2024 Q1 Newsletter

We hope everyone’s year is off to a great start! In this issue of the newsletter, we share information about MAP testing and Written Education Plans. We also pass along tips for making fall conferences meaningful and share resources that may be useful to families.

Students in grades 1 through 10 recently took the NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. MAP is a test of reading and math skills, and students take the test via computer up to three times per year during the fall, winter, and spring. What makes MAP unique is that it is an adaptive assessment that summarizes students’ current skills and can project and measure students’ academic growth over time.

There are some things to keep in mind when understanding MAP scores for gifted and advanced learners.

• MAP may be used for gifted identification in grades 2 through 10. Per Ohio law, students who earn a score of 95th percentile or higher in either reading or math will be identified as gifted in that specific area if the student has not already been identified.

• It is common for scores to fluctuate a bit over time. So, if your student’s percentile rank varies 2-5 points or so between sessions, their performance has actually been fairly stable.

Scores will either be shared at conferences or will b sent home from the school or via email from the district the first week of October. Fall conferences are a great time to talk with your child’s teacher about MAP scores in relation to their classroom performance. You can read more about MAP in their Family Guide.

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.