Students exhibiting outstanding intellectual and creative ability are supported through the Hanover Public School District’s Gifted Programming. With assistance from our Gifted Support Teachers, school wide screenings are conducted several times a year. Referrals for screening may be initiated by educators, parents, or students themselves.
A request to the building principal will begin the information gathering process, which includes the most recent performances of the student for the educational team. Students are required to have strong academic performance in the classroom. Student performances are then examined at the district level, the state level, and finally, at the national level in the areas of achievement and intellectual ability. A parent meeting will be held to further discuss the student’s strong academic and intellectual performance and to determine the best educational plan for continued academic growth.
Data that is compiled during school-wide screenings include:
Consistent report card grades in the Advanced range.
Consistent performances on district assessments in the top 10% at the district level.
PSSA performances in the top 10% at the state level.
High performances on standardized cognitive assessments.
Mrs. Tina Wetzel is our school Psychologist who administers assessments for students believed to be in need of gifted services. twetzel@hanoverpublic.org
For Information regarding gifted screening and assessment, please contact the building principal or Mrs. Lisa Jackson, Director of Special Education, ljackson@hanoverpublic.org
Child Find for Gifted Education
Hanover Public School District is responsible for locating and identifying all students who may be gifted and in need of specially designed instruction. This process is called Child Find, and it applies to every student enrolled in our schools.
Annual Notice: Each year, the district provides public notice about the availability of gifted education services and the procedures for identification.
Screenings: Gifted Support Teachers conduct screenings during the school year to look for students who may need further evaluation. Parents, teachers, or students themselves may also request a screening at any time by contacting the building principal.
Evaluation: If screening suggests a student may be gifted, a Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation is completed.
Parent Rights: Parents are notified before evaluations take place, must give consent, and receive a copy of the evaluation results. If a child is found eligible, a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) is developed with parent input.
Safeguards: Parents have the right to request an evaluation, participate in planning, and seek mediation or due process if they disagree with district decisions.
Hanover Public School District is committed to ensuring that all children with outstanding abilities are identified and provided with an appropriate educational program to help them reach their fullest potential.