Gifted Services

The Summit ESC Gifted Education Consultants work collaboratively throughout our school districts to meet the needs of our gifted students and families. Our goal is to provide leadership in the development and improvement of gifted education. To support the districts in Summit County, the gifted education team provides services, professional development, and ongoing communication about gifted education to the Summit Area Educators and community.

Gifted Operating Standards
The State of Ohio recently revised the Operating Standards for Identification and Service for gifted students. As a result, districts are in the process of realigning their servicing criteria. Although gifted identification is mandated by Ohio law, services for gifted students are not mandated.

The State of Ohio identifies in the following areas:

• Superior Cognitive Ability
  Score two standard deviations above the mean minus the standard error of measurement on an intelligence test, perform at or above the 95th percentile on a basic or composite battery of a nationally normed achievement test, or attain an approved score on an above grade-level standardized, nationally normed test.
• Specific Academic Ability in a Field
  Perform at or above the 95th percentile at the national level on a standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field. A child may be identified as gifted in more than one specific academic ability field.
• Creative Thinking Ability
  Score one standard deviation above the mean minus the standard error of measurement on an intelligence test and attain a sufficient score, as established by the Department, on a test of creative ability or a checklist of creative behavior.
• Visual or Performing Arts Ability
  Demonstrate to a trained individual through a display of work, an audition, or other performance or exhibition, superior ability in a visual or performing arts area and attain a sufficient score, as established by the Department, on a checklist of behaviors related to a specific arts area.