State Law and Policy Related to Twice-Exceptional Learners

Abstract

Legislation and policy lead to action. In the absence of law or policy, situations are addressed on a case-by-case basis or they are sometimes ignored. Legislation and policy become extremely important when they relate to groups that have traditionally been marginalized, such as students with disabilities or students with gifts and talents, and they can help guarantee or increase access to services for students from those groups. Because legislation and policy focus on students with disabilities at the federal and state levels, schools usually plan to meet the needs of these students. However, gifted and talented education is not mandated at the federal level, and mandates and funding are limited or nonexistent at the state level. Only recently have twice-exceptional learners been acknowledged in law or policy.