Gifted Services

Home to the largest populations of gifted students in Ohio

CCS is home to the largest population of students identified as gifted out of all the urban districts in Ohio with approximately 10 percent of our students identified in one or more areas.

Primary Enrichment
The first component is an early intervention and enrichment program. A primary thinking skills program is currently taught by specialists in all K-2 classes in 38 buildings with our lowest rates of gifted identification. This program is based on research demonstrating positive outcomes from talent development programs in other urban centers and focuses on directly teaching critical and creative thinking skills to all students in these classes. The goal is to equip all students with foundational ability in these skills while giving us information that may lead to the identification of gifted students missed through traditional testing.

CCS offers a four-level continuum of services for identified gifted learners:

Category A - Gifted and high achieving in all schools (informal service – No Written Education Plan)

Category B – Specific areas of gifted identification (formal service in most cases – Written Education Plan provided)

Establish AIMS and Fort Hayes and gifted service sites for arts identified students (lottery or selective admissions placement required)
Gifted resource room for superior cognitive, creative thinking, or reading identified students in grades K-2 at all elementary schools
Gifted self-contained reading classes for reading identified students in grades 3-8 at select schools (elementary taught by gifted specialist, middle taught by content specialist; student will have enrollment transferred into these buildings and would be enrolled in general classrooms for all except reading)
Gifted self-contained math classes for math identified students in grades 3-8 at select schools(elementary taught by gifted specialist, middle taught by content specialist; student will have enrollment transferred into these buildings and would be enrolled in general classrooms for all except math)
Gifted Support elective course for superior cognitive ability or creative thinking identified students in grades 9-10 via online course available in all high schools
Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, College Credit Plus courses in grades 9-12, availability varies by school

Category C – High-need areas of gifted identification (formal service - Written Education Plan provided)

Category D – Specific student needs

**Programs already in place; only acceleration is managed by the Gifted & Talented division

Credit flexibility
Academic acceleration

Families who have students eligible for higher levels on the continuum may take advantage of those opportunities or may choose to have their children participate in less intensive services. For example, if a student is eligible for the self-contained program in Category C, the student may enroll in that program, may opt to instead enroll in the reading and math classes in Category B, or may remain in the home school for cluster grouping and enrichment under Category A.

Columbus Gifted Academy

100 West Fourth Avenue

Columbus

OH

614-365-6961

Gifted Services Plan for Columbus City Schools

Ohio Association for Gifted Children Ohio Department of Education Gifted Information National Association for Gifted Children

High School Options

Gifted services at the high school level take place in a variety of formats. Students and families self-select the options that are the best fit for the students skills, interests, and goals. Students should consult with their high school guidance counselor for additional information and recommendations. A gifted specialist is available to consult with teachers of courses counted as gifted services, and genera classroom teachers of those courses receive ongoing professional development in gifted education.

Advanced Placement (AP)

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is nationally recognized for introducing students to the challenges of college-level work while they are still in high school. Through a variety of introductory-level college courses taught in the high school, AP gives students an opportunity to earn credit, advanced placement, or both for college. Students earn college credit based on an end-of-year exam for the course. Each college decides which AP exam grades it will accept for credit and/or advanced placement. Many institutions, including all state universities in Ohio, accept grades of 3 and above. The vast majority of more than 3,000 colleges and universities that receive AP grades grant credit and/or advanced placement.

Gifted Support Elective

The new Gifted Support elective is open to students identified as gifted in superior cognitive ability or creative thinking ability in grades 9 and 10. This online course will be taught by a licensed gifted specialist and will focus on social-emotional needs related to giftedness, college and career awareness and readiness skills, and academic skills needed to prepare for success in future advanced coursework.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Credit Flexibility

High school students (including middle school students taking at least one high school course) may apply for Credit Flexibility through exam and demonstration or individual proposal in courses that count as either academic or elective credit towards high school graduation. Any course that appears in the Columbus City Schools High School Course Description Handbook is eligible, except in cases where the course is managed by an approved third party e.g., International Baccalaureate, Kenyon Academic Partnership and Post Secondary Education Opportunities courses.

Students may also apply for Credit Flexibility for courses that count as either academic or elective credit towards high school graduation which do not appear in Columbus City Schools High School Course Description Handbook by designing/developing their own course based on an area of their individual interest. There is no limit to the number of courses or credits that a student may apply to earn through Credit Flexibility.

Additional information and the application can be found from the high school guidance counselor or online.

College Credit Plus (CCP)

A high school student may take courses at a post-secondary institution and receive high school and/or college credit or may take college level courses available at a high school campus. Acceptance by the higher education institution is required. For more information regarding College Credit Plus, plan to attend one of the information meetings this winter or talk to your guidance counselor or visit the College Credit Plus page.

Differentiated Curriculum

All students, including gifted learners, require curriculum that is differentiated according to readiness, interests, and learning styles. Differentiated instruction allows students to learn at an appropriate pace and participate in challenging and rigorous learning opportunities. Differentiating instruction involves assessing student needs, designing activities and lessons to address those needs, and evaluating the results. It enables teachers to meet the learning needs of a diverse population of students.

Some examples of differentiation strategies include, but are not limited to: flexible grouping, curriculum compacting, tiered assignments, independent studies, learning centers and choice menus. To help increase the rigor of the general curriculum for gifted learners, Gifted Resource Specialists assist teachers with incorporating elements of Kaplan's Depth and Complexity model into daily lessons and special projects. More information can be found here.

When differentiation is a common part of daily instruction, it may not be something that stands out on assignments brought home. Talk with the classroom teacher and Gifted Resource Specialist for specific information about the differentiation occurring in class.

Service Models

Inter-District Open Enrollment For Gifted Services

Students outside of Columbus City Schools may be eligible to participate in gifted services if they meet the gifted identification placement criteria, are accepted into the district through the general Inter-District Open Enrollment application process, and if space is available in the gifted service option selected. For full details of the procedures for placement, view the Procedures for Inter-District Open Enrollment PDF on the Gifted & Talented Downloads and Links page.

Written Education Plans

Students who receive gifted services require a Written Education Plan (WEP). The purpose of a WEP is to communicate among gifted coordinators, classroom teachers and parents about the gifted service a child is receiving. The service should match the child’s area(s) of identification. WEPS are written and sent home at the end of the first grading period for students involved in one of the service models outlined in the district plan found on the Gifted & Talented Downloads and Links page. Progress reports are sent home with the report cards of students in grades K though 8 at the end of each semester. Progress toward the WEP goals for high school students is part of the course grades and comments each quarter.

Withdrawal from Service

Students may be withdrawn from gifted services at parent request. Requests must be made in writing, and it is strongly encouraged that the SAIL/IAT process is utilized first to try to find strategies to ensure student success. If withdrawal occurs, a withdrawal form must be submitted to the Gifted & Talented office. Forms are available from the Gifted & Talented office or on this site. Withdrawal or refusal of service is in effect for the school year in which it was requested. Students who are removed from gifted services may participate in gifted services in future years provided they meet the eligibility criteria in place for services at that time. Details about service withdrawal can be viewed on the Gifted & Talented Downloads and Links page.

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