This document's purpose is to establish the minimum standards for approval of programs for education of gifted students in Arkansas. Guidelines are included to: (1) enable school districts to establish equitable criteria for identification of gifted and talented students; (2) establish programs which will lead to appropriate educational opportunities for these students; and (3) establish procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the provisions of these educational opportunities. The guidelines cover: funding provisions, community involvement, staff development, personnel, identification, program options, curriculum, and evaluation. Appendices include a community resource survey instrument, incentives and guidelines for staff development activities, duties of coordinators of gifted programs, possible assessment instruments, criteria for evaluating curriculum materials, and state and national activities in which Arkansas students participate. (JDD)