The Upper Arlington 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 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.

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.

During the 2023-2024 school year, the district will offer the following assessment opportunities: 

• All 2nd and 4th graders for giftedness in superior cognitive ability, math, and creative thinking ability using the following assessments:

  • Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT): superior cognitive ability.

  • CogAT and the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students: creative thinking ability. 

  • Iowa Assessments: math

• All students in grades 2-12 for giftedness in reading using the following assessments:

  • Iowa Assessments (gr. 2, fall)

  • STAR Reading Assessment (gr. 3-12, fall, winter and spring)

• All 7th graders for giftedness in science and social studies with the Iowa Assessments
  

In the fall of 2023, 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. More information will be provided in school newsletters and the district website in October. The process takes place between November and March.

Children may be referred in writing, 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.)

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 results of screening or assessment and identification within 30 days.

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.

When the screening has been completed, if the data obtained is from an approved identification instrument*, students who score within two points below the Department of Education's identification score are reassessed.

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.

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.

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 superintendent outlining the nature of the concern.

The superintendent or designee will convene a meeting with the parent/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).

For additional information, please see our District Gifted Identification and Services Guide.