Is gifted education part of special education? What happens when a professional in one has a child in the other? This session examines the shared and diverging histories, policies, philosophies, and directions of the two fields. More recently, special education and gifted education are working with similar issues of inclusion, RtI, and educational reform, however, there are some key differences in histories, assumptions about best practices, and diversity issues. It is critical that professionals understand each other’s viewpoints and concerns in order to more effectively advocate for scarce resources. Learn about implications for practice and policies.