted Intervention Specialist (GIS) or a teacher who has completed 60 professional development hours related to gifted intervention.  

In the fall, the district will notify families to check HAC for their student’s WEP. The notification provides an overview of the WEP and service for the student, along with directions on how to view more information in HAC. Using HAC, the teacher will communicate both the WEP goal and pinpoint where the student evidence is housed. Typically, students in grades 3-6 leverage personal reflections on MAP growth and students in grades 7-12 leverage either their Google Drive or Schoolinks. Students do have to take a Plus or an Advanced course in their area of gifted identification to receive a service.