ALT - Alternative Learning Teacher Foundations of Special Education Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 16-year-old student with an emotional disturbance is placed in an alternative education program. The student's IEP specifies that they require weekly counseling services. Due to budget cuts, the program no longer has a counselor on staff. Which foundational principle of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is most directly being violated?
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
- Procedural Safeguards
- Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) (Correct answer)
- Child Find
Correct answer: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) mandates that special education and related services must be provided to an eligible student at no cost to the parents, in conformity with the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). By not providing the counseling services stipulated in the IEP, the program is failing to deliver an appropriate education.
Question 2: The principle of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) under IDEA requires that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities are:
- Given a separate, simplified curriculum from their peers.
- Exempted from non-academic and extracurricular activities.
- Educated in a setting with non-disabled peers. (Correct answer)
- Placed in a specialized school to maximize services.
Correct answer: Educated in a setting with non-disabled peers.
The LRE mandate within IDEA stipulates that children with disabilities should be educated with children who are not disabled. Removal from the regular educational environment should only happen when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes, even with the use of supplementary aids and services, cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
Question 3: A student in an alternative high school has a physical disability that substantially limits their ability to write by hand for extended periods. The student does not require specially designed instruction but needs to use a keyboard for all written assignments and tests. Which law is the primary basis for providing this student with an accommodation plan?
- The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Correct answer: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 is a federal civil rights law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. It ensures that a student with a disability has equal access to an education, which can include providing accommodations, even if they do not qualify for specialized instruction under IDEA.
Question 4: During an annual IEP meeting for a student in an alternative program, what is the most critical role of the general education teacher?
- To make the final determination of the student's placement.
- To provide input on the student's performance and progress within the general curriculum. (Correct answer)
- To interpret the results of all formal diagnostic assessments.
- To ensure all procedural safeguards have been met for the parents.
Correct answer: To provide input on the student's performance and progress within the general curriculum.
The general education teacher's role is crucial for providing insight into the student's performance in the general curriculum and classroom environment. They can share data on how the student is progressing with grade-level content and what accommodations or modifications have been successful, which directly informs the development of appropriate goals and services.
Question 5: Which of the following is a required component of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
- A list of all the student's previous teachers.
- A statement of measurable annual goals. (Correct answer)
- The family's complete medical history.
- A guarantee of passing all state assessments.
Correct answer: A statement of measurable annual goals.
Under IDEA, every IEP must include a statement of measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals, designed to meet the child's needs that result from the disability to enable the child to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum.
Question 6: Under IDEA's procedural safeguards, parents have the right to disagree with the school district's evaluation of their child. What is one of the primary rights afforded to parents in this situation?
- To receive a full refund of property taxes for the school year.
- To demand the dismissal of the school psychologist.
- To transfer their child to any private school at public expense.
- To obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense.
The procedural safeguards under IDEA give parents the right to obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) from a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district, at public expense, if they disagree with the evaluation obtained by the school district. This ensures a fair process and allows for a second opinion.
ALT - Alternative Learning Teacher Foundations of Special Education Questions and Answers 1
A 16-year-old student with an emotional disturbance is placed in an alternative education program.
The student's IEP specifies that they require weekly counseling services.
Due to budget cuts, the program no longer has a counselor on staff.
Which foundational principle of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is most directly being violated?