Gifted

Single subject and/or whole-grade acceleration (including early entrance to kindergarten or first grade)  moves a student through the chronological educational process more quickly.  Although Mason City Schools intentionally provides instructional practices such as curriculum compacting, differentiation, and personalized instruction for gifted students, there are unique situations in which the academic potential of a highly gifted student may require access to additional content. In such instances, acceleration may be considered as a viable option. The following procedures and guidelines shall be followed when whole-grade acceleration is being considered: 

Initiation of Process:  

• Parent or legal guardian, student (self-referral), professional staff member, or school administrator initiates a request to enter the acceleration process to the school principal via email.   

  • For Acceleration Inquiries Contact:

    • Mason Early Childhood Center  - Blake Barnett  barnettb@masonohioschools.com
    • Mason Elementary School - Kyle Lichey licheyk@masonohioschools.com
    • Mason Intermediate School - Brandon Lee leeb@masonohioschools.com
    • Mason Middle School - Matt Schermer schermerm@masonohioschools.com

• Upon receipt of the request, the principal or designee will contact the parents to discuss the evaluation process.

Evaluation Process:

•  The referred student’s principal, or designee reviews achievement records.   
• If required criteria are not met, parents will be notified and the evaluation process concludes for the current school year.  If required criteria are met in future years, students will be eligible to reenter the acceleration evaluation process.
• If required criteria are met, the student’s principal, or designee will convene the Acceleration Evaluation Committee (AEC) to review data sources representative of the student’s academic performance.  The AEC shall evaluate all students who have met initial criteria for possible acceleration and whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have granted permission to further evaluate the student for possible accelerated placement.  
• The AEC may be comprised of, but not limited to, the following: 
  • a principal or assistant principal from the student’s school
  • a current teacher of the referred student for whom acceleration is being considered
  • a teacher at the grade level to which the student may be accelerated
  • a school counselor and/or school psychologist 
  • the gifted education coordinator or gifted intervention specialist
  • a parent or legal guardian of the referred student or a representative designated by a parent or legal guardian 
  • the student if age appropriate and with parent/guardian permission  
• The Acceleration Evaluation committee (AEC) will: 
  • Conduct a fair and thorough evaluation of the student using state approved assessment tools and district guidelines.  The assessment process considers the whole child and measures of academic ability, achievement, aptitude, interpersonal skills and developmental factors.
  • The AEC chair, principal, or designee will contact the parents in writing of the outcome of the evaluation process within 45 – 60 school days of receiving permission to conduct the evaluation.  
    • If the AEC decision is to accelerate, the team develops a Written Acceleration Plan (WAP) which specifies an appropriate transition period for placement of the student who is accelerated.
    • If the AEC decision is to not accelerate, the process stops here and parents are appraised of their right to appeal.  A parent or legal guardian of the referred student may appeal the decision of the Acceleration Evaluation Committee in writing to the Superintendent within thirty days after being notified of the committee’s decision.  In the case of appeal, the Superintendent will review and notify the parent or legal guardian who filed the appeal of his or her decision within thirty days. The Superintendent’s decision will be final. The student may not be considered again for whole grade acceleration until the following school year. 

Placement Timeline:  

• For Grades K-8:  Referrals are requested by May 1st and no later than August 1st for consideration for acceleration for the upcoming school year. 

  • New to district student records will be evaluated upon receipt.

Download the Form to request to withdrawal your student from receiving gifted services, or to refuse gifted services for your child.