This article examines issues in the education of culturally different students in the nation's schools. The first section examines factors underlying the future education of this population including demographic increases in numbers of culturally diverse students in the schools, historic discrimination against these groups, and under-representation or over-representation of some ethnic minorities in certain special education categories. The second section addresses multidimensional needs of culturally diverse exceptional learners such as nonbiased assessment, bilingual education, and direct intervention to reduce prejudice. The last section suggests ways to enhance empowerment possibilities for culturally diverse exceptional learners. Educators are urged to: (1) understand fundamentals of general and special education; (2) shift assessment and instructional paradigms, and (3) put practical perspectives on learned concepts. (Contains 59 references.) (DB)