The digest extends the concept of Individualized Education Programs (IEP) to gifted and talented children. IEPs are defined as written documents, developed and revised annually with input from parents, teachers, and where appropriate, the students themselves. IEP content includes a realistic assessment of current performance, reasonable expectations for learning over the year, and suggestions for evaluation strategies. Components of the IEP are explained to include (1) a written statement of the child's present level of educational performance; (2) a statement of annual goals to be achieved by the child; (3) short-term objectives to be realized in the achievement of each annual goal; (4) a statement of appropriate objectives, criteria, evaluation procedures, and schedules for determining whether the instructional objectives are being achieved; (5) a statement of the participation in a regular education program, and for what purposes; (6) a description of all special education and related services required to meet the students' needs; and (7) the projected starting dates for, and duration of these services. (CL)