MCS Talented & Gifted

🐾 Ohio Law

🐾 Ohio Revised Code

Gifted education is governed by the Ohio Revised Code 3324.01–3324.07 and the Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15. These outline requirements for identification, service, and reporting.

ODE Gifted Education Page

🐾 Ohio Rule Crosswalk

Ohio Rule Crosswalk (PDF)

Summary of Key Changes (Crosswalk)

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Area	Key Changes
Identification	Clarified timelines for universal screening and acceptance of out-of-district scores.
Service Plans	WEPs required annually for each area of service; explicit progress reporting to parents.
Acceleration	Incorporated Ohio’s Acceleration Policy and required use of the Iowa Acceleration Scale.
Teacher PD	Mandated training hours for teachers providing gifted services.

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🐾 Identification & Assessment

MCS uses multiple methods to ensure fair and comprehensive gifted identification for all students.

🐾 Overview

Data obtained from approved identification instruments will be compared with the cut-off scores specified by the Ohio Department of Education. Identification decisions are made based on these cut-off scores. Identification scores remain in effect for the remainder of the student’s K–12 school experience.

District Identification Policy Table (Placeholder)

🐾 Whole Grade Screening

In order to cast a wider net and provide the opportunity for any student to be identified as gifted, whole grade or universal screenings are implemented each year. All students in grades 2 and 6 are screened for superior cognitive ability and creative thinking ability as part of the whole-grade screening process.

For identification in a specific academic ability in mathematics, reading, writing, or a combination of these skills, students are assessed in grades 2–10 two/three times a year via the NWEA MAP whole grade screenings.

Parent Authorization: Parent authorization is not required for whole grade assessments; however, parents may opt their student out by submitting a written request. Parent authorization is required for individual assessments.

🐾 Individual Assessment

Some students qualify for individual assessment. For individual assessment, parent/guardian authorization is obtained prior to the assessment and parents/guardians are notified of the assessment results.

Assessment strategies provide additional data necessary for an identification decision. Strategies include the individual and group-testing requirements of Ohio Revised Code Sections 3324.01-3324.07.

Students are pre-assessed using student records, observations, and teacher, parent, or peer nominations noted on the referral form. Upon receiving permission to test, an approved and appropriate assessment is administered. Notification of assessment results will be shared with the parent/guardian of the student.

🐾 Reassessment

When the screening assessment has been completed, if the data from an approved screening instrument places the student within a district-specified range below the identification score, reassessment for possible identification may occur.

The district also accepts scores, completed within the preceding 24 months, on assessment instruments approved for use by the Ohio Department of Education when provided by other schools and/or trained personnel outside the district.

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🐾 Assessment Instruments

🐾 Approved Testing Instruments

The testing instruments used by our district are selected from the Ohio Approved List of Assessment Instruments for the Identification of Gifted Children. See the state's Approved Gifted Identification Assessments page for current approvals; for detailed instrument tables, see the Assessments Approved for Gifted Identification and Prescreening (PDF, Apr 2025).

Superior Cognitive Ability: NNAT3, CogAT Form 7, WISC-V, Woodcock-Johnson IV
Specific Academic Ability: iReady (Math/Reading), Woodcock-Johnson IV, TerraNova, Iowa Assessments, PSAT/SAT/ACT
Creative Thinking Ability: NNAT3, CogAT, WISC-V, Woodcock-Johnson IV, SRBCSS Creativity Checklist, Torrance Test
Visual & Performing Arts: ODE Rubric, SRBCSS Checklist, Ohio Checklist of Artistic Behavior (Dance 14+)

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🐾 Teacher Resources

🐾 Teacher Guides

Teacher Guide Document (PDF Placeholder)

🐾 Teacher Training

NCOESC Gifted PD Flyer 2025–2026 (PDF)

Information about required professional development for teachers providing gifted services.

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🐾 Parent Resources

Stay up to date with our gifted family communications, guides, and handouts.

🐾 Parent Guides

Parent Guide Document (PDF Placeholder)

🐾 Parent Handouts

Parent Information Flyer (PDF Placeholder)

Information for parents about gifted education, identification, and services.

🐾 Gifted Parent Newsletter

Stay up to date with our gifted family communications. New issues are posted here.

Gifted Parent Newsletter (Most Recent PDF)

🐾 Archived Newsletters

Browse past editions by school year.

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🐾 Service Plans

🐾 Written Education Plans (WEPs)

WEPs are required annually for each area of service. They outline the specific goals, instructional strategies, and progress measures for gifted students. Families receive progress updates throughout the year.

Sample WEP (ODE), District policy on instruments, and Sample District WEP (PDF Placeholder)

🐾 Written Acceleration Plans (WAPs)

WAPs are developed when a student is formally accelerated (whole-grade or subject). These plans provide details about placement, instructional adjustments, and supports to ensure a smooth transition.

Sample District WAP (PDF Placeholder)

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🐾 Academic Acceleration

🐾 Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK)

Overview paragraph about readiness considerations and process. Application deadline: April 30.

Please note: Early Entrance requirements and deadlines are reviewed annually. Families should check the most current guidelines each year.

For more information, see the ODE Early Entrance Policy.

Early Entrance Application (District PDF Placeholder)

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🐾 Early Entrance to First Grade

Overview of Early Entrance to First Grade, including readiness considerations and the team evaluation process for determining placement.

Please note: Early Entrance requirements and deadlines are reviewed annually. Families should check the most current guidelines each year.

For more information, see the ODE Early Entrance Policy.

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🐾 Acceleration Policy

Single-subject, whole-grade, early graduation; Iowa Acceleration Scale; team process.

District Acceleration Policy (PDF Placeholder)

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🐾 District Gifted Service Plan

District Gifted Service Plan (PDF Placeholder)

🐾 Cluster Grouping

Students are grouped together for instruction in a particular content area to provide enriched learning experiences.

🐾 Honors / AP / College Credit Plus

Overview of advanced coursework pathways and eligibility. Eligibility is based on placement criteria and requires parent/guardian approval. This includes:

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Mcs – Talented & Gifted Page Mockup (html)