CEP Special Education & Accommodations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IDEA, what does 'Least Restrictive Environment' (LRE) require schools to do?
- Educate students with disabilities alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate (Correct answer)
- Place all students with disabilities in general education classrooms regardless of need
- Separate students with disabilities to provide specialized instruction
- Allow parents to choose any placement without school input
Correct answer: Educate students with disabilities alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
LRE requires that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers as much as possible while still meeting their individual needs.
Question 2: Which federal law specifically prohibits colleges from discriminating against students with disabilities and requires reasonable accommodations?
- IDEA
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Correct answer: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal funding, including colleges and universities.
Question 3: A student with ADHD does not qualify for special education services under IDEA but still needs school support. Which plan would most likely apply?
- IEP under IDEA
- 504 Plan under the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- Gifted Education Program
- RTI Tier 1 intervention
Correct answer: 504 Plan under the Rehabilitation Act
A 504 Plan provides accommodations for students whose disabilities substantially limit a major life activity but who don't qualify for special education under IDEA.
Question 4: What is a key difference between accommodations and modifications in special education?
- Accommodations change what a student learns; modifications change how they learn it
- Accommodations change how a student accesses learning; modifications change the curriculum content or expectations (Correct answer)
- There is no meaningful difference between the two terms
- Modifications apply only to standardized testing; accommodations apply to classroom work
Correct answer: Accommodations change how a student accesses learning; modifications change the curriculum content or expectations
Accommodations change how a student learns (e.g., extended time) while modifications change what is expected of the student (e.g., reduced assignment length or altered standards).
Question 5: When a student transitions from high school to college, which of the following is TRUE about their disability documentation?
- The IEP automatically transfers to the college's disability services office
- The college must accept the high school IEP as sufficient documentation
- The student must self-identify and provide documentation meeting college standards (Correct answer)
- IDEA ensures the same services continue in higher education
Correct answer: The student must self-identify and provide documentation meeting college standards
College is governed by Section 504/ADA, not IDEA; students must proactively self-disclose and provide documentation that meets the college's specific requirements.
Question 6: Which evaluation component is REQUIRED before a school can determine that a student is eligible for special education services under IDEA?
- A parent-requested private evaluation
- A comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation completed within 60 days of parental consent (Correct answer)
- A doctor's diagnosis of a qualifying disability
- A standardized IQ test administered by a school psychologist
Correct answer: A comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation completed within 60 days of parental consent
IDEA requires a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, typically within 60 days of receiving parental consent, before eligibility for special education can be determined.
Question 7: Which of the following describes 'Free Appropriate Public Education' (FAPE) as defined under IDEA?
- Special education that is identical to the education provided to non-disabled students
- Special education and related services that meet the student's individual needs at no cost to the family (Correct answer)
- Any educational program available at public schools regardless of disability status
- Education provided in private schools funded by the government
Correct answer: Special education and related services that meet the student's individual needs at no cost to the family
FAPE requires that students with disabilities receive special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs, at public expense, under public supervision.
CEP Special Education & Accommodations 2
Under IDEA, what does 'Least Restrictive Environment' (LRE) require schools to do?