Gifted Identification
WBESC Coordinator:
419-399-4711 Paulding Office
419-238-4746 Van Wert Office
In 1984, the Ohio General Assembly enacted legislation requiring school districts to identify gifted children. In 1999, the identification law was updated to standardize the identification process across districts as well as to provide more rights to parents and children. The law now requires school districts to notify parents if their children are identified as gifted. School districts are also required to assess children at the parent's request.
The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center employs a full-time Coordinator to assist districts in their efforts to identify gifted children and to advise and support districts in their efforts to provide appropriate services to identified children.
In Ohio, a child can be identified as gifted in one or more of the following categories:
| Superior Cognitive Ability | Creative Thinking Ability |
| Specific Academic Ability (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies) | Visual/Performing Arts Ability (Art, Music, Drama, Dance) |