Current Status of Twice-Exceptional Students: A Look at Legislation and Policy

• In Event: 46.071 - At-Risk Populations in Gifted Education

Abstract

This study describes law and policy related to twice-exceptional learners. Forty-two administrators of gifted or special education programs in state departments of education completed a survey on the inclusion of twice-exceptional learners in legislation and policy and submitted supporting documents. Content analyses were conducted to investigate if the documents addressed twice exceptionality. Results indicate the lack of law and policy related to twice-exceptional students, the need for collaboration among general, gifted, and special education professionals, and the need for definitions of twice-exceptional students. It is the hope of the researchers that these results will lead educators to advocate for the inclusion of twice-exceptional learners in law and policy at the state and national levels.

Authors

• Nielsen Pereira, Purdue University

• Julia Link Roberts, Western Kentucky University

• J. Dusteen Knotts, Western Kentucky University