2024 Back to School Newsletter

I like to start each year with a refresher on the basics of gifted identification and service in Ohio and GJPS.

Key points to remember about gifted identification:

• Identification is governed by Ohio law and rule. GJPS is obligated to follow those laws exactly.

• Students can be identified as gifted in superior cognitive ability, reading/writing, math, science, social studies, creative thinking ability, and/or visual/performing arts. You can read more about each area on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce website.

• Once a student is identified as gifted in Ohio, they remain identified as gifted regardless of future test scores.

• GJPS screens all students in grades 2-11 for gifted identification at least twice a year in reading and math. GJPS screens all students in grades 2 and 5 for gifted identification in superior cognitive ability.

Key points to remember about gifted services:

• Although gifted services are not required by Ohio law, GJPS offers formal gifted services to students in some areas in grades 3 through 12 who meet predetermined criteria. Information about service eligibility is sent each spring.

• GJPS is obligated to follow our published criteria exactly and objectively with all students.

• High school gifted students may participate in services as they choose to enroll in Advanced Placement or College Credit Plus courses aligned to their area(s) of gifted identification.

• A Written Education Plan (WEP) is provided each year around the end of the first quarter for students who are participating in a formal service. Students who do not receive formal services will not have a WEP. However, our teachers differentiate classroom instruction based on learner needs, even when students are not served in gifted programs.

Gifted conference, enrichment programs and college scholarships

OAGC Family and Community Day

The Ohio Association for Gifted Children is once again holding their annual conference in October. The kickoff to that event is a Family and Community Day open to parents and guardians, educators, and community members with an interest in understanding and supporting gifted children. This event will be held virtually on October 13 from 2-5pm and is FREE. For more information, download the flier. Interested participants can register using the paper form or electronically.

Scholarships (School Age and College)

Families often wish to enroll their children in afterschool programs, summer camps. Or other special opportunities to help develop their talents or expand areas of interest. Those programs often have a cost associated with them. Or, students may be preparing to graduate this spring and are in search of scholarships to help with college tuition and fees. There are multiple programs that can help offset those costs for students who are gifted (and even one below for any student, regardless of gifted identification.) Check these out!

The Ohio Association for Gifted Children has three different scholarship programs to support the pursuits of gifted learners in Ohio. These programs are for both school-ages and rising college freshmen. Visit their website for applications for the three programs described below:

• 2024 OAGC Susan Faulkner Arts Scholarship - Deadline is November 15, 2024. Scholarships will be awarded to students currently in grades K- 12 who are applying for a special program or activity to further encourage or nurture an interest or talent in an area of the visual or performing arts

• 2024 OAGC Student Scholarship - Each year OAGC offers scholarships to K-12 Ohio students for special activities that extend their special talent/interest areas. Note: The deadline is February 15, 2025 for applications.

• 2025 OAGC College Scholarship Award - For any student who is about to enroll in his/her first year of college and/or a student currently enrolled full time in an undergraduate program of an Ohio college. The extended deadline is April 15, 2025.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation also offers two programs to support students, one a college scholarship and one a program from current 7th grade students.

• The 2024 Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities. The application is open until mid-November 2024. For more details, visit the website.

• The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities. Applications will open February 2025. For more details, visit the website.

Support for Talented Students (STS) is a local organization that provides scholarships for gifted students in grades 3 through 12 to access summer programs aligned to their talents and interests. Awards are based on financial need. The application window typically opens in December or January. For more details and the application, visit their website.

Finally, the Ohio Department of Education has shared an opportunity for Ohio families. The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides funds to low-income families for various enrichment and educational activities. The program is offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Ohio Department of Education. ACE is available to any Ohio child ages 6 - 18 years old whose family income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.