This reprint of an article on using grade advancement as a method for meeting the needs of some intellectually or academically gifted students is preceded by a commentary that concludes that popular sentiment and negative folklore supporting grade advancement are unfounded. Grade advancement guidelines are provided. (Contains references.) (CR)

A study involving 96 gifted adolescents examined internal and external validity of the Thinking Styles Inventory (TSI) within the framework of Sternberg's (1988) theory of mental self-government. Results provided evidence of the external discriminant validity but lent only partial support to the internal validity of the instrument. (Author/CR)

Suggests the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) as an alternative secondary program for gifted youth. After tracing the history of the IB program, comparing the IB program to other programs, and outlining the curriculum and requirements, the article shows how the IB meets the needs of gifted students. (Author/CR)

Several trends and directions are identified for preparation of gifted and talented youth for leadership roles in a rapidly changing society: experience in predicting, planning, and extrapolating; explicit leadership training; development of thinking skills; experience in problem finding and problem solving; and study of major concepts, themes,…

Grade advancement is a legitimate and valuable method of meeting the needs of some academically gifted students and is available to every school system. Twelve practical guidelines (such as comprehensive psychological evaluation prior to placement and arranging all cases of grade advancement initially on a trial basis) are offered. (Author/DB)

A survey conducted with 385 families of gifted children concerning their perceptions of their children's experiences in school indicated that most parents do not perceive their school's present curricula as meeting their child's intellectual needs. Further, there is substantial belief among these parents that special full-time classes for high…

A study examined views of teachers about the impact of honors classes on secondary students in regular classes with gifted students removed and on the gifted students in honors classes. Results show honors classes in basic subjects are positive for honors and regular students and for teachers of both. (MSE)

Evaluation results are reported for a gifted education consortium, involving seven rural school districts and Purdue University's Gifted Education Resource Institute. Positive change occurred in teachers and other school personnel in knowledge level and attitudes toward gifted education. High satisfaction with goal achievement was indicated by…

A three-credit graduate course was developed to train school administrators on planning and managing programs for the gifted/talented. Compared to controls, 45 administrators who received the training gained more knowledge about educational programing for the gifted and developed more favorable attitudes toward gifted youth and programing for…

Current conceptions of giftedness and intelligence are reviewed and a model of giftedness as an interaction of intelligence, special abilities or talents, self-concept and motivation to achieve is presented. The authors conclude that motivation, self-concept, and creativity should not be components of identification, but instead goals of gifted…

The authors propose a three-stage model for gifted education which proposes a hierarchy of instructional activities to enhance creative thinking, problem-solving skills, project abilities, exploratory reading, and independent learning capacity. Activities which extend the three-stage model to career education for the gifted are described. (SBH)

Follow-up at the end of high school of 23 students identified as gifted in the second grade found that 87% had demonstrated average to high levels of accomplishment, that all intended to earn a college degree and pursue a career, and that far more females than males considered marriage in describing personal goals. (DB)

Leadership behavior, creative ability, and dramatic skill of 54 school-age children and youth were rated by their teachers. Significant correlations were found between leadership and dramatic skills and between creativity and dramatic skills but not between leadership and creativity. (Author/JDD)

A survey evaluation of special classes for the gifted in 35 Indiana school districts was carried out among 173 teachers, administrators, and program coordinators. Results indicated that the curriculum and teaching methods were clearly differentiated for the gifted and were effective in meeting their needs. (Author/PB)

This introduction to a special section of articles on talent development in gifted education presents the Purdue Pyramid, a model of talent development with acceptance as a human being on the base, a variety of educational experiences ascending the pyramid, and self-understanding and commitment to self-development at the top. (DB)