All students receiving gifted services in the Licking Heights School District must go through a screening process before they are identified as gifted and/or placed in a gifted program or classroom. This process is orchestrated by a Licking County Educational Service Center (LCESC) Gifted Coordinator.
Gifted identification criteria are set forth by the state. The state requires a specific score to be achieved on approved tests. To be identified as “gifted” in cognitive ability in Ohio, a student must score two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved, nationally standardized test of cognitive ability. To be identified as "gifted" in academic ability, a student must score at the 95th percentile or above on an approved, nationally standardized test of academic ability. Details about all identification instruments used, and specific test scores required, may be found in in the link below. Licking Heights administers the InView Measure of Cognitive Abilities to all students in grade two and four, as well as follow up Creative Thinking Checklists to those that qualify for that additional screening. Students are also given the iReady assessment in both Math and Reading at least two times a year in grades 2-6. Additonal ODE approved assessments can be given by the LCESC Gifted Coordinator up to twice a year on a referral basis in any grade, in order to ensure that all students have an opportunity to qualify for gifted identification in Superior Cognitive Ability, Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Creative Thinking Ability, and/or Visual and Performing Arts. The Ohio State Tests and End of Course Exams are not approved tests for gifted identification because they are assessments based on basic proficiency.
Once a child is identified as gifted, the next step is placement. Placement criteria for services may be slightly different from the state criteria for gifted identification. This is because, while gifted identification is required by state law, there is not a requirement that districts must provide special services to gifted students. Thus, each district in Ohio plans and provides support services to gifted students based on the needs of gifted students in that district and on the district's available resources. Services may change from year to year as needs and resources change.
Although Licking Heights is not required to provide gifted services, it has placed great value on supporting and furthering the academic excellence of this special group of students, and currently offers a comprehensive service plan in grades 2-12 in order to meet the needs of gifted students in a variety of areas. Do note that placement in gifted services at Licking Heights does not begin until the year after identification; we do not encourage the movement and disruption of students and teachers once the year has started.
The parent(s) of a child who is a candidate for gifted services has the right to appeal placement decisions made by the Principal, School Counselor, or the LCESC Gifted Coordinator, as stated in the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code.