In response to a mandate from the Congress (Public Law 91-230, Section 806), a study was conducted on the gifted and talented which consisted of five major activities: review of research, analysis of educational data bases and the development of a major data base, public hearings to interpret regional needs, studies of programs in representative states, and review an analysis of the system for delivery of Office of Education programs to benefit gifted and talented children. Recommendations and details of the study are found in the text and in Volume 2 (ED 056244). Major findings include: a conservative estimate of the number of gifted and talented from the total elementary and secondary school population of 51.6 million is 1.5 to 2.5 million; existing services for the gifted serve only a small percentage of the total; differentiated education for the gifted and talented is perceived as low priority at Federal, State, and most local levels of government; 21 states have legislation to provide services but in many cases this merely represents intent; services for the gifted can and do produce significant outcomes. Ten major activities to be initiated in 1971 are outlined. (RJ)