The future of gifted education is discussed in this symposium report, which contains the edited presentations of six national consultants and the ensuing discussion among the panelists. The consultants addressed the significance of a report of the U.S. Department of Education entitled "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent." The commentaries focus on implications for gifted education in the nation and also in the state of Texas. Carolyn Callahan addressed the implications of the report to program evaluation and student assessment, while Blandina Cardenas-Ramirez discussed the relationship of cultural diversity issues to the report. Sandra Kaplan addressed the implications of the report for curriculum, and Harry Passow discussed the impact of the national report on higher-level learning opportunities for gifted learners. Elinor Ruth Smith addressed the report's provisions for advanced learning opportunities for economically disadvantaged children, while Robert Sternberg discussed thinking styles. (SW)