In the section "time to enter [name]'s education expenses", the top line is for entering expenses where books and materials were required to be purchased from the school. The bottom line for Optional books and materials is for those items not purchased from the school. Materials such as computers and software can qualify in either of these categories, but only if the purchase of these items is required by the school as a condition of enrollment.
You can make the entries in Forms mode for Room and board, special needs expenses, etc., but do notice that those expenses do not carry over to the next two columns for either the Lifetime Learning Credit or the American Opportunity Credit. This would be the reason why questions regarding these expenses do not appear in this section.
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