A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR THE GIFTED STUDENT AS THEY EXIST IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY IS PRESENTED. THE ACADEMICALLY TALENTED CONSIST OF THE TOP 20 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS AS DEFINED BY THE INADEQUATE, BUT USEFUL, INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT. THE "GIFTED" STUDENTS ARE THE TOP 4 PERCENT, AND THE "HIGHLY GIFTED" ARE THE TOP 0.1 PERCENT. OTHER CRITERIA USED IN IDENTIFYING THE GIFTED ARE ACHIEVEMENT AND TEACHER JUDGMENT. ALSO INCLUDED IS THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FROM WHICH THE CONSIDERATION ARISES, AS WELL AS CURRENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THAT OF THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR THE GIFTED ARE QUITE NUMEROUS. INCLUDED ARE FEDERAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIVERSITY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE CURRICULUM, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT OF 1958 AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EFFORTS TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE TEACHER TRAINING AND TEACHING METHODS, THE TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE GIFTED STUDENT, AND THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. STATES SUCH AS CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, AND NORTH CAROLINA HAVE THEIR OWN AGENCIES. CITIES SUCH AS PORTLAND, OREGON, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, HAVE PERSONNEL WITH THEIR SYSTEM WHO CONCENTRATE ON PROGRAMS FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY SUPERIOR STUDENT.