Foundations of Special Education Flashcards

Under IDEA, what is the maximum time allowed from referral to completion of an initial evaluation?

Answer: 60 days

IDEA requires that an initial evaluation be completed within 60 days of receiving parental consent for evaluation.

Which Supreme Court case established that states must provide a 'basic floor of opportunity' to students with disabilities?

Answer: Rowley v. Board of Education

Board of Education v. Rowley (1982) established the 'basic floor of opportunity' standard for a free appropriate public education.

A student with a disability receives services in the general education classroom with a co-teacher for most of the day. This placement is best described as:

Answer: Inclusion

Inclusion refers to educating students with disabilities in the general education classroom alongside their non-disabled peers.

Which disability category under IDEA specifically addresses students with significant cognitive impairments that affect adaptive behavior?

Answer: Intellectual disability

Intellectual disability is the IDEA category for students with significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

The term 'zero reject' in special education means:

Answer: All students with disabilities are entitled to a free public education regardless of severity

Zero reject is the principle that no child with a disability, regardless of the nature or severity, may be excluded from public education.

Which section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs receiving federal financial assistance?

Answer: Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in federally funded programs, including public schools.

A student's IEP team is determining the amount of special education services. The guiding principle for placement decisions should be:

Answer: Least restrictive environment appropriate to the student's needs

The least restrictive environment principle requires that placement decisions be based on the individual student's needs, not administrative or financial factors.

Which term describes a student's ability to perform daily living tasks such as dressing, cooking, and managing money?

Answer: Adaptive behavior

Adaptive behavior refers to the conceptual, social, and practical skills needed for daily life functioning.

Under IDEA, transition planning must begin no later than the first IEP in effect when the student turns:

Answer: 16

IDEA requires that transition services and measurable postsecondary goals be included in the IEP by age 16.

The primary purpose of a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) is to:

Answer: Decide whether a student's behavior is caused by or substantially related to their disability

An MDR determines whether the conduct leading to a disciplinary change of placement was a manifestation of the student's disability.

Which model of disability views disability as a product of the interaction between a person's impairment and societal barriers?

Answer: Social model

The social model of disability holds that disability is caused by barriers in society rather than the individual's impairment alone.

A student who is blind receives orientation and mobility training from a specialist who travels between schools. This specialist is providing:

Answer: Itinerant services

Itinerant services are delivered by a specialist who travels to multiple schools to serve students with low-incidence disabilities.

Which federal law extended civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, and accommodations?

Answer: Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a broad civil rights law protecting people with disabilities in many areas of public life.

A student with ADHD who does not qualify for special education under IDEA may still receive accommodations through:

Answer: A 504 plan

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides a legal basis for accommodations when a student has a disability that substantially limits a major life activity but does not qualify for IDEA.

Which evaluation approach requires that assessment instruments be given in a student's native language whenever feasible?

Answer: Nondiscriminatory evaluation

Nondiscriminatory evaluation under IDEA requires assessments to be provided in the child's native language and be free of racial or cultural bias.

An IEP goal states: 'Given a graphic organizer, the student will write a five-sentence paragraph with 80% accuracy across 3 trials.' What component is this goal demonstrating?

Answer: Measurable annual goal

A measurable annual goal specifies the expected outcome, condition, and criteria for mastery within the IEP.

In special education, 'procedural safeguards' primarily exist to:

Answer: Ensure parents are informed of and can exercise their rights

Procedural safeguards under IDEA guarantee parents the right to be informed, involved, and able to challenge decisions about their child's education.

What distinguishes an 'accommodation' from a 'modification' in special education?

Answer: Accommodations change how a student accesses content; modifications change the content or expectations

Accommodations change how a student learns or demonstrates knowledge without altering the content standard, while modifications change the actual curriculum content or expectations.

Which of the following best describes 'universal design for learning' (UDL)?

Answer: A proactive instructional framework providing multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression

UDL is a proactive framework that designs flexible instruction from the outset to meet the needs of all learners.

The Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017) Supreme Court ruling changed the standard for FAPE by requiring IEPs to:

Answer: Be reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of their circumstances

Endrew F. raised the bar beyond Rowley's 'basic floor,' requiring IEPs to be calculated to allow meaningful progress given the child's unique circumstances.