Gifted Services and Acceleration
Rob Beidelman, Instructional Specialist of Gifted Services
(513) 858-7130
Identification of Giftedness
Gifted students are defined as those who perform or show the potential to perform at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of the same age, experience, or environment. Outstanding talents are present in children from all culture groups and economic strata.
House Bill 282, the Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-51-15 Identification and Services for Children Who Are Gifted requires school districts to develop plans for identification and services for children who are gifted. To read this law, click here.
Currently, school districts are required to identify students as gifted and talented in four areas: Superior Cognitive Ability, Specific Academic Ability (Math, Science, Reading/Writing, and Social Studies), Creative Thinking, and Visual and Performing Arts. The Ohio Department of Education establishes the criteria for identification which, except in the area of Visual and Performing Arts, is partially or entirely based on how a child scored on one or more state-approved nationally normed standardized assessments. You can view these assessments here: Chart of Approved Assessments and Gifted Education.
Gifted Services
While school districts are not required to serve students in all areas at this time, we at Fairfield City Schools are committed to programs that recognize the special needs of students who demonstrate the potential for superior talents in academics, creativity and leadership. We believe that gifted students will benefit from a differentiated education which helps to develop self-esteem and skills for independent and group study, research, creative thinking, and problem solving. Our district currently has educational options to offer gifted students in grades Kindergarten through grade twelve.
Appropriate educational experiences for gifted students may include:
- Cluster groups (all grades)
- Self-contained classrooms (grades 6-8)
- Advanced classes (grades 6-12)
- Honors classes (grades 9-12)
- Early entrance to kindergarten or first grade
- Subject acceleration
- Whole grade acceleration
- College credit plus courses
In addition, all teachers are encouraged to provide their gifted class members with challenging course work and enrichment activities within the normal classroom setting.
Whole Grade Acceleration
Students may be referred for whole grade acceleration by their parent or guardian, teacher, classmate, or by self-recommendation. The referral and application can be found in the files below.
Applications for whole grade acceleration may be submitted at any time.
Early Entrance to Kindergarten or First Grade
Early entrance to kindergarten or first grade is a specific type of whole grade acceleration.
In Butler County, and pursuant to Board policy JEB, a child must be age five (5) by August 1st to be eligible for regular entrance into kindergarten or age six (6) by August 1st to be eligible for regular entrance into first grade. The Fairfield City School District recognizes that there are rare instances when a child is ready for kindergarten or first grade earlier than the traditional age. Typically, 5-10% of applicants are recommended for early entrance after completing the evaluation process.
The district's Early Entrance Evaluation Team will investigate to see if a child is ready to accelerate a year ahead of his/her peers. The Early Entrance Evaluation Team ideally consists of school psychologists, a speech pathologist, a kindergarten teacher, and the instructional specialist of gifted services.
If you are considering having your child evaluated for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before completing the Early Entrance to Kindergarten or First Grade Application. The FAQ document outlines the evaluation process and offers more information to aid you in deciding if early entrance may be right for your child.
Please ensure your email address is entered correctly on your application!
You will be emailed a confirmation of your child's appointment date and time for evaluation within 2 business days. Please check your spam/junk folder if you have not received the email after 2 business days. Evaluation dates are limited due to the staff members needed to participate in the evaluation process.
The application for the 2024-2025 evaluation cycle will be available Wednesday, January 3, 2024 until Friday, July 12th, 2024.
Evaluation dates for the 2024-2025 evaluation cycle:
Wednesday, May 29
Thursday, May 30
Wednesday, July 24
Please contact Rob Beidelman if you are a new resident to Fairfield City School District and would like to apply for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade outside of the above window.