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Gifted Assessment

Students may be referred for screening and identification in a variety of ways:

• Child request
• Parent/guardian request
• Teacher request
• Child referring another child
• Referral by others, such as a psychologist, community member, school principal or a gifted coordinator

Referral forms are available at every school. You may also print a copy and give it to your school's principal. There are at least two opportunities a year to assess children. Gifted testing occurs twice a year in the fall and spring.

See the District Calendar for testing dates.

Screening and Identification

The Cincinnati Public School District uses a three-step process to screen for and identify gifted children.

Step 1: Pre-Assessment

Student performance information is gathered in a variety of ways. These can include teacher, parent and peer nominations; grades; portfolios of student work; observations; student records; and outstanding student work products, displays, or performances.

All students are involved in the pre-assessment step to ensure equal access to screening and further assessment for gifted ability.

Step 2: Screening Assessment

Information from Step 1 is examined to see if additional assessment is needed. School staff review all available student information (not just test scores) in making this decision.

Students who meet or exceed a cutoff score set by the district move to the identification stage. Gifted screening cutoff scores are set lower than gifted identification scores.

Step 3: Identification Assessment

Additional assessments are used to help make a gifted identification decision. Once a decision is made, then a child's educational needs are determined.

Appeals

Parents may appeal for reconsideration of the results of any part of the identification process by submitting a written letter to the school administrator. CPS will issue a final written decision within 30 school days of the appeal.

Transfer Students

Cincinnati Public Schools accepts scores on assessments approved for use by the Ohio Department of Education provided by other school districts and/or qualified personnel not associated with CPS. Any student transferring into the district will be assessed within 90 days of the transfer at the request of the parent.

TESTING REFERENCES

Assessment Instruments

• English
• Spanish
• French
• Arabic

The following nationally prepared tests are used in screening and identification:

Specific Academic Ability

• Terra Nova Achievement Test
  Screening score:
  above 85th percentile
  Identification score:
  at or above 95th percentile
• Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement
  Screening score:
  above 85th percentile
  Identification score:
  at or above 95th percentile
• Metropolitan
  Identification score:
  at or above 95th percentile

Superior Cognitive Ability

• Cognitive Abilities Test
  Screening score:
  above 112
  Identification score:
  128 or higher
• Terra Nova Achievement Test
  Identification score:
  at or above 95th percentile on total score
• Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement
  Screening score:
  above 85th percentile
  Identification score:
  at or above 95th percentile

Visual § Performing Arts

• Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scales (GATES), Section 5 & Ohio Department of Education Rubric of Performance and/or Portfolio

Creative Thinking Ability

• Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scales (GATES), Section 3 & Cognitive Abilities Test, Form 5
  Screening score:
  100-112
  Identification score:
  112 or higher

Alternative tests are available for special population students.