Twice-exceptional (or 2E) learners are bright/gifted students who also have a learning weakness or disability such as dyslexia (which can present as stealth dyslexia in gifted students), ADHD, Asperger’s, or other learning challenges. These students often fail to be identified as gifted or learning disabled because they can appear to compensate and pull off average performance, when in fact they are capable of far more.

Gifted students tend to be frustrated by a slow pace of instruction and may feel out-of-step with their age and grade peers both academically and socially. There is a significant lost opportunity when a student is curious and eager to learn new things, yet is held back from doing so. Under-challenged students may ultimately act up to get attention or "check out" by disengaging from schoolwork. They need to be understood and supported.

When a bright student is not achieving there may be a learning disability or difficulty acting as an impediment to learning. Tasking them to “try harder” doesn't help. Such students may develop a weak self-image and believe that no matter how hard they try, they can’t do well at school. Whether it's a diagnosable learning disability or "just" a significant, sub-clinical difficulty that negatively impacts learning, these children need help.