Gifted Services

Ola Elementary provides specialized gifted education services designed to challenge academically advanced students and nurture higher-order thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Governed by Georgia Department of Education Rule 160-4-2-.38, the district’s program ensures qualifying students receive an enriched curriculum.

Ola Elementary delivers gifted instruction across all grade levels using state-approved learning models designed to extend standard grade-level expectations:

Services are primarily delivered through pull-out resource classes and cluster grouping within general education classrooms.

Admission into a Henry County gifted program involves a structured three-step process: Referral, Evaluation, and Determination of Eligibility.

. The Referral Process

• A referral is the initial step to flag a student for consideration. Referrals can originate from:
• Automatic / System-Wide Testing: Data screening from district-wide assessments (such as iReady or Georgia Milestones).
•  Teacher / School Referrals: Educators who observe exceptional academic performance, creativity, or motivation in the classroom.
• Parent / Guardian Referrals: Parents can submit a nomination directly to the gifted team using this link. It is important for parents to make one of the GSTs aware of the completed referral link. This allows them to pull the information and begin data collection.

Note: A referral does not automatically guarantee testing. Each school’s Eligibility Team/Student Search Team reviews student artifacts—such as test scores, grades, and work samples—to determine if formal evaluation is warranted.

2. Evaluation & Assessment

Once approved for evaluation (and with written parental consent), the student is assessed across four distinct categories using nationally normed tests, rating scales, and performance evaluations:

1. Mental Ability (reasoning and problem-solving skills)

2. Achievement (reading, math, or total battery scores)

3. Creativity (divergent thinking and creative characteristics)

4. Motivation (standardized motivation scales)

 

3. Determination of Eligibility

Georgia rules allow students to qualify for gifted placement through one of two pathways:

Pathway	Criteria Required
Psychometric Option (Option A)	Meets qualifying scores in both Mental Ability (≥99th percentile for K–2; ≥96th percentile for 3–12) AND Achievement (≥90th percentile).
Multiple Criteria Option (Option B)	Meets qualifying scores in 3 out of the 4 evaluated categories (Mental Ability, Achievement, Creativity, or Motivation).

 

Transfers & Reciprocity 

• In-State Transfers: Any student previously identified as gifted in another public school system within Georgia automatically qualifies for gifted services in Henry County upon verification of records. 
• Out-of-State Transfers: There is no automatic reciprocity between states. Out-of-state transfer students must meet Georgia eligibility criteria, though existing evaluation data under two years old may be evaluated. 
• Military Dependents: Active-duty military dependents who received gifted services at their prior school are immediately provided gifted services upon enrollment once their records are reviewed.

Gifted Support Teachers:

Jenni Gauvin Jennifer.gauvin@henry.k12.ga.us

Lori Wardingley Lori.wardingley@henry.k12.ga.us