"Exceptional"

Tell me where I'm wrong here. Someone, explain the terminology.

In today's mail came something from the West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children.

Great, I thought. Earlier today, I wrote an editorial for Monday's paper calling for more resources and time be spent on kids with special academic talents.

But I read this, and what topics were discussed? Children with disabilities. Kids likely to drop out. Kids with discipline problems.

I know we don't want to put "bad" labels on kids, but the word "exceptional" should be reserved for the pianist who plays Chopin at age 6, the math whiz or the kid who has an amazing grasp of social studies.

If I'm wrong, please explain.