This digest is intended to help parents and teachers understand and cope with underachievement in gifted students. Underachievement is defined and its various components (e.g., content and situation specificity and ties to self-concept development) are explained. Strategies to reverse patterns of underachievement are classified as either supportive, intrinsic, or remedial. Guidelines are offered to families in applying all three types of strategies. The value of participation by underachieving gifted students in a gifted program is noted. A distinction is made between praise for achievement outcomes and encouragement of a child's efforts. Underachievement is seen as a reversible but complex web of behaviors. Includes 13 references and 15 resources for students. (DB)