Christine Hernandez
Early childhood educator, writer, and mother. Your friendly neighborhood guide to all things parenting.
Odds are, if you have a child older than four, you’ve probably heard the term “gifted” in the context of a child’s educational pathway. You are also likely familiar with or personally know a family navigating a learning disability or the special education system.
However, most parents don’t realize that giftedness and learning disabilities are not on opposite ends of the educational spectrum. Many children straddle both worlds- meaning they struggle with a learning disability or are on the autism spectrum and are also gifted.
How do we best support these children, who may not thrive in general education or special education classrooms? That’s where 2e, or twice-exceptional, schools come in, and we’re breaking down everything you need to know about what they are, how to find one, and how to advocate for your twice-exceptional child.
What is gifted education?
To understand twice-exceptionality, it’s important first to understand what giftedness is. Unfortunately, there is not a widely accepted definition of what it means to be gifted. As a result, some school districts have “gifted and talented” programs children must test into, while others rely on nominations from teachers or school administrators to enter into their school’s gifted programs.
Recently, this model of identifying gifted children has come into question. It disproportionately favors children from higher-income families whose parents are more likely to push for their children to be considered or coach them toward passing the test.
Additionally, if it’s left up to teachers, who may have their own internal biases to refer a child for a gifted program, children with learning disabilities, BIPOC children, and kids from lower-income families may get overlooked.
It turns out there is a federal definition of “gifted,” but it’s left up to the states and local school districts to decide whether they use it and how they identify gifted students.
The US Department of Education defines gifted as:
Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.
What is twice-exceptional?
A child is considered twice-exceptional when they are gifted and have a learning disability, are on the autism spectrum, or have a physical disability. Twice-exceptional children are often overlooked for gifted programs because their challenges may mask their talents. Conversely, 2e kids may struggle for years with a learning or emotional disability that gets ignored because they can compensate for or mask their challenges.
Twice exceptionality makes finding the perfect educational placement difficult for some children. They may get bored in a classroom geared toward their disability, but they may struggle with executive functioning or not have the social skills to keep up in a gifted classroom.
Could my preschooler be twice-exceptional?
Often, children aren’t identified as being twice-exceptional until their disability interferes with their learning or social functioning, and they are referred for neuropsychological testing or similar educational testing which reveals their exceptional intellectual capacity and uncovers their unique challenges.
The earlier a child’s learning style is discovered, the more time parents have to find schools or other opportunities to support them. The best place to start is to talk to your child’s pediatrician and their preschool teacher or childcare provider. They can point you in the right direction regarding educational or neuropsychological testing, and you can take it from there.
In addition, since the testing process often takes time, you can work with your child’s teacher or caregiver to find ways to develop their gifts and help them cope with any struggles or challenges they’re facing in the meantime.
What are the best schools or programs for 2e students?
Since "twice-exceptional" is such a broad term, there isn’t one particular setting that can meet every child’s needs. For example, some children may thrive in a general education setting or a special education classroom, whereas others may require a more individualized approach.
With 2e finally making its way into the spotlight, schools are popping up around the country designed to meet the unique needs of twice-exceptional children. Often, these schools nurture and encourage a child’s intellectual or artistic capabilities and have supports in place to meet them where they are socially and emotionally.
Unfortunately, until 2e schools become more common-place, the tuition rates are often unaffordable for many families. However, this doesn’t mean that you still can’t make it happen for your child. Most 2e schools offer scholarships, and there are special circumstances where your local school district will pay your child’s private school tuition if they cannot otherwise meet their needs.
If you cannot secure a place in a 2e school or there aren’t any near you, this doesn’t mean that your child won’t thrive in their educational placement. There are online schools, homeschooling options, and afterschool programs that you can use to supplement your child’s education or provide them with an extra challenge.
You are your child’s best advocate, and if you have concerns about their development or don’t think their preschool or daycare placement is a good fit- don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your child’s teacher, daycare provider, and pediatrician are a crucial part of your child’s “village,” and communication and collaboration are the keys to finding the best educational opportunities for your child.
