At many schools, exceptional and special needs educational programs are the same thing, and the two titles are merely semantic distinctions. Some educators feel that "special education" has a negative connotation, and the term has even made it into the popular lexicon as an insult, according to the book "Special Education Needs and Inclusive Education" by David R. Mitchell. Consequently, some schools have renamed special needs programs as exceptional education programs in an effort to highlight the unique strengths of students who struggle with developmental delays and learning disabilities. The Florida Department of Education refers to programs for students with disabilities as exceptional education programs, for example, though the federal government does not.
In some school districts, exceptional student programs include programs for gifted students, while special education programs are reserved for struggling students. Gifted students are identified in a number of ways, including academic testing, teacher recommendations and grades. Even when exceptional and special education represent two distinct programs, however, there's not necessarily a clear divide. Special needs students may take some classes with exceptional students, and some special needs students may have exceptional skills in particular subjects, causing them to take gifted classes, as well as special needs classes. A paper published by the University of Connecticut, "Underachievement in Gifted and Talented Students With Special Needs," emphasizes that special needs students may also be gifted in some areas, resulting in a diversity of needs.
Under federal laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities in Education and Americans with Disabilities acts, students with special needs, such as learning disabilities and physical handicaps, have the right to classrooms that meet their needs, as well as an individualized educational plan. Gifted students -- sometimes labeled "exceptional" students -- have a basic right to educational access, but they do not have a legal right to special programs that meet their unique educational needs.
Schools use a variety of approaches to offer resources to students identified as special or exceptional. For example, in Alabama's Decatur City Schools, students with disabilities are referred to as special needs students, and have access to special needs classrooms, as well as special needs instructors. Students may attend all of their classes in a special needs class, or attend just one or two special needs classes. In Kansas City, Missouri, by contrast, students with disabilities are referred to as exceptional students. Students can attend special programs with other special needs students, and are also eligible for supportive services designed to help them excel in a traditional classroom.