A special education student who is also labeled gifted andtalented can be tough to educate fairly and equally, as required bylaw. A student with dual and seemingly contradictory labels hasneeds so specific to him or her that traditional public educationstrategies can sometimes do more harm than good, particularly inthe affective sphere. The most supportive basic component of such achild’s education is often at home. At home, there is less pressureto conform to conventional tracks or learning programs; learningcan take nontraditional forms. Partnerships between teachers andparents are critical for such students.It is vital to a dual label student that his or her strengthsare supported throughout, even if they happen to be in noncoreareas like music, art, auto repair, or web design. Gifted s