HAR §8-51-1. Purpose

(a) All children and youth have the right to develop their potential to the fullest. Recognizing this right, the department of education accepts the obligation to assist all students to develop their potential and recognizes that this goal can best be accomplished by providing appropriate educational opportunities. (b) The department further recognizes the wide range of interests, motivations, and talents among students and believes that this diversity must be considered in the design and delivery of educational opportunities. Among these students are those who have demonstrated superior achievement or possess the potential for superior achievement. These students constitute a valuable and irreplaceable human resource because of their potential for making significant contributions to society. It is not possible to measure the loss to society, as well as to themselves, when educational opportunities are not in keeping with the particular needs and abilities of such students. (c) The department is committed to providing appropriate educational opportunities at each school for its students. The department therefore acknowledges the necessity to identify gifted and talented students in various areas of giftedness and talent in every school and to make available appropriate educational opportunities, insofar as financial and physical resources are available within the department. The purpose of this chapter is to establish the procedures for the identification, programming and placement of gifted and talented students. [Eff. AUG 23, 1984] (Auth: HRS §§302A-1112, 302A-444, 302A-445) (Imp: HRS §302A-445)