Norton City Schools

Gifted Identification

Gifted Identification

Gifted Identification:

Ohio Revised Code 3324.01 defines a student who is gifted as one who “performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment.” 


Ohio’s Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Students Who are Gifted requires school districts to conduct whole-grade screenings at least once in the K-2 grade band and at least once in the 3-6 grade band. Norton City Schools conducts the required whole-grade screenings in grades 2 and 4, screening specifically for superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability in reading and math, and creative thinking ability, as outlined by the operating standards. 


Superior Cognitive Ability: A student is identified as gifted in the area of superior cognitive ability when the student scores two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved intelligence test, or performs at or above the ninety-fifth percentile on an approved composite battery of a nationally normed achievement test, or attains an approved score on an approved nationally-normed above grade level achievement test. 


Superior Cognitive Ability means the ability to think and reason (use logic). It is often characterized by the ability to readily see patterns, relationships, and identify nuances. 


Specific Academic Ability: A student is identified as gifted in the area of specific academic ability when a student performs at or above the ninety-fifth percentile in a specific academic ability field on an approved nationally-normed achievement test. 


Specific Academic Ability refers to exceptional skill or strength in an academic subject, such as math or reading.

Creative Thinking Ability: A student is identified as gifted in the area of creative thinking ability when a student scores one standard deviation above the mean, minus the standard error of measure, on an approved intelligence test and also attains a qualifying score on an approved checklist of creative behavior or creativity test. 


Creative Thinking Ability means the ability to see things differently, seeing patterns or relationships not typically seen by others. It can also include the ability to think fluently or flexibly, moving from idea to idea easily.

Visual and Performing Arts Ability: A student is identified as gifted in the area of visual and performing arts ability when a student demonstrates superior ability in a visual or performing arts area through a display of work, an audition, or other performance or exhibition and a qualifying score on an approved checklist of behaviors related to a specific arts area. 






Gifted Identification Processes:


Norton City Schools conducts whole-grade screenings for gifted identification in superior cognitive ability in grades 2 and 4. Currently Norton uses the InView for our whole-grade screening. The CogAT or NNAT-3 is used if a reassessment is needed. InView and CogAT measure a student's ability to think and reason, so they are not tied to a single subject area like other tests given in school. Students whose results meet the qualifying score are identified as gifted in superior cognitive ability. Additionally, the district offers a re-assessment option (CogAT) for students whose scores reach a “rescreening” score. Parents will be notified in writing within 30 days of the receipt of testing results of their children’s identification or opportunity for rescreening. 


InView Scores: The InView Home Report provides two different scores for families. The first set of scores shows a child's performance in National Percentile Rankings. The child's score for each subtest, along with the two categories of nonverbal and verbal, as a national percentile  ranking. For example, a score for the sequences subtest might be 53%. This means the score is at or above 53% of all students (nationally) at the grade level who have taken the InView. The subtest scores provide insight into areas of strength in a student's ability to think and reason. 

Whole-grade screening for specific academic ability in reading and math is conducted in grades 2 through 8 through the use of NWEA MAP. The MAP assessment is administered three times during the year. The resulting scores of each administration are reviewed, and students whose scores reach the 95th percentile (national percentile rank) on the reading and/or math are identified as gifted.


Screening and consideration of identification in visual and performing arts ability is conducted upon parent, teacher, or student referral. A checklist of behaviors related to the specific arts area will be completed, and if a qualifying score is achieved, then a demonstration of superior ability in the area of visual and performing arts will be scheduled, with the student performing an audition or displaying work through a portfolio or other exhibition before trained assessors. 


The district also offers opportunities for gifted screening twice per year in accordance with Ohio’s Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Students Who are Gifted. Referrals may be made by teachers, parents or legal guardians, guidance counselors, administrators, gifted intervention specialists, and students. 

Gifted Services:

Norton City Schools offers services to students identified as gifted in reading, mathematics,  and superior cognitive thinking in grades 2-12. All students are served in their area(s) of identification. 


Grades 1-4: Students in grades 1-4 receive services in their area(s) of gifted identification in their classrooms, placed in cluster groups, small groups of students intentionally placed together, working with teachers who are receiving ongoing professional development and support in gifted child education from the district’s gifted coordinator.


Grades 5-8: Students in grades 5-8 are served in a number of ways, including cluster groups, advanced classes (such as advanced language arts), and/or accelerated math classes. Their teachers receive ongoing professional development and support from the district’s gifted coordinator. 


Grades 9-12: Students attending Norton High School are served through cluster groups, Honors classes, AP classes, and/or CCP options. Teachers serving students identified as gifted receive ongoing professional development and support from the district’s gifted coordinator. 


Parents may choose to withdraw their children from gifted services by sending a request to the child’s building principal and the district’s gifted coordinator. A phone call or meeting may be requested to discuss the concerns prompting the request for removal from services. 

Acceleration

Acceleration is the practice of assigning a student to a higher grade level (whole-grade or subject) or admitting a student to kindergarten earlier than is typical for the student’s age. The purpose is to provide appropriately challenging learning opportunities for students who need them. 

Acceleration is a practice that can be used with any student, whether identified as gifted or not. Not every student identified as gifted is accelerated, and not every student who is accelerated is identified as gifted. There is a process that must be followed in making decisions regarding acceleration, ensuring that the proposed acceleration is in the student's best interests. 

Whole-grade acceleration is defined as assigning a student to a higher grade level than is typical for the student’s age. For example, a student finishes first grade and then begins the next year in third grade. This typically requires an extensive process including a variety of assessments and evaluations. These are completed with the goal of ensuring the whole-grade acceleration is appropriate and in the best interests of the student. 


Subject acceleration is defined as assigning a student to a higher grade level in a particular subject than what is typical for the student’s age. For example, a student in fifth grade student performing above grade level in math takes sixth grade math, while all other classes are taken at the fifth grade level. There are many factors reviewed in the process of making decisions about subject acceleration, including reviewing performances on a variety of assessments. 


Early admission to kindergarten is when a student is admitted to kindergarten when he or she has not yet reached the typical age at which students are admitted to kindergarten, with the purpose of providing access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities. Early entrance to kindergarten requires extensive assessment and evaluation to ensure the early entrance is appropriate and in the best interests of the student. For more information about the process used in Norton City Schools, please refer to the flow chart shared here. You may also visit the Norton Primary School web site and contact the building principal for more information.  

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norton Middle School: Accelerated Math and Advanced Language Arts: 
To see the elements considered for placement in these classes, please see the rubrics listed below. Rubrics used in reviewing data for the 2024-25 school year are shown here. Please contact the middle school for further information or if you have questions. 

Please note: only mathematics courses listed below are accelerated. Language arts courses are not accelerated courses. They are considered advanced courses still within the grade level. The rubrics linked below are used in making placement determinations for the advanced language arts.
 
Rubrics for Norton Middle School: Accelerated Math and Advanced Language Arts
 

For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Tricia Ebner
Gifted Coach/Coordinator
330-706-2735 (Office)