CPACE Special Education and Student Support Services 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IDEA, within how many calendar days must an IEP team convene to develop an initial IEP after a student is found eligible for special education services?
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 45 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
IDEA requires that an IEP be developed within 30 calendar days of determining a child is eligible for special education services.
Question 2: Which federal law guarantees students with disabilities access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) (Correct answer)
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Correct answer: IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
IDEA specifically mandates FAPE in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and governs special education services for students with disabilities from birth to age 21.
Question 3: A principal notices a student struggling academically but not yet identified for special education. Which framework should the principal implement first?
- Refer the student directly to a special education assessment
- Implement a 504 plan immediately
- Use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) with tiered interventions (Correct answer)
- Retain the student in their current grade
Correct answer: Use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) with tiered interventions
MTSS provides a structured framework of tiered interventions before special education referral, ensuring students receive appropriate support and data is collected to inform decisions.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a Section 504 plan compared to an IEP?
- Section 504 plans provide specialized instruction; IEPs provide accommodations only
- Section 504 plans provide accommodations and modifications without specialized instruction; IEPs include both special education services and accommodations (Correct answer)
- Section 504 plans are governed by IDEA; IEPs are governed by the Rehabilitation Act
- Section 504 plans are only for students with physical disabilities; IEPs cover all disabilities
Correct answer: Section 504 plans provide accommodations and modifications without specialized instruction; IEPs include both special education services and accommodations
Section 504 plans provide accommodations and modifications to remove barriers, while IEPs include specialized instruction and related services under IDEA for students whose disability requires special education.
Question 5: Under California Education Code, which party must provide written consent before a school may conduct an initial special education assessment?
- The school principal
- The IEP team
- The parent or legal guardian (Correct answer)
- The school psychologist
Correct answer: The parent or legal guardian
California law and IDEA both require written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian before conducting an initial special education assessment.
Question 6: Which component is NOT required in a legally compliant IEP under IDEA?
- Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance
- Measurable annual goals
- A specific grade-level curriculum map developed by the general education teacher (Correct answer)
- A statement of special education services to be provided
Correct answer: A specific grade-level curriculum map developed by the general education teacher
IDEA requires present levels, measurable goals, and service statements, but does not require a grade-level curriculum map; the IEP is individualized, not curriculum-bound.
Question 7: What does the term 'least restrictive environment' (LRE) mean in the context of special education?
- Students with disabilities must always be educated in general education classrooms
- Students with disabilities should be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate (Correct answer)
- Students with disabilities should be placed in self-contained classrooms to maximize support
- Students with disabilities are restricted from participating in extracurricular activities
Correct answer: Students with disabilities should be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
LRE requires that students with disabilities be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate, with supplementary aids and services to support participation.
CPACE Special Education and Student Support Services 1
Under IDEA, within how many calendar days must an IEP team convene to develop an initial IEP after a student is found eligible for special education services?