The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) offers an overview that helps provide a general perspective on giftedness in the article, "Who are The Gifted?".

Giftedness appears in many different ways for different students. Definitions of giftedness are, at best, attempts to explain facets of human abilities and performances. The definition of giftedness selected for DoDEA schools is:
 

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) provides exemplary educational programs that inspire and prepare all students for success. Gifted students measure their success through the challenges they are able to receive, meet, and often surpass. The goal of the DoDEA Gifted Education program is to identify students with high potential and exceptional performance and to offer challenges that match their strengths

Philosophy
The unique worth, ability, and dignity of every student should be recognized and cultivated. This belief forms the basis of educational programs for all students. Children need a school environment that helps them realize their potential and instills in them a desire to use their talents and abilities. Students who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment have learning needs which require differentiated learning experiences. Such experiences are those in which the content, strategies, and expectations of student performance have been adjusted to be appropriate for gifted children.