Parents play a vital role in supporting an effective gifted education program at their child's school. Given the varied roles and responsibilities, they may wonder which activities to sponsor and support that most effectively benefit the growth and development of their gifted child. By taking a closer look at the gifted program, parents may recognize an infrastructure or educational philosophy in place to guide, support, and evaluate the gifted program. Furthermore, a mission statement captures the essence of a philosophy of gifted education in several sentences. By basing their philosophy of gifted education and mission statement on solid education foundations and current trends, parents will have a trustworthy guide for their child's education in the years to come. [For Part 2, see EJ972292.]