While the State of Ohio requires gifted identification, it does not mandate comprehensive services for children identified as gifted. Each district must define which identified gifted children will receive services available in their district. Due to the wide range of abilities and differing developmental needs of gifted students, no single service option can provide an optimal educational experience for all identified students. Therefore, a continuum of services is recommended. It is important to match the appropriate educational opportunity to the need of identified students.
Continuum of Services K-12
Elementary Services
In order to create and implement differentiated instructional opportunities in the regular classroom, Gifted Intervention Specialists (GIS) and the Gifted Coordinator provide collaborative support to our third and fourth-grade classroom teachers. Students with a gifted identification will be exposed to a number of different activities to meet individual needs, such as curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, project choices, tiered assignments, and multi-level learning stations.
Services at Big Walnut Local Schools are provided in accordance with OAC 3301-51-15, which includes a guideline for the GIS to serve a maximum of 60 identified gifted children or 20 full-time equivalent gifted children if in a self-contained setting. This is to ensure that students are receiving quality, personalized instruction.
Links for Students:
Intermediate and Middle School Services
Compacted math courses are offered in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. Honors language arts classes are offered in grades 7 and 8. Students who have been identified as cognitively gifted students, and students with specific subject identification in language arts and in math, are eligible for the classes.
Links for students:
High School Opportunities for Challenge
- Independent Study
- Honors Classes
- Advanced Placement Classes
- Post-Secondary Options
- Dual Enrollment Options
Acceleration
Some students may qualify for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, subject or whole grade acceleration, and early graduation from high school in accordance with the Big Walnut Local Schools acceleration policy. Parents should contact their child’s building principal for more information on student acceleration.
Need additional information or have questions? Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding your child and the Big Walnut Gifted Services program. We welcome your inquiries!