Gifted Screening and Identification
Ohio defines a student who is gifted as one who “performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment” (Ohio Revised Code 3324.01).
Criteria for Identification
Ohio Revised Code 3324.03 establishes criteria for identifying students who are gifted. Students are identified in superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability, creative thinking ability, and visual or performing arts ability. Students can be identified in one area or in multiple areas.
Referrals and Whole-Grade Screenings for Identification
A student is considered screened for gifted identification when he or she is evaluated using an instrument approved for gifted identification. Public school districts (city, local, and exempted village) screen district students for gifted identification based on the following:
Referrals: A referral is when a student is recommended for gifted identification testing. Parents, guardians, teachers, or peers may refer students for a gifted identification evaluation. Students may also refer themselves.
Whole-Grade Screenings: A whole grade screening is when all students in a particular grade level are tested for gifted identification. Whole grade screening assists districts to ensure all students have an opportunity to be identified as gifted, especially students who may not have been recommended for gifted identification through the referral process.
Districts include information on referrals and whole grade screenings in their gifted identification plan and gifted education policy.
Gifted Identification Plan and Gifted Education Policy
Districts use their gifted identification plan (Ohio Revised Code 3324.04) and gifted education policy (Ohio Revised Code 3324.06) to communicate important information about gifted screening and identification. This includes, but is not limited to, the criteria and methods the district uses to identify students who are gifted, assurance for access to screening and identification opportunities for all district students, and methods for resolving conflicts.
Approved Assessments
The Department of Education and Workforce maintains a list of assessments approved for gifted prescreening and identification. More information regarding these approved assessments can be found on the Chart of Approved Assessments and Gifted Education webpage.
Last Modified: 7/25/2025 2:27:34 PM