(A) The department of education shall construct lists of existing assessment instruments it approves for use by school districts, and may include on the lists and make available to school districts additional assessment instruments developed by the department. Wherever possible, the department shall approve assessment instruments that utilize nationally recognized standards for scoring or are nationally normed. The lists of instruments shall include:

(1) Initial screening instruments for use in selecting potentially gifted students for further assessment;

(2) Instruments for identifying gifted students under section 3324.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall also adopt rules for the administration of any tests or assessment instruments it approves on the list required by division (A) of this section and for establishing the scores or performance levels required under section 3324.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) The department shall ensure that the approved list of assessment instruments under this section includes instruments that allow for appropriate screening and identification of gifted minority and disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and students for whom English is a second language.

(D) Districts shall select screening and identification instruments from the approved lists for inclusion in their district policies.

(E) The department shall make initial lists of approved assessment instruments and the rules for the administration of the instruments available by September 1, 1999.

Effective Date: 09-28-1999.