Children whose academic performance shows significant discrepancy between ability and achievement and as a result require special instruction, assistance, and/or equipment
Pupils with unusual educational needs eg, because they are specially gifted or because they are mentally or physically handicapped
Children who, because of certain atypical characteristics, have been identified by professionally qualified personnel as requiring special educational planning and services, whether or not such services are available In general, the term "exceptional children" considers exceptionality on the basis of (a) physical, health, or sensory disability, (b) emotional disability or behavioral problem, and (c) observable exceptionality in mental ability, i e , mentally gifted and mentally retarded Some exceptional children have more than one type of exceptionality