This article reports on two of the first studies of post-Soviet reforms of gifted education in Lithuania. After a professional development (PD) programme was provided Lithuanian teachers to help them develop a list of characteristics of gifted children, define giftedness, and design a procedure for gifted identification, two qualitative studies…

Since its inception in the 1920s, the field of gifted education has remained in a constant ebb and flow. Public understanding and support, as well as, federal aid has mirrored this pattern, waxing and waning in response to national interests and concern from private institutions and foundations. Discourse between excellence and equity also has…

Questionnaires were given to students prior to testing for giftedness to assess how the gifted identification process changes attitudes toward gifted programs and parent-child relationships. After those identified as gifted had been participating in a pullout gifted program for one semester, another questionnaire was administered to all original…

To determine whether having a program is sufficient one must first define what is meant by "program." If by program one refers to the pullout program in the elementary school, or the afterschool enrichment program in the middle school, or the Advanced Placement program in the high school, or the hockey program, then certainly having a "program" is…

This qualitative study focuses on the intrinsic value of musical understanding and how it is influenced by socio-cultural and educational factors shaping the development of a gifted adolescent. Using Gross's (1993) model of case studies of exceptionally gifted children, the student was identified for her innate abilities, and studied using the…

In October 2010, the Council of the Great City Schools released a major report on the academic status of African American males, "A Call for Change: The Social and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in Urban Schools." The report was the first phase of the Council's efforts to recommit the energies of the nation's urban…

A program is described which was designed to develop talents among young black students. The curriculum materials are explained to be language based with emphasis on students' oral response to open ended questions. Five essential language areas are covered: expressive language, central meaning, prediction beyond the present experience, reasoning,…

The digest examines the range of traits that may be exhibited by intellectually gifted children. The characterisitcs are explained to be signals that a particular child might warrant closer observation and special educational attention. Characteristics are listed under three headings: general behavior (early reading, ability to detect and…

Program development in gifted and talented education is the focus of the digest. Elements of a successful program, including statements of support for differential education, staff orientation, and multiple appropriate screening and identification procedures are listed. Beginning steps for planning committees are noted. Identification approaches…

An interim program performance report is presented for the sixth year of the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP) entitled "A Model Program for Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Young Handicapped and Talented" (RAPYHT), based at the University of Illinois. Technical assistance was provided to three major target…

The manual provides suggestions and information on planning and implementing programs for gifted and talented students in Idaho. Following a brief section outlining the program rationale and defining related terms, the document addresses 14 program planning and initiation aspects: district need, action planning steps, development of the plan,…

Twelve modules are presented for the education of gifted and talented students. Modules include a brief introduction; list of objectives; overview of the content; and suggestions for core, application, and quest (further study) activities. The modules focus on the following topics: definitions of giftedness; history of their educational treatment;…

The document presents guidelines for organizing and operating programs for the mentally gifted and talented in the state of Pennsylvania. Aspects covered include admission criteria; initial identification/referral; individual psychological testing; program organization and scheduling; curriculum and the individualized education program;…

Discussed is the issue of how many different kinds of talents or gifts special programs will consider in both selection and educational aspects, focusing on how many different kinds of gifts and talents can be dealt with simultaneously and how much complexity can be tolerated. (DLS)