Key Features of Successful Programs for the Gifted and Talented

Outstanding gifted programs reflect the special qualities of the people and schools involved, but have many characteristics in common. or the past fie yecars we havc experimented with a rici program for gifted and talented students that has been used successfully in several school locations and under a variety of conditions (Renzulli, 1982. Reis and Rcnzulli. 1982, Dclisle and Renzulli, 1981; Delisle, Reis, and Gubbins, 1981). At present, we are monitoring the model in over 30 school districts in Connecticut. The Triad/RDIM Program The system combines the Enrichment Triad Model (Rcnzulli, 1977) with a relatively ncw, plan for identification, the Revolving Door Identification Model (RDIM) (Renzulli, Reis, and Smith., 1981). Although several specific learning objectives arc built into these comibined models, this article focuses on the model's general program goals. )esigned to integrate a program for gifted