Ohio Department of Education Learning Supports

Revised Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students, Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3301-51-15, were approved by the State Board of Education in March 2008 following numerous statewide research studies and broad stakeholder input. The new operating standards, effective July 1, 2008, significantly “raise the bar” for gifted education services provided by districts, while creating new flexibility in providing appropriate challenges and supports for gifted and talented students. With the new standards, important changes include:

• More specific requirements for the development and implementation of written education plans (WEPs) for gifted students;
• Increased flexibility in class sizes and student caseloads at upper grade levels; and
• Specific contact time requirements for students in services provided by gifted intervention specialists.

Important Resources
The following documents are provided in Adobe pdf unless otherwise specified.

• Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students (Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15 ), March 2008
• Ohio Revised Code 3324.01 -.07
• Translations of the Operating Standards and the Ohio Revised Code can be found here. 

Technical Assistance Documents

• Operating Standards Technical Assistance Manual (complete 2008 text)
• Individual sections of the Technical Assistance Manual:
                Section A:   Definitions
                Section B:   General 
                Section C:   Identification 
                Section D:   Services
                Section E:   Personnel
                Section F:   Funding
                Section G:   Accountability
  
• Powerpoint with notes describing Operating Standards. 
• Gifted EMIS Data Guide 

 
Related Background

• Policy Statement on the Future of Gifted Education in Ohio – the State Board of Education issued this document in 2003, with guidance from the 2002 Task Force.
• Gifted in the 21st Century – findings and recommendations of the 2002 Ohio Gifted Task Force.
• Developing a Continuum of Services – options and resources provided for the Ohio Department of Education by Joyce VanTassel Baska, Elissa Brown et al.  Section V of this report describes relative strengths, weaknesses, and costs associated with various gifted service options.