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The article deals with the likenesses and differences between ordinary and special education in the teaching of students with disabilities and learning difficulties. The research question is about what is special with special education.To identify the signature of special education is another formulation of the same intent. Recent research disagree about this issue and if there are fundamental differences between ordinary and special education. Data presented here comes from observations of identical students in ordinary and special education in Norway. Special education appears as different from ordinary education. Most characteristic are the segregation of students, more frequent student activity and an extensive individualization of students’ activity. The differences indicate a higher potential for learning in special education compared to ordinary education. This is also the ideal intention behind special education.