The Grandview Heights Schools accepts referrals, screens and identifies, or screens and reassesses students who perform or show potential for performing at high levels of accomplishment in the areas of superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability, creative thinking ability, and/or visual and/or performing arts. The district follows the policy and procedures established in Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15. These rules specify that assessment instruments must come from the list approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

SCREENING:

The district shall provide at least two opportunities each year for gifted screening via individual, small group, and/or grade-level testing. The district ensures equal access to screening and further assessment of all district children, including culturally or linguistically diverse children, children from low socio-economic backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are English learners.

Each school year, the district will offer the following assessment opportunities: 

• All 2nd and 4th graders for giftedness in superior cognitive ability and creative thinking ability using the following assessments:
• InView: Superior Cognitive Ability
• InView and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking: Creative Thinking Ability

• All students in grades 2-8 for giftedness in reading and math using the following assessments:
• MAP Growth (fall, winter, and spring)

Each winter, the district will request referrals for screening for giftedness in the visual and performing arts. The district follows the Ohio Department of Education’s identification process. 

REFERRAL:

Children may be referred for gifted identification, based on the following:

• Child request (self-referral);
• Teacher recommendation;
• Parent/guardian request;
• Child referral of peer; and
• Other (e.g., psychologist, school counselor, community member, principal, gifted intervention specialist, etc.)

Referrals for gifted identification should be made here: Referral for Gifted Identification

Upon receipt of a referral, the district will: 

• Follow the process as outlined below within 90 days of the referral date, and
• Notify parents of the results of screening or assessment and identification within 30 days.

IDENTIFICATION:

When the screening has been completed, if the data obtained is from an approved identification instrument* and the score meets cut-off scores specified in Ohio Department of Education guidance, the identification decision is made, and the student's educational needs are determined. Identification scores remain in effect for the remainder of the student's K-12 school experience.

*Approved means inclusion on the Ohio Department of Education's List of Approved Assessments.

OUT-OF-DISTRICT SCORES:

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

TRANSFER STUDENTS:

The district ensures that any child transferring into the district will be assessed within 90 days of the transfer at the request of the parent. Parents shall contact the building principal.

APPEAL PROCEDURE:

An appeal by the parent is the reconsideration of the result of any part of the identification process, which would include:

• Screening procedure or assessment instrument (which results in identification).
• The scheduling of children for assessment;
• The placement of a student in any program; and
• Receipt of services.

Parents should submit a letter to the Chief Academic Officer outlining the nature of the concern.

The Chief Academic Officer or designee will convene a meeting with the parent or guardian, which may include other school personnel. The superintendent or designee will issue a written final decision within 30 days of the appeal. This written notice should include the reason for the decision(s).