Guidelines and about 160 references that may assist local New York State school districts develop programs for the gifted cover the following seven program components: planning, the district's philosophy and definition of gifted, identification, programming (curricula and instruction), teacher selection and education, promoting awareness of gifted education, and program evaluation. The definition of a gifted student will affect all the other components. The identification process involves screening, referral, determining whether a child is gifted according to state and local criteria, and notification of parents. A chart is presented that outlines common program management options and suggestions for each option (e.g., pullout program, cluster grouping, acceleration, homogeneous grouping, gifted student in the regular classroom and mentor program). Criteria for selection and retention of instructional personnel and steps in determining the purposes and requirements of program evaluation are outlined. The references, which are found in the Gifted and Talented Resource Collection, are identified by title, author, source, and date (1972-1981) pagination, and subject terms. References are organized into the same seven program components. (SEW)