FAQ about Oakwood Gifted Education

All students are eligible for gifted identification. All students are screened for giftedness in grades 2, 4 and 6. Any student can be referred for individual gifted identification at any time.

Students are automatically screened for gifted identification beginning in grade 2, and again in grades 4 and 6.

Gifted services typically begin in the spring of 2nd grade once fall testing results are analyzed for gifted identifications.

Gifted service are administered by the classroom teacher and supported by the GIS in class and/or through consultation to include differentiated instruction.

Gifted intervention and instructional strategies used to support students could be: flexible grouping, intervention groups, online extensions, problem-based learning,  creative problem solving, curriculum compacting, independent projects, literary circles, etc. 

Differentiating instruction allows for adapting the content, process, or product based upon a student’s readiness, learning style and interests.

All gifted service providing staff have a minimum of 60 additional hours in Gifted Professional Development. 

Our Gifted Intervention Specialists (GIS) work closely with the teacher of record to help design differentiation for gifted students and provide ongoing Gifted Professional Development.  Our GIS teachers also teach the 5th and 6th grade Compact Math course.

Compact math is not an acceleration.  Compact math is a 2-year math course in which students complete 5th-8th grade content standards. During the 5th grade year, students typically complete 5th and 6th grade math. During the 6th grade year, students typically complete 7th and 8th grade math.  Students are expected to maintain minimum grades to remain in the course. 

Your student must score in the 98/99 percentile on most recent testing of Math ITBS and 120 or higher on COGAT or 128 or higher on most recent testing of  COGAT and at least 95 percentile on Math ITBS.

Gifted service models are updated annually. Please refer to your building’s gifted service matrix found on the district website.

Gifted Intervention Specialists (GIS), classroom teachers and counselors can and will provide gifted services. MOST gifted services are provided by the classroom teachers with support and/or consultation from the GIS. All classroom teachers who are responsible for serving gifted students are mandated to meet state requirements for professional development in gifted education.

ALL students are provided differentiated content, process and products whether or not they are identified as gifted. ALL students are challenged at their level regardless of test scores. All students are screened for giftedness in grades 2, 4 and 6.

A child’s gifted identification does not go away if they score lower on a subsequent test. We believe you can always have a bad day, but you can’t fake a high score. The state of Ohio recognizes once a child is identified as gifted, they are always identified as gifted.

Yes, any child can be referred for gifted identification at any time. Students can be referred by teachers, parents, or themselves. Please contact your building principal and/or GIS. Students in grades 2, 4 and 6 are tested each fall. These results are used in determining gifted identification.

Upon the receipt of student records from the previous school, records will be reviewed.  New students can also be referred for gifted testing upon arrival in the District.  Please contact your building principal and/or GIS. If your child was previously identified as gifted, please notify your building GIS. Providing documentation (previous WEP and testing results) from your child’s previous school can expedite the process and minimize additional testing.

There are two types of acceleration used to serve students who demonstrate significant content mastery above and beyond their grade level peers.

1. Single-subject acceleration is the placement of a student in one or more courses that are taught at a higher grade level than the student’s assigned grade.
2. Whole grade acceleration is the placement of a student in a higher grade than his or her assigned grade.

Gifted identification is not a prerequisite for an acceleration referral.

Acceleration referral forms can be found on the district website. Referrals are accepted from teachers, administrators, GIS, guidance counselor, or parents and/or legal guardians.