Education of the Gifted and Talented Student The term "exceptional child" is a broad and inclusive label that refers to a significant percent of the child population. Quite generally, it includes any child who exhibits attributes, characteristics and/or abilities that fall significantly above or below the norm. These are students which, due to their levels of ability, demonstrate the need for special education and educational services that they would not ordinarily receive in the regular classroom. The federal government has officially recognized the necessity of our educational sy