The board of education of each school district shall adopt a plan by January 1, 2000, for identifying gifted students. The plan shall be submitted to the department of education for approval. The department shall approve the plan within sixty days if it contains all of the following:

(A) A description of the assessment instruments from the list adopted by the department that the district will use to screen and identify gifted students;

(B) Acceptable scheduling procedures for screening and for administering assessment instruments for identifying gifted students. These procedures shall provide:

(1) At least two opportunities a year for assessment in the case of students requesting assessment or recommended for assessment by teachers, parents, or other students;

(2) Assurance of inclusion in screening and assessment procedures for minority and disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and students for whom English is a second language;

(3) Assurance that any student transferring into the district will be assessed within ninety days of the transfer at the request of a parent.

(C) Procedures for notification of parents within thirty days about the results of any screening procedure or assessment instrument and the provision of an opportunity for parents to appeal any decision about the results of any screening procedure or assessment, the scheduling of children for assessment, or the placement of a student in any program or for receipt of services;

(D) A commitment that the district will accept scores on assessment instruments provided by other school districts or trained personnel outside the school district, provided the assessment instruments are on the list approved by the department of education under section 3324.02 of the Revised Code. The district's plan may provide for the district to contract with any qualified public or private service provider to provide screening or assessment services under the plan. The department shall assist any district whose plan it disapproves under this section to amend the plan so that it meets the requirements of this section.

Effective Date: 09-28-1999.