Office of Gifted Services

Contact Information

Dayton Public Schools
115 S. Ludlow St.
Dayton, OH  45402
(937) 542-3533

Mission:
To advocate for our unique population of gifted and talented students.

Vision:
To provide a self-directed and collaborative learning environment which enriches classroom instruction and nurtures the leadership and social-emotional well-being of our gifted and talented students so they may achieve success in and outside the classroom.

What you need to know:

  • The Parents of Gifted Children West Central Ohio Facebook page is looking for local parents to help start-up a regional affiliate group to create educational supports for parents with gifted children. To learn more, visit their new Facebook page.

 

Our staff:

            Associate Director                                                                     Coordinator
       Hindy Gruber:  937-542-3533                                     Ruby Bryant: 937-542-3518           

                                                                Coordinator
                                             Heather Kardeen: 937-542-3042

gifted intervention specialists:

Eastmont PK-6 Gifted HUB
Amy Gray
Phone:  937- 542-4532 		 Valerie PK-6
Leana Staton
Phone: 937-542-5736

Horace Mann PK-6
Teresa McCalister
Phone: 937-542-4921

 

World of Wonder @ Residence Park

PK-6
Amy Andrews
Phone: 937-542-5736
River’s Edge Montessori PK-6
Michelle Richter
Phone: 937-542-4669		 Traveling GIS grades 1-2
Tiffany Reeves
 
Ruskin PK-6
Angie Fugate
Phone: 937-542-5632		  

Assessment Opportunities

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and Dayton Public Schools defines a gifted student as one who performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of his/her age, experience, or environment in one of the gifted areas:

  • Superior Cognitive (IQ)
  • Specific Academic Areas
    • Reading
    • Math
    • Science
    • Social Studies
  • Creative Thinking
  • Visual/Performing Arts

To be identified, the student must be assessed using one of the instruments approved by ODE and must score in a defined range.

Gifted Identification Procedures and Services brochure

Opportunities for assessment are offered three times a year for specific academic areas and twice a year for superior cognitive and creative thinking. Visual/Performing Arts are specific referral.

Referral Process

ODE mandates that two opportunities will be afforded each school year for students to receive gifted identification assessment, one in fall, one in spring. Additionally there is a whole grade screening for cognitive identification.

Referral Sources

Referral forms are available online in all DPS buildings and in the Office of Gifted Services located in 2N, 325 at 115 S. Ludlow St, Dayton, 45402. Deadlines for each academic referral period are set to ensure adequate time for processing and preparation of assessment instruments and proctors.Parents will be notified of the results within thirty (30) days of testing.

Persons who can initiate a referral:

  • Parent
  • Teacher
  • Student
  • Peer
  • Counselor
  • School Psychologist
  • Administrator
  • Gifted Services Representative
  • Curriculum Specialist
  • Other adult familiar with student’s capabilities

Parents are permitted to appeal results of assessments. Letters of appeal should be submitted to the Chief of the Office of Exceptional Children or his/her designee explaining details of the concern. A conference will be convened with appropriate participants. A written notice of the final decision will be issued no later than thirty (30) days from the meeting.

Referral forms are available online, as well as in all Dayton Public Schools buildings and the Gifted Services Office, located at the Administration Building.

Services:

K-6 HUB Schools

Once a student in grades K-6 has been identified as gifted, they are invited to transfer to one of six gifted HUB schools within the district. The HUB schools provide pull-out services in accordance with ODE regulations for grades four through six. Students in grades Kindergarten through six, if they qualify, can be subject area or grade level accelerated. Once a student accelerates in a subject area, they are accelerated every year and will take that upper grade level state test.

Students are cluster grouped for socialization, differentiation and enrichment activities.

The HUB Schools are:

  • Eastmont
  • Horace Mann
  • River's Edge Montessori
  • Ruskin
  • Valerie
  • World of Wonder @ Residence Park

Middle School and High School Options:

  • Accelerated course work
  • Enrichment activities
  • Honors courses
  • Advanced Placement courses
  • College Credit Plus courses
  • Independent Study

Written Education Plan (WEP)

Upon successful assessment and gifted identification, parents/guardians receive a letter stating the area(s) in which the student has been identified and the score achieved. Using ODE guidelines, each gifted student who receives services is provided with an individual plan for success called a Written Education Plan (WEP). The WEP includes area(s) of identification, goals set by the teacher(s) and Gifted Intervention Specialist (GIS) responsible for the gifted students educational instruction.

Goals are set in the fall of each year and assessed at the end of each semester. Parents receive a progress report that includes the goal, the assessment(s) used, the work/projects assigned and how the student succeeded in achieving the goal.

Written Acceleration Plan (WAP)

A WAP is created in addition to the WEP when a student is either subject area or grade level accelerated. Parents receive a progress report that includes the goal, the assessment(s) used, the work/projects assigned and how the student succeeded in achieving the goal.

Opting Out of gifted service

If a parent/guardian does not want to transfer their newly identified gifted student to one of the HUB schools, they need to sign a waiver of service form. However, they can request a transfer to a HUB school at any time and the student will begin receiving gifted services.

Transfer Students

Identified gifted students transferring into Dayton Public Schools from another Ohio district will be placed on the gifted roster upon receipt of assessment information from the district where the student was identified.

Identified gifted students transferring into Dayton Public Schools from out of state and identified using an approved ODE assessment, will be accepted as gifted and placed accordingly. If the student was not identified using an approved ODE assessment, a referral can be submitted for gifted testing and will be assessed within 90 days of the request.

Withdrawal

To withdraw from gifted programming, the parent must submit a letter to the Office of Gifted Services.

Gifted Resources for parents

Make the Grade

Student grades through the DPS Home Access Center. more

Bus Alerts

Bus route notifications via Nixle text message. more

Calendar